Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-10-19
rliE FOKTY-EIFTH CONGRESS
EXTRA SESSION.
HOUSE.
ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

: ELECTION OF SPEAKER.
, WASHINGTON, ID. C., Oct. b Alto
the calling of the roll. it having bee
declared that 2s3 members had an
swercd to the roll. Il quorum was dc
clared present. when Mr.. Wood moye
to proceed to the election OF a speaker
The republicans endeayored to have rea'
resolution, bat tho democrats objected
The first test of the relative strength of tn,
two parties in the House showed l49 demo
crat' t. l29 republicans. This was upon Il
motion to proceed to the election oil speaker
over the objection to Colorado
Mr. Clymer then nominated Randall, and
Mr. Hale, Garfield. for speaker; and at | %
The clerk OF the House refused to re-
cognizc the republican protest in the Col
Orado case, and declined to allow republic
cans to appeal from his decision. Alter
some contest on the question OF precedence,
the clerk ruled that the motion OF Mr. Wood
to proceed to the election OF speaker must
be put, and Mr.. Woods motion was agreed
to, II9 to 1879 The clerk then stated that
nominations for speaker were IN order. Mr..
Clymer nominated Mr.. Randall, and Mr..
Hale, OF Maine, nominated Mr.. Garfield
Messrs. Clymer, Banning. Fort. and Fos-
ter were appointed tellers. Vote resulted
Randall li9, Garfield 1872. The clerk de-
puted Messrs. Garfield and Goode to conduct
the Speaker to the chair and requested Mr.
Kelly, of Pennsylvania. as the Oldest MEM
Der In consecutive service 70 administer the
oath. The Speaker said:
MR.. RANDALL'S REMARKS.
Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
tlves: Elevated Tor second time by your
| generosity to the exalted dignity ofSpeaker
of this House, thank you with grateful
heart. | shall endeavor with an even temper,
! but with rigid frmness. to perform the duties
of the Office and to respond adequately to
the confidence repO>od IN me, by conforming
my action to the clearly expressed will of
the House. Yet. fully realizing the delicacy
and difficulty of the position. | solicit your
advice and assistance. feeling assured. at
the same time, of your lorbearance and i'll
diligence. We meet under circumstances
imperiously demanding that all eOnsidera
tons Of class or section or party shall be
subOrdinated to the lUitler and more patriotic
object OF doing what Is best for the whole
country and all Of its people. Since the ad
jOurnment. an administration has been in
Quoted into office which is obeyed as the
htiuhI VI thV
events which marked its birth, and this
House animated by the spirit of true patriot
ism desiring, first. public tranquility under
the law, will frankly approve any sincere
and permanent policy looking to COM
plete pacltcation by constitutional meth
DDS and to consequent promotion ut gen
eral welfare. But ii should be held
our sacred duty ID prOVlue legIsla-
ton which will render impossible
repetition of the wrongs which occurred,
and OF the dangers which threatened u. |
assume We will take no step backward in
the work Of retrenchment and reform 50
auspiciOusly begun by the last House, IN
der matured and definite plan OF reduction
OF expenses OF the government. 1t l. certain
still greater reductions can be made without
impairing the efficiency OF the adminIstra-
ton. To have an honest administration
it should be frugal. Never before
was 1t more urgent than now
with general financial distress ard with
labor depressed by heavy burdcns) to exer
else the ste rnest economy. When the iron
rule of hard necessity darkens every house
hold in the land, extravaganza on the part
of the peoples servants Is an objectionable |
crime. Ii is partly because OF that whole
some policy 81 faithfully carried out that |
from this place. Invoking Tor our
deliberations tolerance of opinion (Which
secures harmonious action) right and clear
judgment (Which purifes lesislatiun) and
hoping that mutual confidence and respect
shall exist between the House and its pre-
siding cihcer, am now ready to take the
oath prescribed by law. Applause by
democrats
SuE,RtNl ~
The oath of Office was then administered,
and u like oath by the speaker to the mem
bers, most Southern members taking the
qualified oath.
Objection was made by Mr.. Cox to the |
swearing in of Messrs. Cam and Rainey of
South Carolina. and of Mr.. Durrell of Louis |
lana by Mr.. Frye to the swearing in of |
Messrs. Elam and Robertson of Louisiana.
and by Mr.. Springer to the swearing in of |
Mr.. Pacheco, of California, and those mem
hers were requested to stand aside.
Mr. Clymer offered a resolution eltcting |
as clerk, George Adams. of Kentucky; "a |
John G. Thompson. of |
Ohio; as dOOrkeeper. John W. Polk, of |
Missouri as postmaster, james NJ Stewart. |
of Virginia and as chaplain. Rev. DIR. |
John POisel, OF Maryland.
Mr.. Hale offered an amendment substi-
tuting for these names those OF Jeremiah |
NJ. Rusk. OF Wisconsin; n. & 0rdway, of |
New Hampshire Horace Ii. Harrison, of |
Tennessee Henry Sherwood, of Michigan
and Rev. j. c. Butler, of Washington.
The amendment was rejected and the res
olutiOn adopted without division.
The oath was then administered To the |
officers. Polk and Stewart taking the mod- |
fed oath.
Committees were then appointed to in
form the Senate of the organization of the |
House, and to inform the President that |
Congress was ready to receive any clmmu-
nicatlon he might wish to present
The courtesy of selecting seats in advance |
was extended t. Messrs Stephens, of Geor.
gia Kelly. of Pennsylvania. Wood and Pat |
terson. of New York, and Banks. Of Massa-
chusetts.
recess was then taken till four clock. |
CHOOSING THEIR SEATS.
Alter the recess, the drawing of seats
proceeded in the usual manner. Mr.. |
chose desk in the front row, |
Messrs Kelly and Wood the seats they |
hitherto occupied. and Me>srs Banks and |
Patterson good positions on the republican
side. The first name drawn was Mir Cand |
Ter OF Georgia, who selected his former seat. |
Mr.. Garfield got an early choice. and Sc
lected his former seat. Mr. Chittcnden, of |
New York. got a front seat at tho western |
corner of the main aisle, exactly opposite |
Mr.. Stephens. Mr.. Buffers seat is IN the |
from. row. at the corner OF one OF the smaller |
alsles on the western or republican side
When all the seats had been select ed. the |
House adjourned. the questions as to swear
ing IN of members being postponed till to-
morrow.