Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-12-28
HISTORICAL.
Congress from the Beginning of the Gov



There have been two distinct periods
in the history OF Congress, that of the
Colonial Congress and thet of tie pres
ent torn, provided for IA the constitu-
ton. The first continued from Sept. 5,
IVA, until 1889, part of year later than
the date of the adoption of the Federal
constitution in 1889. There have been
forty-four Congresses of the new form,
of which the second session of the
forty-fourth began to day. The Cont
mental Congress was composed of dele
gates from the original colonies. 1t was
a creature of circumstances, and held its
meetings at different places, according
to the changing exigencies in the uncer-
tain days of the infancy of the new re-
public. 1t was held at Philadelphia, at
New York, at Baltimore, at Lancaster
and Yorktown, Pa, at Annapolis, Tren-
ton, and Princeton. From several of
these places it fed before armed oppo.
sition, or was removed to preserve 1t
from the assaults of foreign foe.
The Colonial Congress had for the
most part but one work to do-to pro-
vide the ways and means for the crea-
ton of the new Government which il
In its infant stages represented. That
work saw the beginning of its end in
the signing of the Articles of Confedera-
ton on July 9, 1778, by the then forty
eight Representatives of the Colonial
States. This was followed in the same
year by the ratification, in popular con-
vention. composed of delegates from
these Colonial States, of the constitu-
ton which was so long discussed. Gen.
Washington presided at this constitu-
tional Convention. The original Con-
stitution adopted by this convention
September, 1787) consisted of seven
articles. 1t was speedily approved by
Congress and submitted to the several
State Legislatures for ratification. 1t
was returned from these Legislatures
with several important amendments.
Under its own provisions the first Presi-
dent of the United States and the men,
bers of the first Congress of the new era
were elected.
THE FIRST FEDERAL CONGRESS-.
The first Congress of the new era, a
Congress of the Federal constitution,
assembled in New York, March 4, 1889.
There were three sessions of this Con-
gress, of which the tive first were held
in New York and the last in Philadel
phia. Congress continued to assemble
in Philadelphia until the second session
of the Sixth Congress, when, Nov. IL,
1900, in accordance with an act which
had been passed ten years before that
day, fixing Washington city as the home
of the new Government, the Sixth Con-
gress reassembled at the present national
capital. The circumstances attending
the passage of the act providing for the
permanent location of the capital at
Washington city were peculiar. Con-
gress since its first removal here has con-
tinued its SESSIONS in the Capitol build
ing, with the exception of the period
from 1914 to 1919, when, owing to the
partial destruction of the Capitol build
ing by the British invaders, temporary
quarters were found in the building now
Immediately facing the east Capitol
Park, which is used as boarding
house.
CHANGES IN THE CAPITOL.
There have been as many changes in
the form and appearance of the Capitol
building itself since its early days as
there have been in the outward appear
ance and in the political complications
of the nation itself. The present cham
bers of the two houses of Congress are
of comparatively modern date. They
are located in the new wings, which were
first occupied in 1856. The sessions of
the earlier Congresses were held in the
old hall now forming part of the CEN
trail portion of the present building, the
Senate chamber being occupied by the
United States Supreme Court rooms,
and the old hall of the House of Rep
Tesentatives being devoted TO collections
of statuary, and designated "Statuary
Hail."
VANDALISM.
- This last hall, until this summer, con-
tanned a striking reminder of the old pc
Rod in the ancient gallery and the an
tique iron railing at one end. The archi-
tect of the Capitol during the present
summer, instigated by the spirit OF
modern iconoclasm, but ostensibly for
the sake of greater harmony in the pro-
portions of the new Statuary Hall, has
caused this old gallery to be DESTROYED,
and has removed the ancient railing.
For thirty-nine years the Congresses of
the Federal constitution assembled iii
these old halls, when they were removed
to their new quarters.
INCREASE OF REPRESENTATION.
The second session of the Forty fourth
Congress commenced to-day. The First
Congress was composed of sixty-five
members, representing the thirteen
original States. In the Second Congress
three States, Vermont, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, were added to the number
of representatives from the original ter
ritory, and the membership increased to
lot. There were no ch nges in the
number OF States or membership until
the Seventh Congress, when Ohio and
Louisiana entered the Union, and the
number was increased TO l42. In 1916
the number of Representatives had be-
come 182-the ratio of representation
remaining the same as ii had been from
the beginning. one Representative to
80, 900 people. At this time the basis of
representation was increased to 35, 900,
and Indiana was admitted. From that
date, new States were admitted at almost
every Congress.
The Twenty third Congress increased
to 243 members. The increase of popu-
lation in the States was so great, and
the number of the States themselves was
so speedily increasing, that Congress
then threatened to be the unwieldy body
which it already has become. and the
basis of representation was changed in
1895 to $4,000. 1nis change prevented
any considerable increase in the repre-
sentation until the Twenty-sixth Con
gress. In 1916 the basis of representa-
ton was again changed to 70,680, and
under this basis Florida, Texas, Iowa,
and California were admitted to the
Union. In 1850 again the ratio Of rep
resentation was increased to 90, 400, and
the membership was kept at 246 until
the Thirty seventh Congress. In this
Congress the war of secession began,
and there were but 181 members left in
Congress.
THE SPEAKERSHIP.
In the history of Congress the Speak
ership has been geographically distrib-
uted as follows: 1t has been held by
Pennsylvania three times by Connect
cut once; by New Jersey three times ;
by Maryland once, pro tempore Speak