The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-03-10

| Presidents veto of the bill to grant TO
N F.. Thompson the right to construct
| q dam at Muscate Shoals, Ala, and tc
| use the water power OF the tennessee
| River. Mr.. Payne moved to refer the
measure to the Committee on inter-
| State Commerce, pending which MT. LlV-
ingston CDem.) of Georgia, the ranking
| minority member of the Appropriations
| asked and obtained unanimous
| consent for himself and Mr.. Cannon to
| print in the Congressional Record state
| ments concerning the appropriations Oh
this Congress. This was the first unani-
| nous consent granted since last Thurs
day.
Mr.. Payne then yielded three minutes
to Mr.. Richardson, of Alabama, the au-
thor of the vetoed bill, who made an
urgent appeal to pass the measure over
| the Presidents veto.
Mr.. Burton. chairman of the Rivers and
| Harbors Committee, in a brief speech,
declared that the water power of navi-
gable streams should not be given away.
The previous question was ordered and
at 1870 the last roll call, the eightieth
! roll call of this legislative day of Thurs
day, February 26th, began on the motion
to send the veto message to the Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce. The
motion was carried.
At this moment six minutes Of twelve,
Speaker Henderson re-entered the hall
and assembled the rostrum amid a great
demonstration on the epublican side,
which extended to the Democratic side
and the galleries.
The applause grew into cheers and the
majority of Democrats rose with the Re-
+, publicanS to their feet to join in the
demonstration. Then it ceased for a mo-
ment as Mr.. Payne announced that a
committee had waited on the President,
and that he had conveyed his congratu-
lations whether it was proper for him
to do so or not"
Mr.. Cannon still standing at the side
! OF the rostrum then in q clear voice read
the resolutions adopted by the House.
/ Speaker Henderson was visibly affected
as he faced the packed galleries and the
members of the House for his valedic-
tory. For half a minute he paused to
control his emotions before beginning.
Then in a voice that trembled at first
but grew gradually stronger as he pro-
ceeded until his words rang out, he de-
livered what was perhaps the most
touching farewell address ever delivered
from the Speakers chair.
Toward the close he laid down the gavel
and reached out his arms to his col
leagues as he spoke of the love and af-
lection with which he would treasure the
friendships and memories of his career
in the House. When he concluded the
cheers from floor and galleries echoed
end re-echoed through the hall.
The members with a very few excep-
tons on the Democratic side were on their
feet. Suddenly there blossomed out Of
the Republican side as if by magic a
forest of American flags. Waving these
aloft the members sang "America,' the
galleries rising en- masse to join in the
chorus. It was a stirring scene. AS the
notes Of the hymn died away the Speak
er who, seemingly had forgotten TO make
the fnal announcement, turned as if to
leave the chair when he was reminded
by the clerk at his side. He turned and
III a clear voice declared the House ad-
journed sine die.
The demonstration of applause was re-
neWed. In the midst of it Mr.. Kyle, of
Ohio, in his sweet tenor voice began
singing Sweet LAND of Liberty The
House took it up as the members surged
forward to bid the Speaker farewell. He
had descended from the rostrum and
standing at the door they filed by and
each received from him some pleasant
word and a cordial shake of the hand.
A dozen Republican members gathered
on the marble steps behind him and the
song changed to For He's a Jolly Good
Fellow and later to God Be With You
Till We Meet Again"
This hymn SO touched the Speaker that
he turned to Mr.. Tawney, of Minnesota,
while the procession was still passing
and asked him to later write out the
words and send them to him. Before
all the members had passed the visitors
from the galleries began surging out on
to the floor, also eager to grasp his
hand. For over half an hour the recep-
ton was continued and finally broke up
f with the singing of the doXology.
Many ladies had thrust bouquets OF
flowers into his hands and when ex
Speaker Henderson finally retired to his
room his arms were filled with violets,
} roses and other choice flowers.