New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-05
NEW ORLEANS,

nent positions in the front part of the
House-Governor Hahn calm and imper-
| turbable, and Mr. Wilt pulling away
vigorously at cigarette, but looking pale
and little uneasy, tapping the desk at
| which he sat in nervous manner Senator
Plnchback and General McMillen seemed
to be on good terms, chatting together and
laughing pleasantly
just previous TO calling She doues ts'.
gether Messrs. Foster, Phelps and Potter,
comprising the Congressional committee
now investigating Louisiana affairs, entered
the House, and after being introduced to
| many MEMBERS took seats hear Che Sneak.
er's platforme
At precisely twefve O'Clock Chief Clerk
Vigers ascended the Speakers stand and
called the House to order. and announced
that in accordance with laG he would pro-
ceed to call the roll of members os the
House of Representatives elected to serve
during this session of 1875 and 1876.
Messrs. E. a. Dur, Whitedeld Hood, NJ
T. Martin and a. j. Cousin wero ebsent
during the calling of the roll. Verbal pro-
! tests were made against calling the names
of Representatives from Rspides ard Terre.
bonne. One hundred and two members
were found to be present-oo.S Republicans,
50 Democrats.
Immediately after Che caIfins OF che soii,
motion was made to proceed to the eiec-
tion of q temporary Speakee. Chief Clerk
Vigers declined to entertain the motion,
and before he had an opportunity of ex-
planning his reasons, Mr.. Billion, of La
fourche, nominated ex-Mayor Louis A..
Wilt, and asked that all in favor of the
motion respond by voting yea. A few re-
sponses we're heard, not many in the House
understanding what the mo ton was. Mr..
Wilt, who was sitting on the steps of the
Speakers platform, sprang quickly up to
the desk and, seizing the gavel from Mr.
Viger's hands, announced himself tempo
rary chairman of the House of Representa-
tives, and asked Mr.. w. T. Houston, Justice
of the peace, to administer to him the oath,
which Mr.. Houston proceeded to do A
scene Of excitement here ensued, during
which nearly all the members were on their
feet demanding Mr.. Witt attention
Mr.. Wilt announced the first business IN
order would be to administer the oath of
Office to members, and he accordingly re-
quested them to rise, aad he administered
the oath to the whole House as body
A motion was then made from the Repubo
lican side of the House 20 eiecs perma
- hot 49, l,s>S
was made for the yeas and nays
Mr.. Wilt sefused to entertain the motion.
The motion was made from the Democratic
side to lay the motion to ele ct Speaker on
the table, and after a viva voce vote Mr..
Wiltz declared the motion TO lay on the
table carried, notwithstand ing the Repubo
licans had q majority of three in the House
Mr.. Demas, Of Sto john 70 &c to the point
Of order that no motion could be recognized
by Che Chair pending cali for the seas
and nsyso
The Chait decided shs point Cot we'll
takens
Mr. Demas said he came 60 this Hause
expecting justice and fairn eas :yom .hs
other side of the House,
Mr. Wilt called Mp. Denas 20 o.de:.
Mfs Murrells Of Madison protested
against the anlavfui action of the gentle.
men representing the Demo cratic paftso
A resolution was introdu ced seating tie
Democratic contestants from the parishes of
Grant, Winn, DeSoto and Bienvili which |
we're not acted upon b. che Returning
Board, I
s calf Got tho yeas and aaye was not
entertained by M,. Wilts, and on = viva
7ocs vote the resolution was declared !:
dopted, although the Republic ans still had |
) majority on the foot. The members
vhsse cases had iass been passed upon
ntered and were sworn in by Mr.. Wilt:.
a motion TO adjourn was declared lost.
Mr.. Wiltz, addressing the House, declared
hat he would do full justice to the colored
lembers. He had been in Office a long
ime and the colored people had seen bis
curse. During his administration as
1ayor he had met the i'll will of his own
arty in protecting the interests Of the col
red people. He would uphold the aws
npartialiy. He had taken an oath to do
is duty. He only asked that colored men,
ers rise and address him respectfully as
residing officer, and they should yeceive
Ill recognition at his hands.
Mr.. Lowell said that he did not suppose
,ere was a gentlemen in the House who
any doubts as to his election as
member of the House Of Representatives.
8 representative of the Republican !
lrty, as citizen of the State of Louisiana,
protested against tho unlawful acts of
is day, they were in violation of the laws !
this State. He protested against the r
ling of the presiding officer in refusing to ,
low the calling of the yeas and nays 6
ON the roll as furnished by the Secretary !,
State. He was surprised at this reyoiu- y
'nary action. and moved that the legal | g
II of members be called. The motion was '
conded.
At this time considerable excitement /
cured at the door, caused by the entrance f
crowd of men representing shemselges =
sergeants- at arms. r
Mr.. W:ltz desired to answer .he remarks G
the gentleman from Jefferson <aIr G
'wel!>o He said that Mr.. Lowell had T.
ken it upon himself, and he did not blame | &
n, for protesting against the manner in II
,ich the House had been organized, bat u
ey had as precedent for their action the Y
ample of Che Republican party IN 1865. g
lich organized the House By the election p
Mro Lowell himselfo when NJ. WIZ 7
Is member Of that body. IN the same a.
inner In which Mr. Wiitz had to-day i,ee.: yt
s.ed. The Democrats at that time pre-. II
ted agains: the organizations The Den:. y
,ats TO day had followed that precedent. a,