The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-04
Work About Completed.

Washington, March 3. p. m.-(Special) Within 12 hours of adjournment the work of Congress. with the exception of the rivers and harbors bill stands completed. With twelve hours remaining to fight that out and the minds of the leaders of both parties concentrated upon it-seeking in some way to effect a compromise which will bring Senator Penrose and Chairman Burton together-there is hope that that. too, will get through before adjournment is reached.
 The past forty-eight hours have been legislative wonders. The regular appro- priation bills, hopelessly tied up on the eve of tho Swayne acquittal, have one by one been passed by the Senate, rushed back to the House, sent to conference, where in nearly every instance speedy agreements have been reached. There have been few Congresses to conclude the work set out for 1t in better shape.
 But in this connection 1t should be remembered that there was compara- lively little work for this Congress to do. Early in the session the warning went forth that special bills were to be held by committees in every instance possi- ble, especially in those cases where mo- ney was to be appropriated The conse- quence Is that outside of the supply bills and the statehood bIll there was little left to discuss. Throughout the session measures that would lead to any degree of discussion have been smothered in committee. There have been no great measures before the Congress, nor any thing requiring an exhibition of con- structive statesmanship.
 Cfff pd start Congress now has time to spare on It's hands.
 Legislation Was Farce.
 In the House today legislation was largely farce. Despite the efforts of the speaker there were only occasional lapses Into silence and good order in the wild whirl of noise and confusion.
 Members on the floor passed from one side of the chamber to the other, ex- changing "reminiscences and bidding an ticipatory farewells. The galleries were filled to overfowing with a chattering mob of inaugural visitors. In the bed lam thus produced to hear was over whelmingly difficult, and to understand with definite completeness utterly impos- sible. Speaker Cannon's gavel fell with unfailing regularity. The House will be in order" thundered the Speaker. Gen tlemen will cease conversation and re- sume their seats. VIII all gentlemen please take their seats If there is any time when vigilance as well as coolness should characterize the conduct of mem bers 1t is upon the last day of the ses- sion." There would be temporary quiet and in a minute the noise would begin again, if anything, worse than before.
 Different on Senate Side.
 Over on the Senate side an entirely different picture was presented. The ses- sion, well-attended early in the evening was devoid of interest and as is always the case on the north end of the capitol Perfect order was maintained In the gal leries.
 The day passed and went into the night without anything of great interest oc- curing other than the speech of Repre- sentative Burgess of Texas in defense of Chairman Burton and the rivers and har- bors committee
 Secret of the Opposition.
 The real secret of the opposition of Senator Penrose and the Pennsylvania delegation to the rivers and harbors bill is the severe criticism they have been receiving from the Philadelphia newspa- pers because they failed to hog the whole