Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-06
FORTT-FOCRTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MONDAY. December 6.

SIN A1t.-lne senate galleries were toll
erably well flied before the hour of noon, but
there was 10 crowd, as the attraction seemed
to centre entirely on the House side The
usual baECShaking took place among Sem
aturS as they entered the chamber.
At y O'Clock noon the President pro ten.
rapF- /, and the chaplain, Rev. DIR. Suuter-
land. ms lie the following prayer:
Almi ghty.and Everlasting God we q lore
as The supreme Being. May We trust in thee
as our father in heaven, the author OF every
blessing. As we come into this place ye-
dark with the shadow OF national bereave-
meut, as thy servants assemble together
here, and some WHO were with them last
shall come no more, help US TO realize the
truth that We, too, are mortal: that our DAYS
are swift as arrows; that our work will
quickly cease; that the sunset will be upon Us
Ca we come to Know il. . Lord, our God, we
thank Thee FOR the Kindness shown t. these
thy servants in that Thou hast brought them
together here from many distant pOiatS ia
health and safety. Remember them for good.
LESS thy servant the President OF the UniteI
Sites and all in authority over Us. Bless
the congress now convened and entering
upon their labOrs. Bless this whole nation
with thy presence and the presence OF thy
holy spirit, and with deeper faith in Thee
TIN Dugh Jesus Christ.
The President pro ten. (Mr. Ferry then
said: "This being the day appointed by law
lor Inc assembling OF Congress, The Senate
viii please come TO order"
Mr. Cooper presented the credentials OF
David VI. Key, of Tennessee, appointed by
heGovernor OF that state to fill temporarily
Johnson. The credentials were read and Mr..
Key came forward and was sworn in.
Mr. Anthony submitted resolution direct
ing the Secretary OF the Senate 10 notify the
House OF Representatives that a quorum of
the Senate is present and ready TO proceed TO
business.
On motion of Mr.. Hamilton. thedafly hour
OF meeting was fixed al u o'clock noon.
On motion OF Mr.. Anthony, IL was ordered
that the President pro tenn. appointed COM
mittee of two Senators 10 wait upon the
President and inform him that the Senate is
now in session and ready TO receive any COM
muIlcation which he may have TO make,
the committee TO be appoiD ted in cOnjunc-
ton wi Ia a similar committee on the part OF
the House OF Representatives. Nessrs. An
irony and Thurman were appointed as the
committee.
On motion of Mr. Robertson, the Senate
then took recess OF 80 minutes.
On the reassembling of the Senate, at Is
minutes 70 o'clock
Mr.. Boutwell, said ne rose to announce to
the Senate the death OF the Vice President
OF the United States, and 10 say 10 the Sen
ate that at an early day resolutions relating
10 his life, character and pubic services will
be offered.
Mr.. Anthony then stated that as il was
ceived from the House Till a late hour to-
day, ii was perhaps best TO adjourn.
The Senate thereupOn adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The assembling OF the House of Representa-
tives as usually attracted an immense crowd
To that end of the Capitol. On the floor
there was the usual huggiDg, haudshaking.
and congratulations. The old members
mostly took the seats they had occupied in
the 43d Congress. The galleries were packed
and as usual on all great occasions the re-
porter's gallery was invaded, and the blSi-
ness OF the reporters who had work to do was
interrupted.
All II O'Clock Hon. Edward Mcpherson
clerk of the House of Representatives of the
ADJ Congress, raped to order and proceeded
TO call the roll of members.
Two hundred and eighty-siy members re-
sponded 10 the roll call. The absences were
Messrs Dobbins y. j., Egbert pa, Ste
phehs tGal, and Oliver Iowa. There are
several Va cancies.
On motion of Mr.. Lamar Miss the House
proceeded 10 the election OF Speaker, and he
placed ih nomination Hon. Michael c. Ken,
of Indiana.
Mr., Wheeler IN. " nominated Ho.l. Jas.
G.. Blaine, OF Maine.
Messrs. Holman Ind }, Clyme, 1Pa.). Dam
ford S9h,o o}ss and Banks (M@ss) were APP
members proceeded to vote c:oo uoce.
The tellers reported that Mr.. Kerr had re-
celved rs votes and Mr.. Blaine loo. They
also annotated that Mr. Campbell, of I'LL
nois: hsu voted for Mr.. Anderson, or the same
otate, and that Mr.. Anderson had vot: for
Mr.. Campbell; and that Mr. Banks had
voted for Mr.. A. S. Williams.
OF those classe" as independents Is, the fol-
lowing voted for Etr. keif, viz: Messrs. Bog
| ~ Illl, Bliss N. ", Stevenson liL),
wh NIL IN: r., Wills IN sE b. ~ uo,r.
DennisOn (Nt.) and See'ye tMass.)
Messrs. Randall (Pa) and Blaine (Me.)
| were appointed TO escort the Speaker-eiect
to the chair.
ADDRESS OF SPEAKER KERR.
| The Speaker elect upon assuming the chair
| delivered the following address:
Ge,lIeHte,, Of the House Of Representatives.
am truly gratifed for the honor you nave
conferred in calling me To this exalted sta
| ton. / profoundly appreciate the import
| ance anu delicacy of its duties. / shall doubt
| less many times need your patient indul-
| gence. i pray that you will grant il and
4 with nothing but kindl Y feeling toward every
| member OF the House. promise that IN ali
| my official acts i will dIyest myself to the
| Utmost of my ability of all personal bias,
| and observe complete fairness and impair
| TALLY towards all, and towards ali the great
| and diversified interests OF our country rep
resented in this House.
The oath of office was then adm iuistered
| by Hon. w. ID. Kelley, of Pa, ne being the
oldest member in continuous service.
| The roll was then called by states and the
de!egations came forward and took the oath
| OF Office, those who had served in the south
ern army coming up in body TO take the
| modified oath.
The swearing in of members occupied until
balf-past two O'Clock. Messrs. Morey, of
La and GoOde, of Va, were asked to stand
aside. as there We're contests in these cases.
The Markets.
| BALTIMORE, Dec; 6:-virgipia 6,s, peelers, ii4;