Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-12-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
Second session-44th Congress-
Opening Of Congress.
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-Thc opening
of the session of the House was wit
messed by an immense concoursc of
spectators. There were very few
members absent. The Speakers chair
was draped in mourning in respect to
the memory of the late Speaker Kerr
there being therefore no presiding Of
liccr the House was called to order at
noon by Clerk Adams, who, thereup-
on, called the roll of members.
Two hundred and forty-nine MEM
hcrs were present out of 2SS Oh roll
call
Holman offered a resolution for the
election of a Speaker, but Banks in
tcrposed, to send up the credentials
of the member from Colorado, that
he might participate in the election of
Speaker.
There was n dispute, the democrats
claimed that the organization of the
House took precedence.
The republicans claimed that all
elected members had right to vote
on Speaker.
FRYE claimed The same for the Rep
resentatiye elected in the place of
| Blaine.
Finally The Clerk decided that Hol-
mans resolution had the precedence.
Bank appealed, and on motion of
Cox the House tabled the resolution,
l65 to 81.
iIolman's resolution recites the
death Of Kerr and consequent vacan-
cy and called for rica Uoce vote for
Speaker.
Randall was nominated by Cox and
Garfield by McCrary.
Clymcr, Banning, Banks of Mass,
and Wilson, of Iowa, were appointed
as tcllers.
The vote resulted as follows:
Whole number necessary to choice
l2i--Sam'l j. Randall received ISL;
James A. Garfield 80; scattering 3.
| The announcement of the result was
greeted with applause in the CALLER
| les.
Cox and McCrary conductedSpeak-
err Randall to his chair, when he read
his speech from manuscript.
SENATE.
| There was n smaller crowd in the
Senate galleries than in the House.
! Many democratic Senators were i'm
their seats before the body was called
to order, but tho republican Senators
being in caucus, did not occupy their
seats until few minutes before II.
| A change in the arrangement of
desks to accommodate the new Sena-
tors from Colorado and to give Sem
ators who occupied seats under the
| galleries more desirable ones, has
been made by placing three desks up
on either side Of the fourth or last
platform. Seats on the republican
side were assigned to Blaine, and
Chaiee and Teller, the now Colorado
Senators; and on the democratic
side to Price, the new Senator from
w. Virginia, Jones, of Florida, and
Randolph, of New Jersey.
| When the Senate was called to Or
der the new members were sworn in
and the two from Colorado drew for
their respective terms. Chaflee Sc
cured the long term ending March
4th, 1879, and Teller the short term
ending 1877. A Committee was ap-
pointed to notify the President and
! House that the Senate was ready for
/ business and q recess was taken until
| | o'clock.
AFTERNOON.
When the Senate was reassembled
| Edwards submitted resolution in
structing the Election Committee
when appointed, to inquire whether
during the present election in South
Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, any
citizens right to vote had been
abridged or denied; also rs to the
eligibility of electors. Ordered
printed and to lie ON the table.
Ingalls, then offered joint resolu-
ton recommending convention to
be held in May next to revise the
Federal Constitution. Ordered
printed.
The Senate then adjourned till to-
] morrow noon