The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-11
CONGRESS-,

Congress assembled according TO law at ~
O'Clock on Monday. 4 quorum was found
present in both houses. In the senate about
threc-tourths of the members were present.
In the house, as speaker and new set OF
: officers We're to be elected, nearly every seat
was filled. Mcpherson, the old clerk, called
the house to order and read over the list of
members elect by states beginning with
Maine, and at the close announcing 2SJ mem.
bers present.
The first business IN order, Of course, was
the election of speaker. To select suitable
man for the position, democratic caucus had
been held on the preceding Saturday. The
prominent candidates before the causus were
Randall, of Pa, Kerr, Of 1nd and Cox. of
New York The fight over the rival condi.
datesiwas hot and exciting Randall had
semi.protection, semLinfiationist about him
that was grateful to Il certain class of
democrats, but generally repellent to the ST.
mon.pures. Cox WAS q sort of halfway horse
between the two. On the first ballot Kerr
had II votes, Randall 50 and Cox 81. The
second ballot was nearly the same, Kerr gain.
ing 6 votes that had deserted Cox. On the
third ballot Kerr had 95 votes to Randall 63
and scattering 8, thus nominating Kelr.
In the house, therefore, Mr.. Lamar put in
nomination Mr. Kerr for the speakership.
Wheeler, on the republican side, nominated
Blaine for reelection. The vote being taken,
Kerr got l73 votes, Blaine 100, with two or three
scattering votes. Anderson of this state voted
for Campbell Of this state, and Campbell re.
turned the compliment by voting for Ander
son.
Alter the speaker had taken the oath of
office and made his little speech, a question
arose on admitting Mr.. Morcy, of La, who
came armed with certificate of Gov. Ke.
logg only, while all the other members from
that state had certificates from both Kellogg
& McEnery.
Ben Wood proposed to refer Morey's ere.
dentlals 10 the committee on elections.
Blaine said his objection to the admission Of
Morey was trivial and absurd, and the idea that
he must have certificate from McEnery non.
sensensicsl-- McEnery being no more governor
of Louisiana than Wood was of New York
Wood intimared that in spite of the settle
nent of the Louisina question by the last con.
gress, it might again be opened, view in
which Lamar seemed concur; whereupon
Blaine event for them and came out decd.
eddy ahead, the house voting to admit Morcy,
1875 to 1874
! Other officers O! the house were then
, elected as follows; Clerk, Geo. N. Adams,
of Kentucky; sergeantatarms, John G..
Thompson, of Ohio; doorkeeper, Lafayette
II. Fltzhugh, of Texas postmaster, James NJ.
Stewart, of Virginia. and chaplain, Key. ]. L..
Townsend, of the District of Columbia.
In the senate on Monday, after the roll call
: and admitting couple Of new men,
bers, Mr.. Boutwell, announced the death Of
the vice president, and stated that at az early
, day he should present resolutions relating to
his life character and public services. The
t usual committees to notify the President, the
house &c, were appointed, and the senate adj
journed.
On Tuesday the only business in either
house was the presentation and reading the
Presidents message, and the formal order
that it be printed.
i On Wednesday few bills were presented
Ia The senate, among the rest one by Mr.. Nor.
ton, to provide for and regulate the counting
of votes for president and vice president,
and the disposition OF questions arising there
a., T.
meet in convention to count the vote, but if
either house objects to counting the vote of
any state, The vote of such state is rejected.
4 This was all right SO long as the republicans
house to count the next presidential vote is
democratic, such power might be used TO
defeat the election Of republican president,
and OF course will never do, wherefore NJ.
Morton desires to change the law SO as to re-
Iquirethe vote Of both houses to reject the cleo
tors ofany state.
The house did no business, adjourning af.
ter brief session over to next Monday, to
give the new speaker time to arrange the
standing committees
| On Thursday, in the senate. The standing
committees were announced, there being no
important changes in the chairmanships from
last session. A few bills were introduced,
among which was one by Mr.. Bogy, to make
I greenbacls receivable for customs dues, after
II which thefena;e also adjourned to Monday.
Il -
WHISKY TRIALS.
With the trial of Avery, which Terminated
I a, =, mic IN Sarurdav in his conviction