The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-05
ROOSEVELT SEES
CONGRESS OUT
Thanks Members for
What Done; More Yet.
Says He.
FINAL SESSION
UNUSUALLY TAME
All Had Worked So Hard Dur
ing Past Few Days No Fun
Left in Them The Ship
Subsidy Bill Was
Talked to
Death. *, q

WASHINGTON, March 4.--Wi1h new
record for large appropriations and far
reaching Legislation. the F'ifty-ninth
Congress was brought to a close shortly
after noon to-day. The last few hours
were calm; In fact, tame, by compari-
son with what had been expected. Long
before noon passage or the ship subsidy
bill had beela abandoned and the fill
buster against 1t, conducted by Senator
Sarinack, icing no longer necessary, he
surrendered the floor, muc;l to the dis
appointment of the galleries.
Before introducing the bill Senator
GalIinger expressed the belief that with
the support of Democratic members.
which he had been assured of, he would
get action on measure practically
along the lines of the present bill at
the next session of Congress- Extreme
fatigue, due to continued night sessions
In the House during the last week. had
dampening effect upon many Congress
inen, and the usual excessive .'last day
en,i!usiasm'' was confined to less than
half the membership.
Despite these conu,tions the audience
IN both houses We're as large as they
have ever BEEN Thousands thronged the
corridors, unable to secure admission to
either branch.
President Attends.
One of the interesting features Incl
dent to the close OF the Congress was
the visit of President Roosevelt. who.
with his Cabinet. White House staff and
number of guests. occupied the Presi-
dents room in the Senate wing. Seated
at a big table in the centre of the room,
he signed bills as they We're enrolled
and presented to him. On account Of
the dispatch Will. which business has
been conducted during the past week
there We're only forty bills to he signed
to-day
The President was at the Capitol for
more than an hour. He devoted most of
the time in visiting with his Cabinet
both the retiring and incoming members.
being present, and in presenting them
to PERSONAL friends Of the Senate and
House. Retiring Senators were received
graciously and without exception the
I, President expressed regret that these
lawmakers We're to lave the service Of
the country. Especially warm was his
reception OF Senator Spooner, who has
just announced his voluntary retirement
When the members or the committee
which waited upon him with the nfor-
| nation that Congress was ready to ad-
| journ, had delivered their message the
! President thanked them FOR the laws
| that had been enacted, but he adaed
(, with smile that he stlll had several
bills that would be heard from in the
| future, This amounted to good-natured
| but direct notice to Congress that he
| had not abandoned the several recon-
| mendations for legislation which had not
| met with congressional favor this ses-
sion.
Both Receive Thanks.
Vice President Fairbanks and Speakei
| Cannon received the thanks of the mlnof-
ity for the impartial manner In whic,
they had presided over the deliberations
| of the two houses, and both of thesF
officers made speeches expressing graft
tule ut the words Of appreciation, The
| feature Of the House session was tn
| presentation of a club silver service oi
| 400 pieco. to General Grosvenor by his
colleagues of the Fifty-ninth Congress
| Speeches of regret at the veteran Ohioar's
| retirement werc made from both side;
| of the chamber.
In addition to the songs and stories
that usually mark the close of a sessic,,
there was beautiful picture formed hs
the entire House rising and waving flag!
and singing my Country, '1'is of Thee,
| as the gavel fell at 1915 p. M, In tn,
I Senate the last of the proceedings wa
! the speech by Vice. President Fairbanks
/ prior to adjournment at 1919 =. NJ. Hi
1 remarks werc applauded by the thous
| ands OF visitors, and the applause con
! tinned as the audience watched with In
terest the farewels of Senators on tn
floor.
Peonage was the first subject hroush
to the attention of the House when
l. (COntlUueuE on Third napel