New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-07
WASHINGTON.
OPENING DAY OF THE HOUSE.


DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY on TIE FIRST Party
VOTE
1917 TsLseRAPH TO TAR yRIDuSr.l
WASHINGTON, Doc. 6.-Without the least excite
ment and with no angry word OF gesture there was
accomplished to-day the most important pohiical
revolution which the country has known since the
Republicans came into power in 1851. SO smoothly
did the work If organizing the House proceed tlat
il was har realize that the process gong forward
without lar or interruption wa. the laying down OF
power in the popular branch of Congress by the
party which had held the reius for almost genera
ton and the assumption of full control by the or
ganigation SO long i'm the minority The scenes in
and around the hall were like those 80 often de-
scribcd at the opening of the session. The gal
leres were picked. The entrance doors were damned
bv eager crowds. 1hrones Of disappointed people
snrged back aud forth in the corridors. The men,
beIs seats were all occupied, and army Of out
siders which had forced its way through the door
keepers. was drawn up six eight deep in the
semi- circle back of the desks solid Macedonian
phalaux. In Washington all the ladies' politicians,
az least 10 the extent Of wanting TO see the new
House organized. On occasions like this they
usually outnumbcr the men, and are far more eager
IL hear what Is gong They invaded the re-
porters gallery to-day, took possession of many of
the desks and enduring with patience and com
placency the cutting remarks IN an audible under
tone displaced the rightful occupants. The Demo-
cratic members filled all the seats the right hand
side of the hall and spread over into the region
sacred to the Republicans for almost score of
wears II may have been imagination, hut it seemed
a. if the boundary line could he traced between the
two parties by the ooksof the members themselves.
The Democrats wore smiling and satisfied ex-
preston, while the Republicans appeared serious
and little detected.
Clerk Mcpherson went through his work of or
ganizing the body pretty well on the whole but
made a few mistakes that rather curious in
veteran like him, who was rehearsing the perform
ance for the sixth time. Perhaps ii the unusual
gravity Of the occasion that made him nervous
when he took his place at the desk. The call of the
roll was the first proceeding. An assistant placed
the silver mace in position on its pedestal. This was
al error, because the mace is the symbol of the
authority of the House, and it is never elevated ex-
cept when the body is organized and in session.
Some Of the old members saw the blunder, and after
little quiet consultation had the mace taken down.
The ro,l-can showed 2s6 members present and only
seven absent.
In the election for Speaker the mOnOtony Of party
votes for Mr., Kerr and Mr.. Blame was varied by two
Illinois Independents. who mutually complimented
each other Mr. Anderson voting for Mr.. Campbell
ana Mr.. Campbell for Mr.. Anderson Gen. Banks,
whose vote was awaited with much curl
A. s. Williams of Michigan. Republican, who
served under him in his Virginia campaign. OF
members cIassed as Independents the following
voted for Mr. Kerr Messrs Bc gby Of Illinois, Bliss
o. New-York, Stevenson Of Illinois, WhitehOnse and
Willis Of New-York. The following Independents
voted for Mr.. Blaine Messrs DensOn of Vermont
and Seelye Of Massachusetts,. The two candidates
for Speaker declined to vote. Messrs. Blame and
Randall escorted the new Speaker 10 the chair His
lot ,f nj
buncombe and did not refer to the advent OF
his party to power In half a dozen sentences, de
hvered with modest dignity, he thanked the House
for the honor conferred on him, and promised fair
ness toward men and measures. He was warmly
applauded by the members of both parties. The
oath was administered, according TO lnGemorlal
custom by the member longest in continuous service
now Judge Kelley of Pennsylvania. During the four
hour, session that followed Mr.. kerrsmanner wasone
of stately courtesy and judicial fairness His voice
was not strong, but was clearly heard throughout
the hall He made few mistakes. One was rather
.erous, which went TO show that good Speaker
like poet is born and not made. A House of nearly
three hundred members scarcely furnishes two men
on an average specially qualified tO fill the chair, and
30 amount Of experience makes up 1or want OF
natural talent for the position. The swcarlng-n OF
the members followed the installation Of NIL Kerr
There were sixty who could not take the iron-clad
oath, relic of proscriptive legislation which VIII
not survive the present Congress. To them was al
minIstered the later modified oath. Two members
MI Morey OF Louisiana and Mr. Goode of Virginia,
were objected to on the ground that their pr'@d
faca right 10 the seat contested, and they were
Obliged 10 drop out of the ranks and await the
action of the House
The objection TO Mr.. Morey had consequences that
were unexpected and astonishing IL revived the
ve1ed Louisiana question, broke the Democratic
majority almost in halves the fret party vote OF
tie session bghted the budding leadership of Fer
nando Wood. dscOmftted his Geutcnants, Lamar
and Cox. aud resulted in victory, the horrors OF
winch singularly enough, were divided by Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Holman, They really belonged,
however in large part TO Speaker Ketr, who, rather
than see his party take a wrong position and commit
serious political bundcT took the alternative OF
accomplishing it, defeat, which he did by sending
advice from the chair 10 his friends on the OOr fOur
of the six Louisiana members held certificates Hom
both Gov. Kellogg and Mr.. McEnery; one held
certificate from Gov. Kellogg, and had no cOmpe-
titor and the remaining member, Mr. Morey, pre-
sented Gov. Kcllogg's certificate. aud was met 10y
certificate forwarded by ". : Spencer and signed
by Sir. McEnery Clerk Mcpherson put Mr.. hoIey
on the roll along with biz five colleagues, but stated
the facts about the conflicting certificates TO the
House. Everybody knew it part Of the LOUISE
ana compromise, that the members commissioned Dy
Gov Kellogg should be recognized; but In the lace
of this understanding and Of the action or the
House in the last Congress, Mr.. wood endeaVored
81 lead the Democrats into the blunder OF
reopening the vexltiOus dispute; excluding
Mr. Morey, recognizing Mr.. SpeDcers hchheiy
certificate az lust a. good evidence az one gwen by
Gov Kellogg; and sending, both claiments to the
Committee on Elections for decision on prtma Jd0a