Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-18
FORTY.SlXTH CONGRESS.
TUESDAY, March is.

FORTY-S1XTH CONGRESS.
TUESDAY, March is.
SENATE.-The galleries OF the Senate were
crowded long before the hour OF noon, at which
time
The Vice President called the Senate to orde',
and
The Rev. Dr. Sunderland, the chaplain, deliv-
cred prayer, returning thanks for the favor
able auspices under which the Senate had cin-
vel ed, and invoking the special blessing OF the
Almighty upon Congress now assembled.
The Proclamation of the President OF the
Congress in special session, was then read oy
secretary Gornam-namely. the failure OF the
late Congress to pass the bill making appro-
ecutive and judicial branches @ Of the j govern. T
ment, and the army appropriation bill.
The Vice President then directed the Secre-
tary to call the names OF Senators elect who
could take the oath of July, 1862, and requested
them to present themselves, four at time,
which they did. being escorted to the Chair by
their respective colleagues. In accorda nee wiJn
this order the following named Senators took
what Is commonly known as the ''irOn- clad
oath"-nameIy, that they were not engaged in
the rebellion, or gave aid or comfort TO 1t, and
that they Wculd support the Constitution Of the
United States.
Messrs. Allison of Iowa; Cameron OF Penn
sylvania: Carpenter, OF Wisconsin; Conkling, OF
Mary land; Hil. Of Colorado; Jones, Of Nevada;
Logan, OF Illinois; Morrill,, OF Vermont; Pend e.
ton, OF Ohio; Platt. of Connecticut; Slater, of
oregon, and voorhees,, of Indiana.
The following named Senators then respec-
lively took the modified oath, namely: To sup
port the Constitution Of the United States
taking it without mental reservation; and fur
ther, that they would faithfully discharge their
duties under 1t: MesSrS Call, OF Florida; Hous-
ton, OF Alabama; Jones, OF Louisiana; Vance, OF
Arkansas, and Williams, of Kentucky.
Mr.. Hampton, OF South Carolina, was not
credentials, having been somewhat informal,
were returned to the executive OF Georgia for
correction.
The Vice President laid before the Senate the
credentials Of Charles II. Bell, appointed by the
governor of New Hampshire during the recess
Of the legislature, to fill vacancy occasoned by
the expiration OF the term OF service OF Mr.
v adleigh
MI Wallace moved that these credentials be
laid upon the table until Tomorrow. His reaSon
1or DONG SO wss grave legal question Was pre-
sented as to whether there was such vacancy
as could be filed by the governor. The subject
sideration Of the Senate He withdrew
bis motion temporarily to enable Mr..
m1tted all the precedents he could find, from
the commencement of the government to the
present t1me-niGe in Misunderstanding that
under circumstances similar to the present
Senators appointed by governors during the re-
cess OF their respective legislatures had been
admitted Without objection. He expressed the
uOlC dlttT JnOSc pTtCcOcQCS, Juc OatN
would be administered to Mr.. Bell The Senate
could examine into the question at another
time.
Mr.. Wallace renewed his motion, saying he
Followed the precedent in such cases; and the
question having been take the credentials were
laid on the table until TO- o-mOrrow.
~, on m moIion a OF Mr: Thurman, It was resolved
sentatiyes that quorum Of the Senate had as
sembled and were ready to proceed to business
on motion OF Mr. Bayard, it was resolved
that committee Of two members be appointed
10 join such committe as may be appointed by
the House Of Representatives, to walt on the
President OF the United States and inform him
that quorum of both houses have assembled
and are ready to receive any communication he
may be pleased to make.
The Vice President appointed Messrs. Bayard
and Anthony as such committee.
On motion Of Mr.. Whyte, 1t was ordered that
the daily hour OF the meeting of the Senate
shall be IL O'Clock until otherwise ordered.
recess from WE'VE ne acoc !ooS a
Ieassembling, MIR. Whyte said, from fnfOrma.
ton received from the House OF Representatives
he did rot think it possible that the House OF
Representatives would organize before three or
half-past three O'Clock. He, therefore, moved
that the Senate adjourn until tomorrow, and
this was agreed to at five minutes past one
O'Clock.
HOUsE.-The opening OF the first session of
the 46th Congress was witnessed in the House
by an immense conc0urse Of spectators. All
and for nearly an hour before noon, pleasant
greetings were interchanged
At noon the House was called to order by Mr.
Adams. the Clerk, who read the proclamation
OF the PRESIDENT c0nyenlng Congress, and stated
that the time thus designated having arrived,
he would call the roll which, as Clerk OF the
House, he was required by law to prepare He
thereupon proceeded to call the roll BY tates
beginning with the state of Maine.
THE FLORIDA SECOND DISTRICT
The state of Florida having been reached, the
clerk called the name of Hall as representative
from the second district, and explained why he
than that Of Bisbee. He said that he had re-
ce1ved the certificate OF the election OF Hall,
e Of
sundry papers in behalf Of the election OF Bis
bee, among which were certified copy OF the
canvass subsequently m mace 6y the board OF
supreme court OF the state. While that subse-
quent canvass would show the election OF Bis
anything as credential within the meaning of
the law, except the certificate OF the governor.
THE STATE OF IOWA HAVING BEEN REACHED,
the Clerk explained why he had placed on the
roll the names of the nine members whose
names appeared there. They had presented
certificates duly signed by the governor, and
the question whether the election had or had
not been held on the day fixed by law was one
which the clerk did not feel called upon to de-
eide, but which the House itself, when organ
tZed could decide.
AS TO THE STATE OF KANSAS
the Clerk stated that he had not put on the roll
the name OF the person claiming to have been
elected from the state at larYe-the state be-
ing only entitled to three members.
The roll having been completed, the Clerk
announced that 2s5 members had answered to
their names-the only two absentees being
O'Reilly and James, OF New York.
ELECTION OF SPEAKER.
On motion Of Nh. Wood (N.Y.) the House
then proceeded to the election of Speaker
when the following members were put In nomf-
nation:
BY Mr.. Clymer, OF Pa.:-Mr. Samuel j. Ran
dali, OF Pa.
BY Mr.. Frye, OF Maine:-Mr. James A. Gar
field. OF Ohio.
By Mr.. Della Matyr, OF Ind Mr. Hendrick B.
Wright, OF Pa.
MessIs. Clymer, Ellis, Hiscock and Stone
were appointed tellers to count the votes, and
the Clerk proceeded to call the roll.
When the name Of Mr.. Blackburn was called
and when he voted for Mr.. Randall, there was
round of applause On the democratic side and
in the galleries.
The vote resulted as follows:
Whole number OF votes cast 2s3.
For Randall ................144
EorG