The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-07

Banks OF Massachusetts,, Alexander Campbell
of illinois, cast by Anderson of Illinois.
William Anderson, the Clerk, appointed Ran
dali of Pennsylvania, and Blaine to escort the
Speaker elect to the chair. They escorted him
down the main aisles amid considerable CLAN
ping of hands from the Democratic side of the
House.
The Speaker on taking his position. said:
''Gentlemen Of the House Of Representatives:
am heartily grateful to you for the honor
which you have conferred upon me in calling
me to this exalted station. profoundly appre-
ciate the Importance and delicacy of its duties
cal indulgence. 1 pray that you will grant it,
and with nothing but kindly feelings toward
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 the complete fairness and impartiaIty
towards all and towards the great and diversi.
fed interests of our country represented in this
House."
Mr.. Kelly of Pennsylvania, as the Oldest
member of the House in continuous service,
administered the oath of Office to the Speaker
The oath was then administered by the Speak
er to the members, beginning with those from
the New England states, who, on being called,
ranged themselves in the area in front of the
Clerks desk and there, with uplifted hands,
went through their part of the ceremony
The iron-clad oath was the form administer
ed to the members generally, but sixty lone of
the Southern members being unable to take
that oath the modified form of oath was adj
miniStered to them.
Morey of Louisiana, and Mr.. Garfield of Ohio,
objected to Mr.. Goodc of Virginia. Therefore
these gentlemen were not permitted to qualify.
Subsequently MIR. Wood offered a resolution
referring the credentials of Messrs. Wood and
Spencer to the Committee on Elections with in
structions to report which of them was emit
tied to the seat. He did not propose to raise
the question as to who was the legal Governor
of Louisiana
Mr.. Blaine declared that there was no more
as Governor of Louisiana, than there was for
speaking of the. gentleman (Wood) as Cover
nor of New York. No department of the gov
eminent ever recognized McEnery, and the
House last session, by a very large vote, had
solemnly recognized Kellogg as Governor of
Louisiana. He thought the Clerk would have
been perfectly justified in tearing up as waste
paper the credentials signed by McEnery.
Mr.. Wood replied that the papers in the case
of all the members of Louisiana were them
selves sufficient answer to the gentleman, for if
there was no possible question who was Cover
nor of Louisiana: why was it that all members
of that state had deemed it necessary to obtain
certificates of McEnery? They all had deemed
it important to come here clothed with certif-
Gates from each of those socalled Governors
The question to be determined in the FIRST place
was whether Mr.. Morey presented credentials
that entitled him to seat on this floor.
Mr. Lamar admitted that there had been
compromise last session, and that compromise
did acknowledge Kellogg as the acting Cover
nor of Louisiana. He hoped the gentleman
from New York Wood would act on the sug-
gestion of Mr. .Hoar of Massachusetts, to mod
ify his resolution by emitting the preamble and
merely referring the matter to the Committee
on Elections with instructions to report on the
DrinaU fdcie case.
Mr.. Wood modified his resolution according.
ly.
After further discussion, participated in by
Holman of Indiana, Banks of Massachusetts,
Cox of New York; and Jones of Kentucky, the
previous question was seconded. The main
question was ordered-yeas 1856, nays 1884,
The question was then put on the resolution
and was rejected.
Mr. Blaine then moved that Frank Morey
having presented credentials signed in due form
by Gov Kellogg be sworn in as member.
Mr.. Randall Of Pa, suggested to strike out
that part of the motion that recognizes KEEL
logg as Governor.
Mr.. Blaine said he was perfectly willing to
do so, and having SO modified the motion it was
agreed to without division and Mercy was
sworn in as member.
The question as to the right of Goode of Vir-
ginia, was next taken up and after short dis
cussion Goode was sworn in as member, TAX
ing the modified oath.
The question as to vacancy in the 33d dis
trict of New York was then taken up and af-
ter statements by Wheeler, Morton and Cox
the representative elect was sworn in and the
technical question involved in the case was re-
ferred to the Committee on Elections.
Delegates from the territories were then
called and sworn in, all of them taking the
iron-clad oath.
Mr.. Lamar then offered resolution declar-
ing the following to be the officers of the
House: Clerk, George M. Adams of Ken
lucky; Sergeant-at Arms, John G. Thompson
of Ohio; Doorkeeper, Lafayette III. Fitzhugh
of Texas; Postmaster, James M. Stewart of
Virginia; Chaplain, j. L. Townsend Of the
District of Columbia.
The resolution was adopted.
The newly elected officers were sworn in,
Fitzhugh and Stewart taking the modified
oath.
On motion of Mr.. Holman message was
sent to the Senate to inform that body that the
House was organized and ready for business.
On motion Of Mr.. Cox committee was ap-
pointed to join like committee on the part of
the Senate, to wait on the President and in.
form him that Congress is now in session and
ready to receive any communication he might
be pleased to make.
Mr.. Randall of Pa. offered resolution
adopting the rules, OF the House OF the Add
Congress as the rules of the present House,
except rules 166 and 167, and also providing for
the appointment of committee on rules, to
consist of the Speaker and four members.
Rules 166 and 167 are those adopted lin the
last Congress requiring motion to suspend
the rules to be seconded by majority and for
bidding the entertainment of dilatory motions
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, suggested that by i'm
memorial usages the rules of the preceding
House become she rules of this House without
any special motion to that effect.
Mr.. Randall replied that immemorial usage
might do for the Republican side of the House
but not for the Democratic side, which required
strict construction of the rnles.
The resolution was adopted and then it wss
ordered THAI the usual drawing for seats take
place at one o'clock tomorrow. The House at
ten minutes to five adjourned.