The adjournment of the Second Session of the 58th Congress

April 28, 1904

On this date, the second session of the 58th Congress (1903–1905) adjourned. The 386 Representatives and four non-voting Members toiled over an emergency rivers and harbor bill up to the final moments of the session. Relenting to the wishes of President Theodore Roosevelt, Congress adjourned unprecedentedly early; the session only lasted 144 calendar days. The last order of business for then House was a resolution passed in honor of Speaker of the House Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois. Introduced by John Sharp Williams of Mississippi, the resolution thanked the Speaker for his “fair and impartial and manner in which he presided over the House.” Speaker Cannon in turn thanked the Congress and with a swing of the gavel adjourned the session. Representatives celebrated the end of session with a traditional celebration of song in the House Chamber. Members sang: “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,’” “Till We Meet Again,” and the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The media gave critical reviews of the Members’ performances. A New York Times reporter, wrote that Jacob Beidler of Ohio had a decent voice, but that the pitch was so low that no one could sing with him. Charles Landis of Indiana attempted to join in, but sang off key. The only tune the Members could harmonize was “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” The custom of celebrations at the end of a session died off during the later half of the Twentieth century when partisanship and the Representatives’ hectic schedules eliminated much of the early camaraderie in Congress.

Related Highlight Subjects

• Cannon, Joseph (Uncle Joe) (20)
• Speaker of the House (74)
• Adjournment (3)

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A former journalist, Charles B. Landis of Indiana served five-terms in the House of Representatives before losing a re-election bid to the 61st Congress (1909–1911). Image courtesy of Library of Congress