Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-12-11
YHR NEW cosaREss.
Meeting OF the 44th Congress Yester.
day and Organization OF
the House.
Speaker Kerr Elected by f73 Votes
Against log for Ex-Speaker
Blaine.


Speaker Kerr Elected by 173 Votes
Against 1O6 for Ex-Speaker
Blaine.
Correspondence courier-Journail
WAsuINGToN, Dec. 6.-The annual
meeting of Congress has been invested
this winter with extraordinary interest.
For the first time in fifteen years we
have \ curb upon the cruel arrogance
and corruption of the Republican
leaders. A House of Representatives
assemblies embodyiug the earnest de-
termination of the people for admins
trative reform, a genuine peace, re-
stored Union, and return to con-
stitutional methods. The new House
of Representatives comes here for its
work. and all eyes are concentrated
upon it. TIE Senate to-day was COM
paratively neglected by the throng of
sight-seers; and while thoughtful OBJ
servers hail even there a gratifying adj
vance, the public fiockcd TO the body
in which they felt that the great battle
for good government was to be made
by their trusted representatives.
Long before the appointed hour, the
galleries and the floor of the House
were crowded. The arrangements for
order made by the old Republican
incumbents of the House officers were
not wholly satisfactory; but on the
whole, everything passed off well for
an opening.
At II O'Clock Mcpherson raped to
order. directed the withdrawal of in-
truders from the floor, and called the
roll. The responses disclosed nearly
full House, and the presence of the
leaders on each side who for the next
six months are destined TO figure prom
inently in the debates and pro-
ceedings.
Of the Democrats there sat Kerr and
Holman, of Indiana Randall and
Clymer. of Pennsylvania Lamar, of
Mississippi Tucker, of Virginia
Whitthorne and Atkins. of Tennessee;
Ben. Hill, of Georgia; Payne, Banning
and Sayler, of Ohio: Thomas, of Mary
land; Proctor Knott aud John Young
Brown, of Kentucky; Buckner, OF
Missouri Reagan and Throckmorton.
of Texas, and others. Among the Re-
( publicans there were Blaine. Wheelock,
Hoar, Hale, Burchard, Garfield, Kelly,
Kasson and other bright men.
The only conspicuous absentee to-
day was Mr.. Steohens, of Georgia, de-
tanned at home by illness. Banks, OF
Massachusetts,, sat in his old place,
after two years seclusion from Con-
gress. Then there were to be seen the
foul birds of prey, Bill King, of Min
nesota, John G. Schumacher, of New
York. Starkweather, of Connecticut
and others, having no fit place in a re-
form Congress, two of whom at least
are candidates for expulsion.
THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER.
Mr.. Lamar, the president of the re-
cent Democratic caucus, was naturally
assigned to move for the election of Z
speaker, and to nominate Mr.. Kerr
Wheeler, of New York, nominated
MIR. Blaine. Kerr, Of course, was
elected, receiving every Democratic
vote, and was duly escorted to the
chair. Nothing could be more briet
than his modest address, and yet haC
the unmistakable ring and impress o.
the integrity and conscientiousnes:
which has marked his entire career.
THE LOUISIANA CASE.
After this came the first real test O
the spirit Of the majority and of tn,
speaking talent of the body. Mr.. Fer
nando Wood, who had objected to thu
swearing in of Morey, of Louisiana
moved TO refer the question of hi
prima facie claim to a seat 10 the Com
mittee on Elections. This brought on
debate, in which Wood, Lamar, Hol
man, Blaine, Wheeler and Cox partici
pated. Blaine aud Lamar were, how
ever, the real leaders of the fray
Mr.. Blaine showed great partisan
tact and readiness, but really evadeC
the point of law and precedent OIL
which Mr.. Lamar, with his rigorous
logic, impaled him.
Mr. Cox came back happily on Mr.
Blaine's party illusions. 1t was in
deed a novel feature in congressional
proceedingAtp hear Republicans ap
pealing for fan play and justice at tn,
hands of the Democrats, over who's,
rights they had trampled so often, anC
it was almost as refreshing to see tn,
erect figure of old Wood as he dolce
ten minutes to this and five minutes t,
that Republican member. The fina
decision showed that the Democrat
were disposed to act literally by theI
opponents; for, while they would hav,
been amply justified in letting the cas-
90 to the Committee on Elections, the,
finally allowed this rascally little car
pet Dagger over whom the fuss wa
made 10 be sworn in.
SECOND DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA.
A fight was next made by the Re
publicans against swearing in JohI
GcOde, of Virginia, who held the Ger
tifcate and an undoubted prima facit
title; but the Democrats would stan;
no nonsense on this point, and Good
was sworn in.
CLERK ADAMS AND OTHER OFFICERS
CHOSEN.
These disputes took up good dea
of time, and it was quite late in tn
day before Lamar could get a chanc,
to offer and have passed his resolution
electing Matt Adams clerk, Thompson
sergeant-at-arms Fitzhugh door keep
er, and so on. This was put through
in the usual routine style, and thes,
gentlemen were sworn into Office.
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.
In another point the Democrats to
dag showed the high purpose which
animates them. Two years ago tn,
Republicans adopted two new rule
which greatly enlarged the powers o
the majority in the House. and CAV,
them power to ride rough-shod owe
the minority and the constitution. Tn,
Democrats protested then, but in vain
The Republicans did not deny Ii,
enormous power the new rules con
terred on the majority, but said i
you'd be retained by the Democrats i
they ever cane in power. The Demo
Gratis to-day. und6r the resolute lead
ership Of Mr. Randall, abrogated thest
rules, and thus voluntarily curbeC
their own power in the House. The
Republicans made, indeed, a show o.
resistance, but when it came to the
final vote they did net refuse the res
toration of these rights of minority
which it is now their interest tC
cherish.
A GOOD START.