The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-04
TEL EGRAPEHIC.
l7essgrapasd to the Rock Island Argue ]
MEETING OF CONGRESS.
Election of Mf. Randall for
Speaker.
Garfield Tries to Get Colorado in, but
Fails.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-SENATE-There
was smaller crowd in the senate CALLER
les than in the house. Many Democratic
senators were in the seats before the body
was called to order, but the Republican
senators being in caucus did not occupy
their seats till few minutes before IL.
A change in the arrangements of the
desks, to accommodate new senators from
Colorado aud to give senators who occupied
seats under the gallery more desirable
ones was made by placing three desks
upon either side of the fourth or last plat
form. Seats on the Republican side we're
assigned to Blaine, and to Chaffee and
Teller, the new Colorado senators; and on
the Democratic side to Price, the new SEN
ator from West Virginia; Jones, of Flor
ida, and Randolph, of New Jersey
When the senate was called to order the
new members were shown in and the two
from Colorado drew for their respective
terms. Chaffee secured the long term,
ending March 4th, 1879 and Teller the
short term ending in 1877. Committees
were appointed to notify the president and
the house that the senate was ready for
business and a recess was taken till o'clock
When the senate reassembled Mr.. Ed
munds submitted resolution instructing
the election committee. when appointed,
to inquire whether, in the recent elections
in South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida,
any citizens right to vote had been
abridged or denied; also as to the eligiDil-
| ity of electors. Ordered printed and to lie
on the table.
Mr.. ingalls, offered joint resolution rec
ommending a convention be held in Co
lumbus. in May next, to revise the federal
constitution, Ordered printed.
The senate then adjourned till to-mor-
row noon.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-HoUsE The
opening of the session of the house was
witnessed by an immense concourse OF
spectators. There were very few mem
bers absent The speakers chair was
draped in mourning in respect to the
memory of the late Speaker Kerr. There
being no presiding officer the house was
called to order at noon by Clerk Adams
who thereupon called the roll of members
Two hundred and forty nine members were
present out of 2Ss, ,on roll call. Mr. Holman
offered resolution tor the election of &
speaker, but Mr. Banks interposed to senG
up the credidentials of the member from
Colorado, that he might participate in the
election of speaker. There was dispute
} Democrats claiming that the organization
of the house took precedence; Republi
cans claiming that all elected members
! had right to vote on speaker, Mr.. Fry
! claimed the same for the Representative
t elected in the place of Blaine, aud finall,
the clerk decided that Holman's resolution
E had precedence. Mr.. Banks appealed an,
on motion of Mr.. Cox the house tabled tn
r resolution 165 to "a.
Mr.. Holman's resolution recites tn
death Of Speaker Kerr and the consequen
r vacancy and calls for Uira coca vote fo
: speaker.
Mr.. Randall was nominated by Nj
r Cox and Mr.. Garfield by Mr.. McCrary
!; Messrs. Clymer, Banning and Banks, Q
a Massachusetts. and Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa
d were appointed telers. The vote resulte
u as follows: Whole number of votes cas-
246; necessary to choice, l24; Saml. /,
Randall received 1Sl. James A. CARTEL
80; scattering three The announcemer
OF the result was greeted with applause
the galleries Messrs. Cox and McCrear
conducted Speaker Randall to his chai
! when he read his speech from manuscrip