The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-05
Given a Great Ovation by Members
and Spectators as He Concluded
His vaIedictory.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
CONTEMPLATING THE SPEAKER ON
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
Bill Talked to Death I'm Senate by
sBilly'' Mason, who Retired to Pri-
yate Life When the Gavel Fell.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-The 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. how
ever, there is an inauguration which ma
terially changes the proceedings in the Sem
ate, but the expiration 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 occurred to-day. owing to the fact that
Speaker Henderson was retiring, not only
as presiding officer, but from the House as
a member. The bitter partisan feeling
that has sprung up in the House of Repre-
sentatives during the past week reached
a pitch which prevented the speaker from
receiving the unanimous approval of the
House when the usual resolution of thanks
was offered. More than this the resolu-
tion had to come from the Republican side
and while this has occurred before 1T is not
the usual custom. The usual resolution OF
thanks to President pro teen. Frye was
unanimously adopted in the Senate.
Two years ago. when the Fifty-sixth
Congress expired. II was remarkable not
only for the second Inauguration of Will
liam Mckinley. but also for the fact that
Senator Carter, OF Montana, talked the
river and harbor bill to death, which oc-
cupied the time OF the Senate up to within
a few minutes of the end To-day Senator
Mason. whose term expired at noon, also
talked an unimportant bin to death. but in
his valedictory he lectured the Senate for
its unlimited debate. which allows bills
to be killed in that manner, and he also
made final plea for the freedom of the
Filipinos. AS al, 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 reached
the stage OF enrolment were all signed by
President Roosevelt, who. with members Of
his Cabinet. occupied the Presidents room
in the Senate wing of the Capitol. This
biennial visit Of the President to the Cap
itol is one of the features of a closing Con-
gress. President Roosevelt accompanied
by Secretary Loeb and two or three menu
bers Of the White House executive force,
arrived at the Capitol shortly after 10
o'clock. He was conducted at once to the
Presidents room In the Senate wing There
he was joined soon afterward by the MEM
bers OF his Cabinet. While the business
of the Senate was being concluded, SEN
ators and members OF the House called
upon the President, some of them taking
to him bills in which they were interested
personally. All measures presented for
signature were scanned carefully by the
President and members of the Cabinet The
bills went through the regular channels
After being entered by the executive clerks
In the White House record they were ex-
amined by members OF the Cabinet whose
departments were affected by them. Then
they were signed by the President BY
Has o'clock the President had signed all
the bills presented to him and a few min
utes later the announcement OF the fact
was made In both the Senate and the
House. When final adjournment had been
taken, President Roosevelt held an in
formal reception to senators and members
or the House III his room. At 1910 o'clock
he was escorted to his carriage by a de-
tachment OF Capitol police. headed by SER
geant-at-arms of the Senate, Daniel M.
Rarsdell, and returned to the White House.
President Roosevelt this afternoon sent
letter. OF which the following is a copy,
to ex-Speaker Henderson:
MY Dear Mr.. Speaker-As did not see
you to-day at the Capitol wish to write
you line to congratulate Won unon the
work accomplished by the Congress which
has just closed. There we're certain meas
ures Of Importance the failure to act upon
which / greatly regretted, but il is never
ftheless true that taken as a whole 40 other
Congress of recent years has to it's credit
record OF more substantial achievement
for the public good than this. over the
lower branch OF which you presided. / con-
graduate you and IL. and / wish you well
wherever your future may lead you