The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-12-09
HOUSE..

WAS IudTheu pS tfle presencc In an(
around the capital Of larger crowd thar
probably ever before watched a similar
proceeding. Although wet and dreary, tn,
weather seemed to have little or no effect in
restraining the eagerness of the multind,
which flowed into the city the past few
days. From an carly hour the galleries O.
the House OF Representatives were packed n
closely as possible. The halls and all the
approaches and every available space be
came gradually filled, until the hour o.
noon approached, when it was almost i'm
possible Tor enc 10 make his way in any di
rection through the throng. \ majority oil
them are directly or indirectly interested in
places and emoluments which the changes
OF political parties in the House offer.
The House was called to order BY Mr.
Mcpherson, Clerk OF the House o; the For
ty-third Congress, and the hall was clear,d
OF all not entitled to its privileges. The az
tendance OF the members was very full
nerly every seat being occupied. Then Mr.
Mcpherson called the names Of the mem
bers b. States. commencing with Maine.
In regard to the representation from the
3Si district Of New York, the Clerk re-
minded the House that the person first
elected had died, and the person elected to
fill the vacancy had presented credentials 50
peculiar in form, that the Clerk preferred
TO submit the question to the House.
In reference to the Louisiana delegation,
the Clerk said he received two sets OF Ger
titicates for the First and Fourth districts;
he had received two from the Fifth district,
one signed BY VIM. Pitt Kellogg, and the
other signed by John McEnery, showing
the election of Mr.. Spencer, and that a.
Clerk had taken his certificate, and had
enrolled Morey. From the Sixth district
he had received only one certificate, signed
by Kellogg, and he had acted on that.
The call concluded, the Clerk announced
that two hundred and eighty-six members
answered to their names.
The absentees are Messrs. Dobbins, Of
\. j.; Egbert, of Penn, who returned home
this morning on account of a death in his
family Stevens, OF Ga, and Oliver, of
Iowa.
These, with two vacancies, from the SD
district OF y. y. and the 4th district of
Illinois, make 292 members, of which the
House is composed.
ceed to the election of aSpeaker. Agreed
10.
Mr.. Lamar put in nomination for the
office Of Speaker of the House Of Represen-
.atives Of the 44th Congress, Michael C.
Kerr, of Indiana.
Mr.. Wheeler, of New York, nominated
or the same position James &. Blaine, OF
Maine.
The Clerk asked whether there were any
,ther nominations, and there being no re-
'ponse. he appointed as tellers Messrs. Hol-
nan, CeymOur, Danforth and Banks.
The House then voted with the following
-esult: Whole number Of votes cast, 80
necessary to a choice, al. Michael Z.
Kerr received 173; ]. G. Blaine, JOG; AS.
OF Michigan, l; Alexander
of Illinois, l VIM. Anderson, Of
illinois, l.
The Clerk appointed Messrs. Randall and
Blaine to escort the Speaker elect to the
hair. As Mr.. Kerr was conducted down
he main aisle to the Speakers chair, there
vas considerable clapping of hands on the
Democratic side of the House, which was
titled as Mr.. Kerr begun . short speech,
complete fairness and impartial
ty towards all.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, a. the old
st member of the House in continuous ser
ice, administered the oath of Office to the
speaker. The oath was then administered
" the Speaker to the members, beginning
With those from the New England States.
What is known a. the iron-clad oath, was
he form administered to the members gen.
rally, but some of the Southern members
'eing unable to take that oath, the modified
ath was administered to them.
Mr.. Wood, Of New York, objected to
,forey, of Louisiana, and Garfield objected
0 Goode, OF Virginia therefore, those gen.
lemen were not permitted to qualify. Sub
equently Wood offered a resolution refer
ing the credentials Of Morey and Spencer
D the Committee on Elections, with in
tructions to report which of them Is emit.
led to q seat.
Considerable discussion ensued. Finally,
II. Wood, acting on the suggestion of Mr.. |
ioar, modified his resolution BY emitting |
he preamble and merely referring the mat |
n to the Committee on Elections, with in
ructions TO report on . prima facie case.
The Clerk Of the House, with the per-
lission of the House, then made the fol-
wing statement:
The controlling fact which, in my judg-
'ent required me to accept Kellogg certi6-
ates, was that prior to the making up of
,e roll on the 4th of March, there had been
.coenition by the House of Representatives
Vim. P. Kellogg as Governor of Louis
M, and at that time he was de facto Gov
nor OF the State. In view of his recogni-
on by the executive branches of the Gov
nment, by all the departments OF the Gov
nment, and BY the part of the legislative
.anch of the Government to which the
erk is responsible, l felt myself absolute
included, ard therefore inserted the
lines returned by Gov. kellogg, without
" reference whatever to the political as
CT of the case"
After further discussion, participated in
Messrs. Holman, Banks, Cox and Jones,
e previous question was seconded, and the
ain question ordered yeas, l35, NAYS, I3i.
Re question was then put on the resolu-
IN, and it was rejected.
Mr.. Blaine then moved that Frank No
?. having presented credentials, signed in
e 70. m, by Governor Kellogg, be sworn
as member. Il
Mr.. Randall suggested to strike out OF /
E motion that part recognizing Kellogg {:
Governor.