, 1875-12-11
Onening Of Congress.

WAsBIsGroS, DECEMBER 6--The open
ing Of the Forty fourth Congress was marked
by the rresepee around the Capitol OF larger
crowd than probably ever before watched
similar proceedings Although wet and
dresrv. the weather seemed TO have little or
M effect in restraining the eagerness OF the
,DuI.;,ndss which have flowed into the city
during the past few days, and IRON an early
hour the galleries of the House OF f1epieseh,
tative were packed as closely as possible. Ana
then the hall itself, and all the approaches,
and every available space became gradual
filed ND, until, rs the hour of noon approach
ed. it was impossible for any one to make ms
usv in apy direction through the mass Ihe
majority were directly OF indirectly interested
In the places and emolumen's which The
changes of political parties in the Hoase Of
fers. At u the House was called 10 order
by Mcpherson, clerk Of the House during
the Forty-third Congress, and the House was
cleared Of all not entitled TO IFS privileges.
The attendance Of members was very full !;
nearly every seat being occupied. McPher-
son then called the names OF members by
States, CONNIE encing with Maine. In regard
to the representation from the Third District
of New York, the clerk reminded the House
that the person first elected had died, and
person elected to fill the vacancy had present.
ed credentials 90 peculiar in form that the
clerk preferred to submit the question 10 the
house.
In reference TO the Louisiana delegation
the clerk said he had received two sets of GER
tificates for four districts, but both sets indi-
eating the election of the same persons. That
as to the fifth district, he had received two
certificates, one signed by VIM. Pitt Kellogg,
showing the election Of MOrey, and another
signed by John McEnery. showing the cleo
ton of Spencer; and that as Kellogg was the
defactO governor, the clerk had acted on his
certificate, and had enrolled Morey. As TO
the sixth district, he had only received one
certificate, signed by Kellogg, and be had
acted on that. The call concluded, the clerk
announced that 2S6 members had answered
to their names. The absentees are DObbins
of New jersey, Egbert of Pennsylvania lwho
had returned home this morning ON account
Of death in bis family. Stevens Of Georgia
and Oliver of Iowa. These, with two vacan-
cies from the ihirty-,hird district of New
York; and from the fourth district of Illinois,
make up the 292 members Uf " hich the House
Is cOmpofed.
Mr.. Lamar moved TO proceed to the cleo
tion of Speaker agreed to.
Lamar put in nomination Michael c.
Kerr of Indiana
Wheeler Of New York, said, I nominate
for the same position, JAS. G. Blaine, Of
Maine.
The clerk asked if there was any others.
There being Eo response, the clerk appointed
as tellers Messrs. Holman, Clymer, Danforth
and Banks, aud the House then voted with
the following result Whole number of woes
cast, $50. Necessary to choice, l4l. Mich
ael c. Kerr received 173. J. G. Blaine re-
ceived 1906 Stephen S. Williams, of Michi-
gan, /, cast by Banks, of Massachusetts (; A.
Campbell, of Illinois, l, cast by Anderson,
of Illinois VIM. Anderson, l.
The clerk appointed Randall and Blaine to
escort the Speaker elect to the chair.
AS Mr.. Kerr was conducted down the main
aisle 10 the Speakers chair, there was con-
siderable clapplng Of hands ON the democratic
side Of the House which was stilled.
The speaker, on taking possession of the
chair, ,said-Genilemen of The House of Repre-
HtHldlIHesr am nearby Sid'tiui 10 lOi ioi
the honor which you conferred on me i'll call
ing me 10 this exalted station. profoundly
appreciate the Importance and delicscy OF lis
duties. l shall, doubtless, many tunes need
viii grant IT, and with nothing but kindly
feelings towards every member Of the House,
promise, in all my official acts I will dvest
myself TO the utmost of my ability. Of all
personal bias, and ob>erve complete fairness
and impartiality towards all, and towards all
the great and diversified interests of our
country represented in this House.
Denny, Of Pennsylvania, as the Oldest
member in continuous term, administered the
oath OF office to the spsaker The oath was
then administered by the speaker to the mem
hers, with those from New England first.
who ranged themselved in the area in front
of the clerks desk, and there with uplifted
hands. went through the ceremony. What
Is known rs the iron-clad oath was admins
tered to the members generally, but as sixty
one Southern members We're unable TO take
the oath, the modified oath was administered
10 them.