The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-05
CLOSING SCENES IN THE HOUSE.
Speaker Henderson Gives Touching
Farewell Address.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. March A.
When the conference report on the
general deficiency, the last of the ap-
preparation bills, was presented in the
house at 3 o'clock this morning by Mr..
cannon, the veteran chairman of the
house committee on appropriations,
IN speech protesting against the
Legislative blackmail,' by which the
house conferees had been compelled
to yield TO the dictation of a single
senator and accept the appropriation
OF $4,000 to pay an alleged claim
Of South Carolina against the govern
ment, aroused the members Of the
house to pitch of genuine enthusiasm
which had not been witnessed in the
lower house during this session.
The officer of the government he
said, has ascertained that the claim
amounted to only Al cents, yet upon
the alternative of this gift from The
treasury or the failure of this great
appropriation, the house had submitted
to this "blackmail."
In impassioned tones he prayed his
life would be spared until a righteous
public sentiment should lash the SEN
ate into majority rule and declared
That the house representatives must
force this issue or become the recorder
OF the will of one man in the upper
house. The speech was regarded IS
the members cheered it to the echo.
The house recOnvened at 10 o'clock
this morning.
The speaker, despite the strain of the
last few days, looked smiling and Sc
rene as he faced the house, gavel in
hand. Mr.. Richardson, the minority
leader, who has been conducting the
long hlbuster, was on his feet smiling
back at the speaker. The Democratic
minority was determined to make good
It's threat made when Mr.. Butler, Of
missouri, was unSeated last Thursday
AS soon as the speakers gavel fell Mr..
Richardson announced blandly that no
quorum was present, and thereupon
Mr.. Payne, the majority leader, moved
call OF the house. The speaker sew
eral times during the call was COM
PEELED to admOnish the house to pre-
serve order so that the clerk could
hear the responses.
AS the roll call was concluded a 1e-
markable scene occurred. Speaker
Henderson yielded the gavel to Mr..
Cannon, the incoming speaker. AS the
latter took the chair the members broke
INTO a burst of applause in which the
galleries Joined. 1t was quite as much
a compliment to the retiring speaker
as to Mr.. Cannon. The speaker re-
ured to his room in the rear of the
hall and Mr.. Cannon then announced
the motion for a call of the house de-
feated, II to 134.
Amid intense silence Mr.. Payne, the
majority leader, offered the following
resolution of thanks to the retiring
speaker:
Resolved, That the thanks of this
house be presented to Hon. David B.
henderson, speaker of the house of
representatives, for the able, impartial
and dignified manner which he has
presided over its deliberations and has
performed the arduous and important
duues OF the chair during the present
term of congress-
Mr.. Cochrane Dem.. MOI was on
his feet demanding recognition, but the
chair ruled that Mr.. Payne was en-
titled to the floor The majority lead
er faced the minority as he announced
that he considered it high honor and
privilege to be permitted to offer this
resolution, pointing out that it was
not the first time that such q resoluti On
had come from the majority side. He
cited the instance of Clay, Polk, Banks
and the late Speaker Reed.
AS he concluded with a glowing
tribute to Speaker Henderson the
whole Republican side broke into
hearty applause. But there was a dead
silence on the Democratic side. Mr..
Payne's remarks were -sas- follows:
- AANA4 -hA' eNS llC uCiildIQGu the pre-
Nious question and Speaker Pro Tenn.
Cannon put the question,-there was a
second of oppressive silence. All eyes
were on the Democratic side. From
the rear row Mr.. Cochran Oem., MOI
arose quickly and in a loud voice cried
division" and then the 'ayes and
nays From the Republican side came
sybillant sound, like hiss.
The gentleman from Missouri de-
mands the ayes and nays" announced
the chair. las many as are in favor
of ordering the ayes and nays will rise
and stand until they are counted"
Mr.. Cochran was already on his feet
Mr.. BurleSton Oem., Tex.) at his side
Joined him, and with some seeming
hesitation score of other Democrats
also rose to their feet. Mr.. Richard
son, Mr.. Underwood, Mr. Williams
CM1ss), Mr.. De Almond and other
prominent men of the minority side
remained seated.
The sound on the Republican side
now became distinctly hiss, and from
the galleries also came similar signs OF
disapproval. In all only twenty-one
Democrats arose. The chair counted
and still, amid intense silence, an
nounced that twenty one had seconded
the demand. 'Forty-two are necessary
10 order the ayes and nays" he an
nounced, mot q sufficient number and
the ayes and nays are refused"
a great wave Of applause swept over