St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-03-13
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

mCHt-UlllS W OSus ulOofNhOi -NSSO'
buttons to Speaker Cann0n-GiftS to
Secretary Shaw and Representative
Webber-The Forest ReServeS-JuStice
StaffOrd'S Popularity.
From our Regular Correspondent
Perhaps some OF your readers might
like to hear about the closing exercises OF
the 59th Congress, Monday, March 4,
when the short session came to a close.
There were a great many bills which
pressed for consideration during the last
few days, so they held night sessions.
Monday morning was beautiful sunny
one and thousands of people fiocked to
the capitol at an early hour so the
galleries, aisles and corridors were soon
full to OVERLOOKING in both the Senate
and House. People who came later with
cards from members looked hopelessly
around for a seat. Even the diplomatic
gallery was utilized. The Chinese min
lister and Mr.. Bryce, the new British
Ambassador, were visitors. The latter
attracts much attention, being an
author of repute, who also receives the
same salary as the President of the
United States, $4,000, it having been
recently raised from $4,000.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire
called up the ship subsidy bill, which had
recently passed the House after severe
contest, but Senator Carmack, whose
term expires with this Congress, declared
it was his intention to talk the bill to
death, and this declaration was EN-
phasized by the pile Of literature massed
upon his desk, so Senator Challenger, after
stating that 81 per cent of our commerce
is carried in foreign ships costing
annually 100000, while nine per cent
only is carried in American ships, would
withdraw the bill now, but declared that
in the future he should exert himself to
secure legislation on this subject. The
retirement of Senator Spooner of Wiscon-
sin from the Senate was a great surprise
and occasions sincere regret. He is
acknowledged to be one of the best con-
stitutional lawyers in the country and
this vacancy in the Republican ranks
cannot be readily filled. When he had
resolved to retire in 1900 to his private
law practice, Representative Platt of
Connecticut, his special friend urged
him, on patriotic grounds, to reconsider
and remain, which he did.
! The scene in the House Of Representa-
tives was unusually interesting, exciting,
not to say dramatic. All of the Repre-
sentatives were in their seats in a state
of silent expectancy, when Rep. Cush
man of Washington rose and presented
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio with beautiful
mahogany chest filled with 300 pieces of
silver made in America, of English
pattern. He was deeply touched by this
testimonial of friendship coming from
both the Republicans and Democrats
together He has had a term of 20
years service in the House, being one of
the great Republican war horses" al
ways ready to champion their cause at
moments warning. He was born in
Connecticut, but removed to Ohio; his
father served in the war of 1912 his
grandfather in the Revolutionary war,
and he was in the Union army. Cheer
upon cheer and clapping followed, and it
was called a "Grosvenor day The
clerks gave him later watch and cane,
it was reported, for he had secured them
the months vacation and pay, it was
said, and they wished to show gratitude.
Rep. Champ Clark took the chair
when Speaker Cannon retired to his
room and John Sharpe Williams, the
Democratic minority leader, in his sharp
clear tones read his resolutions of thanks
to the speaker, "Uncle Joe," for his big
brain, big heart and impartiaEty,
Cheers followed and Rep. Clark sent a
delegation after the speaker to conduct
him to the chair He marched in leaning
on the arm of Rep. Williams, and made
speech of thanks At five minutes of ~
a message came from the Senate stating
signed by the President would detain
them 10 minutes and some official turned
the clock back 10 minutes. The Repre-
sentatives then improved the time by
singing patriotic songs. 1t was like
grand choral concert, and intensely
enjoyed by the people in the galleries.
When the national legislators burst forth
with MY Country, 'Tis of Thee" flags
suddenly appeared from under the desk
and they waved them over their heads
to the sound of the music So great
was the patriotic fervor that women in
the anti-room climbed onto the table
and men onto chairs in the corridors to
peer down to the scene below. One lady
behind the crowd called out, Are the
men standing when they sing The
l Star Spangled Banner our national
hymn, for | am a Daughter of the
American Revolution and | would like to
know" Some of the Representatives
had taken their little girls in with them,
S and one little girl, dressed in pure white,
y stood upon her fathers desk and waved
his flag with the others. God be with
you till we meet again" closed the sing.
: ing, when the speakers gavel sounded
q and declared the House adjourned with
out day, which told of the close of the
59th Congress. We ought to have
mentioned that Rep. Foulkerson OF
i Missouri whistled two tunes to the
f delight of the audience.
\ A present of two dozen solid silver
plates by 80 officers in the treasury was
made to Secretary Shaw and Rep.
Weber, author of the Weber bill in
e Congress, was recently presented with a
;. silver water pitcher by the members OF
q the Prohibition party, and his wife with
a lovely hOunuet