Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-10-18

tnat ZSI members naQ answered TO tnel1
names.
Mr.. Woods motion was agreed to-
149 to 129. and the clerk stated that
NOMINATIONS FOR SPEAKER
were in order.
Mr. Clymer nominated Sam1 J. Ran
dali and Mr. Hale nominated Jas. A.
Garfield. Messrs. Clymer, Banning, Fort
and Foster were appointed tellers, and
Mr.. Clymer announced the result Fol-
Sam1 J. Randall 149 votes; for Jas. A
Garfield, 132, and Mr.. Randall was de
clared selected Messrs. Garfield and
Goode conducted the speaker to the
chair, and Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania.
the oldest member in consecutive ser
vice, administered the oath of office.
The speaker, before taking the chair
said: Gentlemen of the house of rep
resentatives; elected for the second
time by your generosity to the exalted
dignity of speaker of this house, | thank
you with a grateful heart. | shall en-
deavor with even temper but with rigid
firmness, to perform the duties of Office
and to respond adequately to the conf
dence in me by conforming my
action to the clearly expressed will of
the house. Yet fully realizing the deli
cacy and difficulty of the position, l So
! icit your advice and assistance, feeling
assured at the same time of your for
bearance and indulgence We meet
under circumstances imperiously de-
manding thatal considerations of class,
section or party shall be subordinate
to the loftier and more patriotic object
of doing what is best for the whole
country and all its people Since ad-
! JOurnment an administration has been
inducted into office, which is obeyed as
the actual government, regardless of
the grave events which mark ed its birth,
and this house, animated by spirit of
true patriotism during the first public
tranquility under the law, frankly
approves any sincere and permanent
policy looking to complete pacitication
by constitutional methods, and to the
consequent promotion of the general
welfare. But it should be held as our
sacred duty to provide legislation which
will render impossible a repetition of
wrongs which have occurred, and of
dangers which threatened us. Iassume
that we will take
NO STEP BACKWARD
in the work of retrenchment and reform
so au~piciously begun by the last house
under matured and definite plans of
reduction Of expenses of the govern
ment. 1t Is certain that still
greater reductions can be made without
lmpalrlng the efficiency of the admins
tration. To have an honest admins
tration it should be frugal Never be-
fore was it more urgent than now, with
the general financial distress and with
labor oppressed by heavy burdens, to
exercise the sternest economy. When
the iron rule of necessity darkens every
household in the land. extravaganza ON
the part of the peoples servants is an
objectionable crime 1t is partly be-
cause of that wholesome policy so faith
fully carried out [ am permitted this
day to speak from this place. In
voking for our deliberations the toler-
ance Of opinion which secures harmon
ious action; right and clear judgment,
which purifies legislation, and trusting
that mutual confidence and respect shall
continue between the house and its pre-
siding officer, | am now ready to take
the oath prescribed by law
clapping Of hands on the democratic
side of the chamber. The oath Of Office
was administered to the speaker, who
then administered the oath to the
members. Most of the southern MEM
bers took the qualified oath. Objection
was made to swearing Ia Cain and
Rainey, of South Carolina, Darrell,
Flame and Robertson, of Louisiana,
and Pacheco. of California, and those
| bo, or jo1o Zoo
from the territories were all sworn in
without objection.
THE OFFICERS.
Mr.. Clymer offered resolutions elect
ing as clerk, Geo NJ Adams, sergeant
alarms, John G. Thompson. of Ohio;
doorkeeper, John w. Polk, of Missouri;
postmaster, James NJ Stewart, of Vir-
ginia, and chaplain, Rev. DR.. John
Poisel.
NJ. d. Hale offered an amendment,
substituting for these names those of
jeremiah NJ. Rusk, of Wisconsin, n. j.
Ordway, of New Hampshire, Horace III.
Harrison, of Tennessee, Henry Sher-
wood, of Michigan, and Rev J. G. But
Ter, of Washington.
The amendment was rejected and the
resolution adopted without division
The oath of office was then admins
tered to those officers, Messrs. Polk and
Stewart taking the modified oath.
! Committees were then appointed to
inform the senate Of the organization
of the~house, and to inform the presi-
dent that congress is ready to receive
any communication he may desire to
make.
The drawing of seats was fixed for
four o'clock, the courtesy of selecting
seats in advance being extended to
Messrs. Stephens, Kelly, Wood, Patter-
son and Banks.
SELECTING SEATS.
After short recess the drawing be-
gan. Mr.. Stephens chose the desk in
| front of the roo n in the eastern corner
of the main aisle, Messrs. Kelly and
Wood chose the seats they occupied
last congress, and Messrs Banks and
Patterson took good positions on the
republican side The first name drawn
was Mr.. Caudler, who selected his form
er seat. Mr.. Garfield got an early
choice and also selected his former
seat and Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts
got the seat IN front of the row, at the
corner of one of the smaller aisles on
the republican side OF the chamber.
When all the names had been called
the last being that of Mr. Huntin, OF
Virginia, and all seats selected the
house adjourned. Questions as to swear
ing in members, objected to, were put
off until tomorrow.