Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-12-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
Congress assembled on the 4th


Congress assembled on the lth
I, inst
| HOI 81.
The opening of the session of the
| House was witnessed by an immense
concourse Of spectators. There were
! very few members absent. The
| Speaker chair was draped i'm mourn
ing in respect TO the memory of the
| late Speaker Kerr; there being there
fore no presiding officer the House
was called 10 order ut noon by Clerk
| Adans, who, thereupOn, called the
| roll OF members.
Two hundred and fUrty-nine mem
| bcrs were present out OF 2SS on roll
! call.
| Holman offered II resolution for the
| election Of Speaker, but Banks in
| lerposed, to send up the credentials
of the member from Colorado, that
he might participate in the election
Of Speaker.
There was u dispute, the Demo.
Gratis claimed that the organization
of the House took precedence.
The Republicans claimed that all
elected members had "A right to vote
on Speaker.
Frye claimed the same for the
Representative elected in the place of
Blaine.
Finally the Clerk decided that Hol-
mans resolution had the prece-
dence.
Banks appealed, and on motion of
Cox the House tabled the resolution,
| 10 to 81.
IIolinan's resolution reeites the
death of Kerr and consequent yacan-
cy and called for rira r6ce vote for
Speaker.
Randall WAS nominated by Cox
and Garfield By McCrary.
Clymer, Banning, Banks of Mass,
and Wilson, Of Iowa, were appointed
as tellers,
The vote resulted as follows:
Whole number necessary To choice
l2i -Sam'l j. Randall received l6l:
James a. Garfield 50; scattering ..
The announcement OF the result
was greeted with applause in the gall
leries.
Cox and McCrary conducted Speak
er Randall to his chair, when he read
his speech from manuscript.
SENATE.
There was smaller crowd i'm the
Senate galleries than in the House.
Many Democratic Senators were In
their seats before the body was called
To order, but the Republican Senators
being In caucus, did not occupy their
seats until n few minutes before IL.
a change IN the arrangement of
desks To accommodate the new Sena-
tors from Colorado and to give Sen
ators who occupied seats under the
galleries more desirable ones, has
been made by placing three desks
upon either side Of the fourth or last
platform. Seats on the Republican
side were assigned to Blaine, and
Chailee and Teller, the new Colorado
Senator's; and ON the DenocraticI
side To Price, tho new Senator FROM
". Virginia, Jones, Of Florida, an,lj
Randolph, OF New Jersey.
When the Senate Mas called to ORD
der the new members were sworn inI
atstl the two from Colorado drew for
their respective terms. Ghailee se1
cured the long term ending March,
/ 18th, 1870, and Teller the short termI
ending 1877 4 committee was ap-
/ pointed to notify the President andI
House TINT the senate WAS reauy lori
/ business ana IL recess aas taken until
I | O'Clock.
AFTERNOON.
When the Senate Was res,ssembletl
( Edwards submitted n resolution in-
/ -trueting The Election Committed
when appointed, to inquire Whethe
during the present election in SoutI
7 Carolina, Louisiana AMI Florida, any
citizens right tn vote had heed
abridged or denicd: also as to tho
eligibility of electors. Ordered
printed AMI to lie on tile table.
Ingalls, then offered "A j0intFesolu.
tion recommending convention 4
30 held in May next tn revise
the Federal Constitution. Ordered
printed.
The Senate then adjourned till ta
morrow moon.