The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-12-09
KENosHA, WIS, DEC Q, 1875.
MEETING OF CONGRESS.

day at noon.
The Senate was called to order at II
o'clock by Hon. Thomas w. Ferry. of
Michigan, President pro fem; prayer
was made by Rev. Dr.. Sunderland, chap
lain. David M. Key, successor to An
drew johnson, was sworn in.
Resolutions to notify the House of
Representatives and the President that
the Senate was1ready for business were
adopted
Dir. Boutwell, anounced the death of
Vice-President Wilson, and said, at an
early day, resolutions relating to his life
character, and public services would be
offered.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony, the Sen
ate adjourned at 12:4e till tomorrow.
The House was called to order at 10
O'Clock by Mr.. Mcpherson, Clerk of the
House OF the Forty third Congress. The
hall being cleared of all not entitled to
its privileges, Mr.. Mcpherson called the
names of members, commencing with
Maine. 286 members answered to their
names, The absentees were Dobbins, of
New Jersey, Egbert. of Pennsylvania,
who had returned home in the morning
on account of death in his family, Ste
vens of Georgia, and Oliver, of Iowa.
These, with two vacancies, one from the
Thirty-third District of New York and
one from the Fourth District of Illinois,
make the 292 members of which the
House is composed.
ELECTION OF SPEAKER.
Mr.. Lamar, of Louisiana nominated
Michael G. Kerr, of Indiana, for Speak
er, and Mr.. Wheeler, of New York
nominated James G.. Blame, of Maine
The Clerk appointed as tellers, Messrs
Holman, Clymer, Danforth and Banks
The House then voted with the following
result: Whole number of votes cast
$50; necessary to a choice al Michael G..
Kerr received 173, James G.. Blaine re-
oeived 100, Alphonse S. Williams, of
Michigan /, cast by Mr.. Banks, of Massa-
ehucetts, Alexander Campbell, of Him
OILS 1-cast by Mr.. Anderson of Illinois,
William Anderson /.
Messrs. Randall and Blaine were ap.
pointed by the Clerk to escort the
speaker elect to the chair, which being
done, Mr.. Kerr made the following
speech:
MR.. KERR's SPEECH.
The Speaker on taking his position
said:
Gentlemen of the House of Represen
tatives: I am heartily graceful to you
for the honor which you have conferred
upon me, liz calling me to this exalted
station. | profoundly appreciate the
Importance and delicacy of its duties.
IshaIl, doubtless, many times need your
patient indulgence. pray that you
will grant it, and with nothing but
kindly feelings towards every member
Of the House, promise that in all my
official acts will divest myself, to the
utmost of my ability, of all personal bias,
and observe complete fairness and I'M
partiality towards ell the great and di-
Yersiied interests of our country, repre-
ssnted In this House.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, as tho
oldest member of the House in continue
GUS service, administered the oath Of
office to the Speaker.
The Speaker then administered the
oath to the members, who, with uplifted
hands, generally took the 'iron- clad
OATH" but sxity-one of the Southern
members being unable to take the oath,
I'd cd mi RI
them.
Morey, of Louisiana, being objected TO
by Wood, and Gnode, of Virginia, by
Garfield, they were not permitted to
take the oath with the others. After
considerable discussion they were sworn
in as members.
The question of vacancy i'll the Thir-
ty-third District New York, in conse-
auence of the death Of the member-lect,
and his successor elect, was then taken
up, the successor elect sworn in and the
technical question involved referred to
the Committee on Elections
The delegates from the Territories
were then called and sworn in with the
iron-clad oath.
A resolution was passed declaring the
following the officers of the House:
Clerk-George M. Adams, of Ken
lucky Ssrgeart-at-Arms-Jo e..
Thompson, of Ohio Door-keeper-L sfay-
cite Fl. Fitzhugh, of Texas Postmaster
james NJ Stewart, of Virginia Chap
lain-ReV. J. L. Townsend, of the Dis
trIct of Columbia.
The newly elected officers were then
sworn in, Fitzhugh and Stewart taking
the modified oath.
Amessage was sent TO the Senate to
inform that body that the
HOUSE WAS ORGANIZED
and ready for business. A committee
was appointed to join like committee