The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-05

The closing scenes Of a Congress. which
to the old stagers are pretty much alike.
were repeated yesterday with as much
zest and feeling on the part OF those VINO
participated as If it were something en-
tirely new. And. indeed. there was "A
new feature-the waving Of numerous
small flags in the House. Both Houses
had finished all the important business
the night before. Every appropriation
bin had been passed. and. save for u final
vote by the Senate on the hours-of-serv-
ice bin, and such minor business as might
require attention, there was nothing to d.
but have good time.
Both Houses had taken recess 10 go.
When they met few members were pres
ent but as time passed they came in by
twos and threes and finally every seat in
both chambers was occupied The seats
in the galleries. too, were filled Line on
line. around the great halls Of the House
and Senate were gathered thousands OF
people eager to see the dying Congress.
In brilliancy Of color and buoyancy Of
feeling it was the same picture 50 well
known ID Washington The ladies came
had come-kept coming. and not only
were the galleries flied. but the corridors
were crowded with the disappointed who
could not wedge themselves into seats.
President Roosevelt was at hand at the
Senate end, to sign delayed bills, some OF
which would have failed had he remained
at the White House as Mr.. Cleveland in
sisted on doing. He spent more than an
hom IA IL Presidents room. just of the
Senate chamber, and signed forty bills be-
fore Congress adjourned. The Senate's
session ended with Il tap Of the gavel and
round Of light hand-clapping but the
House sang and cheered and had a good
time generally.
BeIated Measures Put Through.
Most of the time up to fnaI adjourn
ment was taken in putting through some
bclated measures and in semi-hum0rOus
debate Of no particular importance. When
things dragged, a recess would be taken.
/ In the Senate these periods OF suspension
were spent by the Senators in chatting
but IN the House there was singing and
lots Of fun.
Most of the people in the Senate gal
/ leries became aware that one man on the
floor was receiving great deal Of atten-
ton from his associates. He was a rather
small man, but made up I'm striking fea-
lures and bearing what he lacked IN size.
Senators stood around him and patted him
on the back and shook his hand. Some
Of them blew their noses furiously as
they walked away from him. These in
the galleries Who didn't know who the
man was soon round out that it was Sen
atOr Sp0Oner, Of Wisconsin, who resigned
Sunday because be couldn't afford 10 live
in Washington. and that his colleagues
were saying goOd-by 10 him.
There were goOd-byes also to Senators
whose terms Of service expire with the
dying Congress. among them Blackburn,
Of Kentucky, chairman Of the Democratic
caucus. who is 10 be appointed a member
OF the Isthmian Canal Commission, Clark
the Montana multimillionairc, who was
not candidate for reelection, and would
not have been returned had he been a
candidate. as the Republicans captured his
State last year; Berry. of Arkansas. the
ione-legged ex-Confederate who was going
out after twenty-five years of continuous
service. having been defeated for re-elec-
/ tion by Gov JEFF Davis; Dryden. of New
Jersey; MilIard, of Nebraska; Alice, OF
/ Delaware; Patterson, Of Colorado. who
will be succeeded by Guggenheim. the
millionaire smelter: CaTmack Of Tennes-
see. whose place will be taken by Bob
Taylor. the fddling statesman. and Du-
bois. Of Idaho. who is TO be succeeded by
a Republican. and who ascribes his defeat
TO the Mormon Church.
Report - Hours Bill Adopted.
The Senate met at $3.50 and promptly
took d recess until 10 O'Clock to await the
/ conference report on the nours-of-service
bill for railway employees operating trains.
There were disqUI,.-ng rumors that the
bill was to be killed While waiting, Mr.
Lodge called up and the Senate passed a
/ bin TO relieve a Boston brewery firm from
an improper levy of Internal taxes.
Finally the conference report on the rail-
ways employees bin came in. was ex-
plained. and promptly adopted It was
then 100 \ roll call was demanded,
which recorded 76 votes for the measure
and none against it.
/ Here followed one Of the most interest
! ing incidents of the day. Mr.. Benjamin 5
Platt, the enrolling clerk. found. from
the number of interlineations and amend
ments. that quick work alone would get
the engrossed bill printed He found
Public Printer SuIlings and Foreman
Young and had them drive in their car
riage to the Government Printing Office
and expedite the printing. They made the
/ journey, had the type set the copy
! printed. got back. and the bill was passed.
signed by Speaker Cannon by Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks. and by the President be-
fore 1910 o'clock. The railway brother
/ hoods and he telcgraphers owe 10 Mr..
I Platt no $. all measure of gratitude for
his clear-headcd service for their bill.
The time-honored custom was not fol-
/ lowed Of turning back the clock hands
/ so that the session would seem not 20
! have Tapped over into new legislative
4 day. When "a committee Of Senators re-
CONTINUED on FOURTH PAGE.