Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-03-05
LAST SITTING OF
U. S. SENATE
Thirteen Present Members
Will Retire.
FILIsUsTERINe TO THE END

OuSual Din and Disorder witness &c
During the Closing Hours-Demo
Gratis Held Much Objectionable Leg
islation In Check,
Washington, March 4-The senate
was called to order at 10 o'clock to-
day for the last sitting of the Fifty
seventh congress, but business did not
begin until some time later. The de,
lay was due to the asence of a quorum
and to the fact that Mr.. CockrelI in.
sisted that the presence of a quo
rum was necessary to the taking up
of business.
President Pro Tenn. Frye was, as
usual, on the minute in ascending to
the seat as the presiding officer, but
only about a dozen senators faced him.
The countenances of most of them
bore evidence of two prolonged ses.
siOns of Monday and Tuesday, but
the indications of fatigue and business
was discussed as smoothly as If the
senate had adjourned at 6 o'clock yes.
terday instead of o'clock this morn,
ing
The attendance in the galleries was
also comparatively small. The crowd
increased gradually, however, so that
by the time quorum was secured on
the floor the audience was respecta
BILE in dimensions and apparently suf
fciently wideawake to give due atten
ton to the proceedings.
Among the retiring members are six
Republicans and seven Democrats
but of the Republicans two, Senator
Jones, of Nevada, and Senator Well
ington, of Maryland, have, in recent
years, each supported for time the
national candidates of the opposing
party. Two others, Senator De
Boe, of Kentucky, and Pritchard, OF
North Carolina, are southern Republic
ans, and both are succeeded by Demo
Gratis. The remaining two Republic
ans are Senators Mason, of Illinois,
and Simon, of Oregon. Of the seven
retiring Democrats, Senators Harris,
Of Kansas, Turner, of Washington, and
Heitfeldt, of Idaho, were elected as
Populists, and all are succeeded by
Republicans. Senator McLaurin. OF
South Carolina, was elected as a Dem.
ocrat, and while still classed as such
has acted Independently during the
greater part Of his term.
The other three senators, Vest
Jones, of Arkansas, and Rawlins have
from first to last been in the Demo.
cratic ranks, and Jones and Vest have
risen to places of conspicuous leader.
ship in their party.
In Senator Jones, of Nevada. the
senate loses one of the two men who
have served in that body for 80 con.
secutive years, the other being Sena.
tor Allison. In Mr.. Jones, the sen.
ate loses one of it's most popular as
we'll as one of it's most unique mem.
bers. He has not made a speech since
the days of the silver debate in 1893,
and he has not during his entire 80
years of service introduced to ex.
ceed half dozen bills, yet his infu.
ence in shaping legislation has been
exceeded by that of few senators, and
his great ability has been recognized
since the beginning of his national ca.
Teer With few exceptions during
his term the personnel of the senate
has changed many times over. When
Mr.. Jones entered the body, Simon
Cameron and Hannibal Hamlin were
still prominent character there. Ros.
cOe Conklin was at his best and James
G. Blaine had not yet entered the sen.
ate. John A. Logan, Carl Schurz. AL
len G. Thurman, Oliver P. Morton,
Thomas E. Bayard and John g. ingalls,
were leading figures. Senator Jones
has from the beginning been recogniz.
ed as an authority on finance and his
vast store of information has ever been
at the command of his colleagues.
Senator Vest belongs to the next
generation Of senators. He entered
the body in 1877, and has served for
"a years, winning reputation for
brllIiancy OF speech, classic learning
and sharp repartee seldom excelled in
the senate He has been in poor
health for several years past. but not.
withstanding he has been almost blind
and has needed constant assistance
in going into and out Of the senate
chamber, he has continued to main
tain his interests In the proceedings
and his people.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, came
to the front during the liberation
of the Wilson-Gorman tariff bill on
account of his knowledge of business
details and his tact In dealing with
men and he has easily held his place
as a party leaders since that time. He
has been chairman of the Democratic
conference since Senator T11rpie
and because of the fact that he has
been chairman of the national Demo
cratic committee he has been regard
ed much Of the time as the official
head of the party In the senate and
the country at large
The retirement of Vest and the two
Joneses will make three vacancies on
the finance committee, and also cause
vacancies on many other important
committees.
Big Fire In Connecticut.
Canaan, Conn, March 4.-The Cum.
Minis block containing the postoffice