The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-06

washington, March 4.-Ihe Fifty
seventh congress expired at noon to-
day by limitation. In many respects
the closing scenes were similar to those
at the end Of every congress. Every
four years, however, there is an aug
uration which materially changes the
proceedings in the senate, but the ex-
piration of a congress in the house is
very much the same each time. But
there has not been in many years such
demonstration in the house as occur
red today. owing to the fact that
Speaker Henderson was retiring not
only as presiding officer, but from the
house as a member. The bitter parti-
san feeling that has sprung UP in the
house of representatives during the
past week, reached a pitch which pre-
vented the speaker from receiving the
unanimous approval of the house, when
the usual resolution had to come from
the republican side, and while this has
occurred before 1t is not the usual GUS
tom. The usual resolution of thanks
to President pro tenn Frye was unani-
mously adopted in the senate
Two years aSO when the 56th con-
gress expired, it was remarkable not
only for the second inaugural ton of
William Mckinley but also for the fact
that Senator Carter, of Montana, talk
ed the river and harbor bill to death,
which occupied the time of the senate,
mp TO within IA few minutes of the end.
Today Senator Mason whose term ex-
pired at noon also talked an unimpor-
tant bill to death, but in his valedic-
tory he lectured the senate for it's un-
i%0.xI Il
killed in that manner and he also made
a final plea for the freedom of the
Filiplnos.
AS all of the important supply bills
had passed before the two houses TOOK
a recess this morning, no Legislation.
was necessary and none was attempted
The bills which had passed and reach
ed the stage Of enrolment We're all
SIGNED by President Roosevelt, who
with members of the cabinet occupied
the presidents room in the senate wing
of the capitol. The biennial visit Of
the president to the capitol is one of
the features-of d closing congress.
The Senate.
The senate was called to order at 10
o'clock today for the last sitting of the
18th congress, but business did not be-
gin until some time later. The delay
was due to the absence of a quorum
and to the fact that Mr.. Cocl1rell in
sisted upon the presence of the neces-
sary number before taking up the
work Of the day.
Mr.. Allison, chairman of the commit
tee on appropria tions made n state-
ment regarding the amount of money
appropriated by the present congress,
as compared with the appropriations
of the 56th congress. The total appro-
priatiOn for the present congress, he
stated, was s1.554 10851S as compared
with s1iiO. 4S9, ,43S for the 56th congress.
Mr.. Allison said that while it appears
that the appropriations Of this con-
gress have been largely in excess OF
those Of the last congress the increase
is chiefly made up of three items,
namely, the S50.0G0,0C0 for the Panama
canal. the Increased appropriation OF
$50. 100000 for the postal service and
the river and harbor appropriation. He
concluded by saying that the people OF
the country endorsed these items of in
crease ard that the opposing political
party concurTed in them.
Mr.. Bailey. of Texas, called up bill
amending the river and harbor act. so
rs 70 provide that the S125,G00 hereto
fore appropriated for certain river and
harbor improvements in Texas shall
be used for the construction Of a chan
mel IN Sabine Lake. Texas. On a yea
| and nay vote, demanded by Mr.. Ma
! son. the senate agreed 10 take lne Dill
up Al to 9. The effect of the vote was
! to dispiace the Philippine taIiff bill. II
was then temporarily laidAside and
| Mr.. Hoar spoke on the failure to pass
! the Philippine bill. The point he made
he said, was thai the senate, the exc
eutlve, the house Of representatives anc
the public are not lit to govern thu
destinies Of a people eight thousuant
miles away who have no voice in tn
SC q
1ect lesson" said he, 1.-The wretched
ness the iniquity of what the American
people did two years ago IN regard t
these people.
MIR. Lodge made vigorous reply t
Mr.. Hoar, in which he said. ne did no
agree with him In the view that tn
American people are not to deal wit
the great problems In the east. II be
lieve they are thoroughly able to dea
with 1t as they dealt with greater an
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