Year: 1875

The Conference Committees report on the ounu'y
Civil Appropriation bill was next submitted ana
agreed to, although Messrs Randall and Bntier
strangely enough cooperating for orce, opposed 10
Mr. Randall thought the bill an extravagant ono'
and Mr.. Garfield while he contonded that on the
whole economy had been practiced in its prepafa-
ton. was forced to admit that there were some ex
travagaut items IN it which which he would not uh-
dertake to defend.


Messrs Randall and Batter both denounced the
amendment relating to the new Idria Mining Com
panys land a. O sham They were both in favor Oh
making an attempt to recover this land for the
United States, and Mr.. MoGarrahan docs not Ike
the provision providing for an investigation any
better than they do IL e suit had been ordered 10
be brought in the name of the United States,
Mr.. McGarTahan was to be allowed to appear
as party to the suit; but If the United STATES Only
makes an investigation he has little chance 10 geo
in HE claims But the hour was too late TO correct
mistakes, and even the attempt to do 80 would DO
fatal to the bill Shortly afterward the deficiency
bill was passed without opposition and with Dn1
little explanation. and the House was let loose on
private bills which members brought IN the
last moments of tho session to pass.
Rarely does o session close amid excitcnehu
so intense. Half an hour before noon the doors
had been thrown open and ladies admitted 10 the
floor. They came IN large numbers. and with their
escorts packed the entire space outside of the desks
and extended down the aisles, while hundreds con-
tinued to throng the corridors unable to get even
standing room either the galleries or upon the
floor Pages were rushing frantically from the
rooms of the enrolling clerks to the Speakers desk
carrying away the bills that were passed to be
written out on parchment and returning
them for the Speakers signature. Then they were
seized by other pages, who dashed up the crowded
center aisle with the headlong speed of an engine
on the way to fire, and over to the Senate Tor tne
signature of the Vice-President and PRESIDENT.
Again and again during the last ten minutes the
Secretary of the Senate appeared to announce
the passage Of bill or concurrence in amendments,
and the Speaker facetousy referred one OF them
to the Judiciary Committee. raising great laugh.


Delegate Chipman seemed almost crazy over
bill to incorporate a navigation company lnShe DIS
trict of Columbia He enrolled it himself, rushed


into the House for the Speakers signature. and then
dashed off for the Senate, the skirts OF his
overcoat flying wildly behind him, followed
by an excited page. He got his bill to the President
Just one minute before 10 o'clock The last message
from the Senate was tho announcement that the
Senate had passed bill for the relief of the heirs of
Asbury Dickens, Secretary of the United States
Senate from 1896 to 1861, with amendments On mo-
ton Of Mr.. Maynard, the amendments
were unanimously cOncurred in, but o.
course there was no time to enSH the
bill Then at 12 o'clock Mr.. Blaine raped
three times with his gavel. The members generally
rose to their feet and the Speaker delivered his
farewell address, while almost breathless silence
prevailed throughout the Chamber. As work OF
art the speech was perfect, but one who reads IL
can appreciate its effect it delivered to the
vast throng The deep feeling winch
was apparent in every word and sentence
aroused q corresponding sympathy in all
who listened and when he closed, threw down the
gavel, and left the chair, no such scene has been
witnessed in the House by the oldest habtue of the
CAPITOL The thousands who crowded the galleries
and thronged the floor burst forth in the most en-
thusiastic and prolonged applause. Everybody, all
over the House, clapped hands, white handker-
chiefs were waved, and men shouted This was
continued for several minutes, while the members
crowded about the Speaker to shake his hands
The members and their friends began to leave the
hall, and the XLIlld Congress was among the
things of the past