Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-10-18
BEGINNING THE SESSION.

The first day of the extra session of
Congress passed off with a quietude
that did not fulfil the predictions of
angry discussions over contested seats
that had been spread abroad, and the
two houses are In readiness for work as
soon as they receive the Presidents
message today. Mr.. Adams, the Clerk
of the House, very kindly undertook
the judicial function of passing upon
credentials where more than one set
were offered for any seat. In theColora
do case has c0mpunctions restrained
him from entirely brushing aside the
legal certificate of Governor Routt 10
favor Of Mr.. Belford, as Mr.. Belford's
title is as clear and undeniaGe as that
ds case Mr.. Adams also assumes judi
cal duties and enters on the roll one
Democrat and one Republican, barring
out Purman to give place to Davidson,
because Governor Drew's recount
seems satisfactory to the mind of the
Clerk.
Mr.. Adams also does the handsome
thing by his party with regard to Loui-
sians, and obligingly hands over to it
the seats from the Fourth and Sixth
districts. Having thus made up the
House for the present Speaker and
other officers with the proud conviction
that it had been q great day for Adams.
AS had been previously agreed upon
by King Caucus, Sam Randall of Pa,
was elected Speaker and our own
Jongee Sergeant, at arms.
Mr.. Randall's speech on taking the
chair was not particularly remarkable.
He did not forget, however, to de-
nounce the installation of the Admins
tration, and al the same time intimat
ed that it had some claim npon the
majority for approval of its policy.
THE MESSAGE
The Special Message of the President
was sent in to Congress on Tuesday.
1t is short and refers only to special
objects Of the session. 1t begins by re-
ferring to the failure of the late Con-
gress to pass the army appropriation
bill, and states that the army is branch
of the Government authorized by eX-
listing statutes, and the obligation to
maintain it Is in full force, and that in
the absence of specific appropriation
the government was unauthorized to
make the necessary expenditures.
The absence of this authority is
regarded :as fit grounds for the
convening of Congress in extra
session. The message asks that
the appropriations be made up on
the basis of an army of twenty-five
thousand, and that all questions of in
crease or decrease or modification of
the personelle or administration in
either branch OF the military service be
suspended until some future time.
The message then refers to the great
benefits to accrue to the industrial and
manufacturing interests of the United
States by a representation of the Gov
ernnlent of American industries at the
Exposition at Paris to be opened in
May, 1877. 1t alludes to the receipt oil
communications from our diplomatic
representations at the the variOs courts
of Europe, which have expressed a
determination to participate. 1t re-
cemmends that plan somewhat
similar to that established by Cogress
at Vienna in 1873 be adopted. The
message close by alluding to the invita-.
ton sent to this Government to sp.
point deputation to the International
Prison Congress to he held next year
at Stock holm, and states that these
measure for the prevention of crime
are regarded as satisfactory 10 the past
and recommends that suitable ap-
preparation be made that the represent
ative of the United States be present at
this deliberatiOn.