The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-09
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
PARTY cAUcUsING.

The Republican members of the House Of
Representatives met in caucus at the Capitol in
Washington on Saturday, Dec. 3, and were
called to order by Mr. Hubbell, of Michigan
Mr. Robson, OF New Jersey, was chosen Chair
man. A call of the roll revealed the presence Of
lag Representatives, Including j. Hyatt Smith,
OF New York, elected as an Independent. NOM
nations for the Speakershlp being in order,
seven candidates were placed i'm the field--be-
ing Messrs. Hiscock, Keifer, kasson, Dunnell,
Orth, Burrows. and Reed. On the first ballot
Keller received 81 votes, TIiscock "A and Kasson
10. The vote changed considerably through
out fifteen ballots, Keifer being chosen on the
sixteenth. For Clerk Of the House, Edward
Mcpherson, of Pennsylvania was selected for
Postmaster, Harry Sherwood, of Michigan /;
for Sergeant-at-Arnls, Col. Hooker, Of
Vermont, and Tor Doorkeeper, Col. Brown
low, of Tennessee. On motion of
Gen. Henderson, Of Illinois, seconded
by Updegraff, of Iowa, the following resolution
was unanimously adopted. "That the follow
ng-named honorably-discharged soldiers, mi.
nus leg or arm, or both and now borne on
the soldiers roll OF the House of Representa-
tlves OF the United States, be retained by the
Doorkeeper of the House on said roll, subject,
however, to dismissal for just and sufficient
cause: S. IL. Decker, both arms Off, Ohio; John
Ryan, one leg off, Pennsylvania; James J.. Nc
Cormick, one leg off, Indiana; Hugh Lewis,
one arm off, Wisconsin; John Rome, one arm
off. New Jersey; Capt. ]. W. White, one arm
OFF, Ohio" Three of these soldiers are Re-
publicans and three Democrats.
Soon after the ad iournmant of the Republic
can caucus the Democratic members-elect as
sembled, IN the same hall, and organized their
caucus by re-eecting Representative House, of
Tennessee, as Chairman, and Frost, OF Mis-
souri,, and Welborn, of Texas, Secretaries.
Representative Proctor Knott, of Kentucky,
then offered a resolution indorsing the decara-
tons of the Democratic National Conventions
OF 1876 md 1880, the supposed object being to
put Democratic members on record in favor of
the plank indorsing " a tariff for revenue only.
The resolution was supported by Representa-
tives Knott and Reagan, and opposed by Rep
resentatives Hammond, McLain, Hooker and
Herbert Representative Hooker moved to
indefinitely postpone consideration of the
resolution, and the motion was carried-ayes,
SO noes. AZ. Representative McKenna then
moved that the caucus indorse and put in
nomination as candidates for the Democrats
all the officers of the last House, and the mo-
ton was carried, viva woes without dissent.
The Greenback members-elect Of the House
met in caucus and nominated Nicholas Ford,
of Missouri, for Speaker Gilbert De La Ma
tyr, Of Indiana, for Clerk of the House Lee
Crandall, Of Washington, D. c., for Sergeant
alarms ; II. Martin Williams, of Missouri,
for Doorkeeper; and W. II. Moore, of Penn
syvania, for Postmaster.
The Senate convened at noon Of Monday,
Dec. 5, and was called to order by Acting Vice
President Davis. William Window was duly
qualified as Senator from Minnesota. Mr..
Garland introduced bill providing for com-
mission to inquire into the relative effect upon
the industries Of the country on the consumer
aud producer OF the present tariff system, and
he relative merits % specific and dd UGlogssl
duties. with view to providing proper legls-
laion to meet defects and remedy unjust dis
nature of substitute for the Eaton bill
Of last session Mr.. Lapham introduced
4 bill providing for the punishment of at
ttmpts on the life Of the President Of the
United States, or others charged with the du-
ties of President, punishment on conviction to
be imprisonment for life in solitary condne-
ment or at hard labor in the discretion of the
court. Mr.. Sherman introduced 3-per-
cent. funding bill Mr.. Beck measure TO
recon the trade dollars into standard
pieces Mr.. Miller bill to enforce treaty stip-
ulations relating to the Chinese, and Mr.. Logan
an act to place Gen. Grant on the retired
list of the army. Mr.. Edmunds offered resolu-
ton to continue all committees of the Senate
81 they existed last session. Senator Pugh
thereupon moved an amendment authorizing
the President of the Senate to decide
whether the committees shall be equally or
otherwise divided between both political
parties. The resolution and amendment were
laid over without action. At a caucus OF the
Republican Senators in the evening. 1t was re-
solved to support Mr.. Edmunds' resolution
The House was called to order Mt noon by
Clerk Adams. The roll call showed that only
Messrs. Morey, Scales, Mills and Deuster were alb
sent A ballot for Speaker resulted in 148 votes
for Keifer. 129 for Randall, and for Ford.
Objections were made to the swearing III of
seven members, among them Chalmers Of Mis-
sissppi and Dibble of South Carolina, but all
finally admitted, the objections being with
1s,,x A. all kn ,laro
sworn in the Republican caucus nominees for
House officers were sworn in.