The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-03-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

WASHINGTON, March 5th, 1902.
The most impressive event of the past
week in Washington was the joint Me-
mortal Session of Congress at which Sec
rotary Hay delivered the eulogy of the
late President Mckinley. The presence
OH the floor Of the House of Represen
tatives of the President and his Cabinet,
the diplomatic corps, the Justices OF the
Supreme Court and the members of both
houses of Congress, gathered to do hon.
age to the late President, was in itself a
brilliant and edifying sight and the spa
cious galleries filled with ladies, the
wives and families of the members oil
Congress, presented beautiful back
ground to the more sombre assemblage
below.
The flags on the capitol were at half
mast and the playing of the hymns,
Nearer My God To Thee" and Lead,
Kindly Light" by the Marine Band,
which was stationed in the back lobby,
while the guests were taking their places,
gave to the event an appropriate atmos-
phere and prepared the audience for the
solemn and beautiful eulogy which it had
gathered to hear. Among the early
arrivals was Prince Henry of Prussia.
Space will not permit review of Sec
rotary Hays Grafton, beyond the state
ment that it was most finished specimen
of English composition, at times beautiful
i'll thought and metaphor, replete with
praise of his former chief. While well
learned it lacked the spontaneity and
magnetism of a more extemporaneous
address, and, while the Secretary's voice
is pleasant, the fact that he spoke i'll a
even tone rendered the adj
dress slightly monotonous. Generous
applause greeted its conclusion.
49,
After the exercises at the capitol the
Prince visited Mount Vernon and when
asked to plant tree near Washington's
tomb, he was not content with the formal
throwing in of spadeful of earth, Gus
tomary OH such occasions, bnt threw in a
number and then stepped into the exca-
walton and tramped them down explain
ing, II want to pack the earth well
about the roots so that it will grow" On
Friday morning it poured rain in Wash
ington aud someone expressed regret that
the weather would mar the trip to Anuap-
oils. "But it is excellent for my little
linden tree, which l planted at Mount
Vernon" replied Prince Henry.
~
The week in the national legislature
was ushered i'll by a decision of President
pro- tenn Frye, of the Senate, to the effect
that because the Senators from South
Carolina had engaged ina personal en-
counter on the floor of the Senate, their
names should be stricken from the rolls
pending the decision of the Committee
on Privileges and Rules, to which the
question Of their conduct had been re-
ferred. The minority protested that the
action of the Chair was virtual disfran-
chisement of the State of South Carolina
Senator Frye later restored the names to
the rolls and on Friday the Committee
eensAring the Senators and re-
lieving them from the charge of contempt,
but no business was transacted by the
Senate between Monday and Friday On
the latter day the consideration of the
Hansbrough irrigation bill WAS begun,
that being now the regular order" The
conference report on the Census bill was
received and approved on the same day.
Saturday was devoted to the irrigation
bill and some private claims bills.
The House of Representatives has
passed the consular and diplomatic ap-
preparation bill, accepted the census BILL
which now requires only the signature of
the President to become law, and has
determined TO mon concur" ON the Phil
ippine bill as amended by the Senate
The bill is now in the hands of the con-
ference committee.
On Friday the House took up the cal
endar and passed one-hundred and fifty
nine private and claims bills in three
hours when, worn ont with its labors, it
adjourned until Monday. A caucus Of
the republican members Monday evening
took up the question of reciprocity with
Cuba. 1t is posi- Die that some agreement
will ultimately be arrived at. | have
seen most of the republican leaders
dpring the past few days and have been
unable to discover any inclination to
recede from their widely diverse opinions
which practically huiii6ed the recon-
of the Ways and Means
Committee at the last caucus