The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-11
Saturday. December Il. 1875.
The New Speaker.

Enough occurred to-day to make it
memorable and indicative. Mr.. Kerr's
address as speaker was SO short, self-de-
preciative and modest that it made bit
by its mere brevity and devoidaDce of
bumptiousness. His idea of his office is
that he is speaker of the house, and that
as such he has no right to lecture or fling
suggestions at the body of two parties, to
each of which he means to be impartially
Just. He took the reins modestly and
held them firmly, and drove, without
haste or rest, to results which never be-
fore have been reached without hustle,
disorder and some bad temper. He grows
on the mind as speaker. An apprehen-
sion that he would hesitate or half succeed
made his quiet and easy adequacy to his
duties a gracious and grateful surprise,
He gives the impression OF refinement,
dignity and clear, quiet comprehension of
his duties, which rests the observation
rather than arrests it. 1t is plain that the
house will adjust its ways to his gentle
manly, progressive and courteous methods,
and lose that wild cOltishness 10 which it
revealed under Mr. Blaine, and which was
so diverting and exhilarating to him that
he was wont to increase it. The formali-
ties of organization, which are bore to
all, Mr.. Kerr discharged.in the exhaustive
role Of oath-repeater, with real impressive
ness, Then succeeded the quick, sharp,
rafting fire of motions about contested
seats, and his decisions differed from those
which the partisans of both sides were
bidding for, and we're so just that nobody
thought of appealing If the leaders" of
either side had wanted to experiment with
the speaker to test him. they could not or
need not have done differently, nor would
the test have been more successfully met.
The stock of expectation on the speaker
was below par when he began. 1t was
above par at the close of the day The
fact is q sort Of romantic idea has been
formed on parliamentary matters here.
One would think that parliamentary law
was something which was held in monopoly
by Mr.. Colfax, who impaired it as an ex-
elusive secret to Mr.. Blaine, and that he
had accidentally disclosed it to Mr.. Ran.
dali. The fact is, there are ''lots of sat
isfactorily able parliaWentarians on the
floor, and the rulings of every speaker are
colOred by his temperament. MIR. Blaine
temperament is ardent, and his admins
tratiOn was a noisy, tempestuous success
an artistic hurricane, bracing nor wester
Mr., Kerr's temperament is judicial, and
so is to be his speakership administration
and he has already showed himself master
of the details of the art, and a mos
pleasing exponent of the philosophy anC
equity of it. The oldest stagers say here
tonight that Mr.. Kerr, as a speaker, is t.
be a success of his kind, and that his kline
is a mighty good one,
Mr.. Fernando Wood came near gettlnl
the Democracy in false position, BeyonC
doubt man from Louisiana who has NJ
meritorious case does have a prima facie cas-,
and holds the certificate OF the de fact
governor assured by the great seal, to val
idate his prima facie case, and give tn
house no excuse in law and precedent 70
not receiving him at the start, and then il
curing into his case on its merits hereaf
ter. Mr.. Wood, however, moved to rete
this matter to committee before the prim
face case had been initially regarded a
emitting the man who held the certificat
to his seat. His motion was so plausibl
that even Mr.. Lamar judgment gave wa
and he talked brilliant nonsense for half Il
hour. Mr.. Blaine rejoiDed with citation
of law and usage which were clear an
masterful, aud which were badly affecte
by vicious and "nagging" spirit, /
the surprise OF all, the Democracy wer
seemingly massing into an untenable pt
sition, and their blood had rushed to the
heads and clouded their brains The yot
was whether the previous question shoul
be ordered. Mr.. Kerr here did somethiu
which easily enough shows adequacy
emergencies, and disposes of the Herald
charge of Bourbonism. He put Mr.. Lama
for few minutes, in the chair. Tn
stopped him, He then very quietly Giro,
lated among the Conservatives, and to
them this; ''Show your powerif you wal
to, by voting the previous question, b
when you acquire that power don't use
to vote to refuse a man q seat who com
here with the broad seal of q state on Il
credentials, and whose prima facia case '
must admit now, just as certainly as '
will consider his case on its merits here's
ter" Just this was done, and when 4
Republicans saw the Democrats furious
sustaining the demand for the previo
question, they were amazed to find t
Democrats using the power thus acquir
to defeat Mr. Woods wrong resolutiC
for which not a solitary aye was heard
the house. The dociity to clear and qui
and sound instruction was one Of the IN,
remarkable sights ever witnessed in a
congress.
1t was of a piece with the admiral
spirit in which the gag-law rules of Il
session were repealed by the Democra
out of hand right after this superb ex
else of sense by Mr.. Kerr on the party Il
answered his touch as a courser answ,
the REIN Washington Correspondence
the Brooklyn, ~ Y. Eagle