River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-10-18
FORTY FIFTH CONGRESS

SENATE, Oct, 15th.-The oath of office
was administered TO Senator Mathews of Ohio
J, Don. Cameron of Pa, and ID. II. Armstrong
Of Mo-, all of whom are chosen TO Till vacan-
cies. The several committees were then ap-
pointed and the Senate adjourned.
House Oct. f5.-At IL o'clock on the
18th. Clerk Adams called the roll Of members
By States commencing with Maine. After ex-
plaining his action in reference TO the con-
tested cases from Louisiana. FLORIDA Missouri
and Colorado, the clerk announced that PSF
members answered to their names whereupOn
a Motion to proceed 10 the election of
Speaker was put and carried s. j. Randall
and J. A. Garfield were nominated and the
result announced as follows Randall, $40;
Garfield 1872 Speaker Randall, before taking
the chair, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen OF the House of Representatives
Elevated for tie second time by your generos-
ity to the exalted dignity of Speaker Of this
house. thank you with grateful heart. !
shall endeavor with even temper but with
rigid firmness to perform the duties of the
office, and to respond adequately to the con-
fidence reposed in me by conforming my ac-
ton to the already expressed will OF the
house. Yet, fully realizing the delicacy and
difficulty of my position, solicit your advice
of your forbearance and indulgence. We meet
under circumstances imperiously demanding
that all considerations of class and sec
ton or party shall be subordinated
to the loftier and more patriotic OBJ
iect of doing what is best for the whole
country and all its people. Since adjournment
an administration has been indicted into Of
fee which is obeyed as the actual govern
ment, regardless of the grave events which
marked ITS birth, and this house, animated by
=. "a. r.1s
tranquility under law will frankly approve any
sincere and permanent policy looking to the
complete Dacifcation by constitutional meth
DDS, and to the consequent promotion of the
general welfare: but II should be held our sa-
cred duty TO provide legislation which will
render impossible repetition Of the wrongs
which have occurred and Of the dangers which
threatened us. ] assume that we will
take no step backward in the work of
retrenchment and reform so auspiciously
begun by the last house, under
matured and definite plan of the reduction of
the expenses OF the government. 1t is certain
that still greater reductions can be made with
out imparin the efficiency of the administration.
To have an honest administration it shOnld be
frugal. Never before was il more urgent than
now with general financial distress and with
labor depressed by heavy burdens, to exercise
the strietest economy. When the iron rule of
hard necessity darkness every householder the
land. extravaganza on the psrt of the peoples
servants is an objectionable crime. Ii is
partly because of that wholesome policy so
faithfully carried out that am permitted this
day to speak from this place, inyokingf for our
deliberations that tolerance of opinion which
secures harmonious action, the right and
clear judgment which purifies legislation
and that mutual confidence and respect shall
subsist between the house and its presiding
officer. | am now ready to take the oath
prescribed by law. lClapping of hands
on the Democratic side of the Chamber.
The oath of Office was then administered TO
Speaker Randall and by him to the members.
The officers as selected in the democratic eau
Gus were then elected and sworn in. The
drawing OF seats was then commenced, after
which the House adjourned.