Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

THE Senate of the. Forty-fourth Congress was
called to order at twelve o'clock on the 9Th. bv
the President pro tenn, Senator Ferry, of Michi-
gan. After prayer by the Ch aplain the creden-
tials of David NJ. Key, appointed to succeed the
late Andrew johnson, of Tennessee, were pre-
scented, and he was sworn in. Mr.. Boutwell,
formally announced the death of Vice-president
Wilson....The House was called to order by Mr..
MCPHERSON, Clerk Of the Forty-third Congress-.
Two hundred and eigfty-six members answered
to their names. The vote for Speaker resulted as
follows: NJ. c. Kerr (the nominee of the Demo-
cratic caucus), 173. J. G. Blaine, 1O3; scattering,
turned thanks in a few rem rks, promising COM
plete fairness and impartiality toward all. The
oath of Office was administered to the Speaker by
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, as the oldest c~ontinu-
Gus member Ofthe House, and the Speaker then ad-
ministered the oath tC The members. The nominees
of the Democratic caucus for the minor offices of
the House were then elected by resolution, and
sworn in. A resolution was adopted that the
ru es of the House in the Forty-third Congress
be the rules of the present House, except Rules
166 and 167, and also providing for the appoint
ment of a Committee on Rules, to consist of the
Speaker and four members. Rules 166 and 1877
are those adopted in the last Congress requiring
motions to suspend the rules to be seconded bv
a majority, and fOrbidding the entertainment of
dilatory motions. The usual committees TO no.
tify the Senate and President were appointed.
On the 18th the Presidents message was read
in the Senate and ordered printed. James E.
English was sworn in as Senator from Connect
icut, in place of O.. S. Ferry, deceased. The
drawing of seats took place in the House, after
which the Presidents message was read and or
dered printed. A petition Of w, II. Trescott and
others, of South Carolina, with reference to the
right of the Third { congressional District of that
State, was presented and referred. The House
adjourned to the 10th.
On the 6th q large number Of memoir
ais were presented in the Senate, among them
one from the Centennial Board of Finance asking
for an appropriation of 81 ,501,0t0. Among the
bills introduced was one by Mr.. Morton to pro-
vide for and regulate the counting of votes for
President and Vice-President, and the DISPOSE
ton of questions arising therefrom. Mr.. Morton
also submitted a joint resolution to amend the
Constitution of the United States so as to elect
the President and Vice-President by a direct
vote of the people and to abolish the Electoral
College.
On the 9th the Standing and Select Committees
were announced in the Senate. A letter was pre-
scented from w. L. Mcmillan asking permission
to Withdraw his credentials as Senator-elect
from Louisiana by the McEnery Legislature,
and an order was submitted that the re-
quest be granted, but objection being made
it was laid over. Among the bills intro
duced and referred was one by Mr.. Bogy au-
thorizing the payment of duties on imports in
legal-tender and National Bank notes, after July
a, 1876. Adjourned to the 18th.