Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-27

CONGRESS ADJOURNs.
The second session of the 61st Con-
gress adjourned at II O'Clock Saturday
night
The Capitol was aglow with lights
and thronged by people, who crowded
in to witness the customary adjourn
ment scenes OF jollity in the House
and dignifed leave-talking in the
Senate. Those on the House side, how
ever, were dropped, for the adjourn
ment was one OF the most quiet in
years.
Probably the best pleased that it
was over of all the lawmakers was
Speaker Cannon, who gave out a
statement extolling extrayagantly the
work of the session and declared that
the Congress just ended had done
more and better work than any Con-
gress of which he had been member
during his 80 years Of service in the
House.
President Taft in evening dress and
accompanied by his secretary, and his
aide, reached the Capital at 10 O'Clock.
He was greeted by Vice President
Sherman and escorted at once to the
presidents room, where he sat at the
table and commenced at once the task
of signing the bills which were rounded
up in the closing hours of the session.
The last measure signed was joint
resolution to authorize the secretary
of war to loan tents to the Appala-
chan exposition, to be held in Knox
vile, Tenn, in September, and which
the president expects to attend.
The joint committee appointed to
notify the president that Congress was
ready to adjourn, consisting of Senators
Hale and Bacon, and Representatives
Payne, Tawney, and Clark, finally
elbowed through the throng in the
executive room and performed the
duty. President Taft acknowledged
receipt of the information, shook hand
with each member of the committee,
and said good-naturedly that he, Of
course, yearned to have Congress stay
right here in Washington, but that,
if the members had finished their bust
ness, he was happy to bid them fare
we'll.
The clock in the presidents room
was Ginning the eleventh hour when
the Senate bell rang four times, signal
ing the final adjournment of the ses-
sion. Without the loss of moment,
the president followed by his retinue of
cabinet members and assistants, left
the building.
Each House marked its closing hour
by voting for an investigation of the
McMurray Indian contracts. Instead
Of the usual scene of comparatively
undignitied relaxation from the business
Of legislation, both houses devoted ex-
ceedingly serious attention to the
charges of attempted bribery and other
forms of improper influence made in
the Senate on Friday by Senator Gore,
OF Oklahoma, and subsequently in the
House by Representative Murphy, Of
Missouri.
Two separate Investigations are pro-
yided for-one in each house Each
body passed resolution creating a
select committee OF five members to
pursue the inquiry TO the bottom dur
ing the recess Of Congress, and to re-
port whether any Of its members are,
or have been, interested in any Of these
contracts. Until late hour in the day,
it looked rather as the matter would
go by default, but as Don as the two
houses reconyened at 9 O'Clock last
night, after a recess in the afternoon,
the matter came up with a rush, and
crowded galleries listened with intense
interest to the proceedings which end
ed in the vote to probe the charges.
Speaker Cannon appointed the fol-
lowing committee to conduct the House
investigation Messrs. Burke, South
Dakota, chairman; Campbell, of Kan
sas; Miller, Of Minnesota; Stephens, OF
Texas, and Saunders, of Virginia.
Vice President Sherman announced the
following committee to conduct the
Senate investigation Senators Jones,
of Washington; Burton, of Ohio; Craw-
ford, of South Dakota; Hughes, of Cor
orado, and Percy, Of Mississippi.
Representative Mcclure, of Okla
homa, in the House, denied any in
terest in the McMurray Indian con-
tracts and asked suspension of the rules
to provide a thorough investigation.
I leave behind me the contest OF
this winter in the House with malice
towards none" With these words
Speaker Cannon adjourned the House.
The Senate also adjourned in formal
fashion without any demonstration.