The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-03-07
TAME ENDING FOR
THE 59TH CONGRESS
"LAST DAY ENTHUSIASM" Is
CHECKED BY FATIGUE.
PRESIDENT IN AT FINISH
Signs Bills and Says Farewells-Ml-
nority Thanks Presiding officers
Silver Service Presented
to Grosvenor.

Washington, March with a new
record for large appropriations and
far-reaching legislation, the fifty-ninth
congress was brought to close short
ly after noon Monday. The last few
hours were calm, in fact tame, by COM
parison with what had been expected.
Long before noon Senator Calling
er's fight for the passage of the ship
subsidy bill had been abandoned and
the filibuster against it conducted by
Senator Carmack being no longer nee
essary, he surrendered the floor. much
to the disappointment Of the CALLER
les. Extreme fatigue, due to con-
tinued night sessions in the house
during the last week, had dampening
effect upon many congressman and
the usual excessive "last day enthusi-
asm" was confined to less than half
the membership.
Despite these conditions the audi
ences in both houses were as large as
they ever have been. Thousands
yhronged the corridors unable to Sc
cure admission to either branch.
President Busy Signing Bills.
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
presidents room in the senate wing
Seated at a big table in the center of
the room, he signed bills as they were
enrolled and presented to him. On ac-
count of the dispatch with which bust
ness has been conducted during the
past week there were only 40 bills to
be signed Monday.
The president was at the capitol for
more than an hour. He devoted most
of the time to visiting with his cab
met, both the retiring and incoming
members being present, and to pre-
senting them to personal friends of
the senate and house. Retiring sena-
tors were received and without ex-
ception the president expressed regret
that these lawmakers were to leave
the service of the country. Especially
warm was his reception to Senator
Spooner, who has just announced his
voluntary retirement. t
p When the members of the commit
tee which waited upon him with the
information that congress was ready
to adjourn, had delivered their mes
sage, the president thanked them for
the laws that had been enacted, but
he added with smile that he still 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 sew
eral recommendations for legislation
which had not met with congressional
favor this session. .
Presiding officers Thanked.
Vice President Fairbanks and Speak
er Cannon received the thanks of the
minority for the impartial manner in
which they had presided over the de-
alterations of the two houses, and
both of these officers made speeches
expressing gratitude at the words of
appreciation.
n lSdtuIS VI lhG uOuSS SGSSlOu was
the presentation of club silver SER
ice of 800 pieces to Gen. Grosvenor
by his colleagues of the fifty-ninth con-
gress. Speeches of regret at the vet
eran Orleans retirement were made
from both sides of the chamber.
In addition to the songs and stories
that usually mark the close of ses-
sion, there was beautiful picture
formed by the entire house rising and
waving flags and singing my Coun-
try It's of Thee" as the gavel fell at
1915 p. m.
In the senate the last of the pro
ceedings was the speech by Vice Pres
ident Fairbanks prior to adjournment
at 1918 p. m. His remarks were ap-
plauded by the thousands of visitors
and the applause continued as the
audience watched with interest the
farewells Of senators on the floor.