New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-06
REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.


wears the Republicans have to-day organized the
Uouse of Representatives. This event drew to the
Capitol at an early hour larger throng OF spec
tators than has gathered on similar oc aslons since
the first Monday in December, 1879, when, tor the
first time in eighteen years, Democratic speaker
was elected
At II o'clock this morning the galleries, except
those reserved Tor he President and the diplomatic
Corps, were comfortably filled, and half hour
later they were crowded to the utmost Wiuo
fhrongs of members and visitors filed the floor "i
the hall The last half hour preceding the
organizing of a Congress is always busy, ana thaI
Of to-day was an unusually lively one
The seventy odd members elect who served IN the
last House and were present today buS'ed theli-
selves with renewing Old intimacies and forming
the acquaintance of the 112 new members, al eN-
cent half dozen of whom were about to assume 1or
the first time the duties of national legislators.
When the House was called to order by Clerk
Adams. and the members suddenly settled into
seats and became quiet the large proportion OF new
faces at once attracted attention, while the ao-
sence of many countenances that were long familiar
was equally noticeable Among the new members
is General w. S. ROseCrans, OF Can
rornia AS the old soldier went down tue
aisle to greet the venerable eX-Vice-PreSdcnt OF
the late Southern Confederacy his formerly erect
carriage showed signs of age, and the elastic step
and quick nervous movements of twenty years ago
had departed. But as he entered into an animated
conversation with Mr.. Stephens, who occupied MS
invahds chair in the area before the clerks desk,
his face lighted up, his eyes twinkled aud he ap-
peared less unlike the victor of Corinth and Iuka.
Alexander H. Stephens pale and emaciated, but
bright as ever, received the warm congratulations
Of members generally. The dashing eX-COnfedorate
cavalry leader, General Joseph Wheeler, of Ala
bama wears his years lightly and, OK
cept that his head has become somewhat
bald and his beard lightly silyered, he does
not appear a day older than he did at the
end of the war. William Z. Robinson, Of Brooklyn.
the "Richelicu" of former dayssitsin the front seat
once occupied by Mr. Chttenden, and, with his
smooth face and luXuriant crop of yell0w-white
hair forms a conspicuous figure, in striking con-
trast to that of the youthful Perry Belmont, who
sits opposite him on the Democratic side.
To the array of new members Pennsylvania con-
tributes her "War Governor" Andrew g. Curtin.
Iowa sends Republican in the place Of the late
Presidential candidate Weaver, Greenbacker. OF
The men who were prominent members of the House
when the XLVIth Congress was organized many
are missed to-day One of the first questions
stranger asks when he visits the House is, (Which
was General Gariields seat? p To-day it
vacant most Of the time, and supersItious COlt-
gressmen declare that under no consideration would
they occupy it, The erect, sOdier-lke form OF
Fernando Wood has disappeared from the Demo-
cratic side of the hail and from the presence of the
living from the Republican side MeSsrs Frye,
Hawley, COnger Mitchell, Miller Lapham and Aid
rich have been transferred TO the Senate within the
last twelve months, and new men must come for
ward as leaders of the Republican party in the
House That party gains by the return of Mr.. Kas-
o,ft tI,o o1prta nd
perienced Of debators. After temporary absence
MessIs. Abram S. Hewitt, OF New-IOrk, and William
5. Holman, of Indiana known by many as OBJ
iector Holman, have returned to the Democratic
ranks.
As the members settle into their places Clerk
Adams produces the roll of members-elect and be-
gins to call their names. He is apparently nervous
and bOggles a good deal over the names and fire.
guently mispronounces them. When the names of
the members-elect from Vermont are called it is
discovered that instead of the name of the Repre-
sentative from the Hid District that Of the Governor
Of the State Roosevelt Farnham, has been placed on
the roll The calling of the roll discloses the fact
that five Democrats, Messrs. Deuster, Mills Morse,
Scales and Benjamin Wood are absent The caucus
candidates for the Speakership being placed in
nomination and a vote taken it was found that
2s5 votes had been cast, 143 of which were
a
votes, Mr. Randall 129 and Mr.. Ford, the Green
back candidate s. The two Readjuster members
from Virginia Messrs. Fulkerson and Paul, voted
for General Keifer and with the Republicans all
Dther questions relating to the organization. The
nervous Clerk in announcing the result placed MI.
Fords vote at 1873 instead of 8, which created con-
siderable merriment. Speaker Kefer was escorted
10 the char by Mr.. HiscOok and ex-speaker Ran
dali and with evident signs of emotion read short
speech after which the oath of Office admins
tered by Judge Kelley, the Oldest member of the
House, in point of consecutive service.
The swearing in of new members began.
The calling of the name of General Wheeler, of
Alabama was the signal for an objection to his TAX
ing the oath from Mr.. Jones' of Texas General
Wheeler's case was passed temporarily and when all
the names had been called it was found that objec-
hons had also been offered to the swearing i'll of
Messrs. Cuts, of Iowa; King of Louisiana; Chal-
mers. of Mississippi; Van VooThis of New-Yor (;
Dibble of South Carolina. and Moore of Tennessee.
Some merument was caused by the grandilOquence
Of Mr. Moore, who prefaced his objection 20 General
Chalmers with appeals in the name of liberty, of
common sense and OF the civilization of the nine
teenth century, and various other considerations.
When Mr. Moore'S name was called, General Bragg,
Of Wisconsin, rose and, fairly mimick-
Ing the language, tone and manner of
Mr. Moore objected to the swearing in
Of hat gentleman. The members were in excellent
down the house, There was some desultory dis
cusSion of the objections raised against Messrs.
Wheeler and Dibble but in the end they az well as
the other gentlemen against whom objections mad
been brought, sworn In.
The election of a Clerk aroused special interest on
account Of reports that several Pennsylvania
members, who are known to be devoted 10 senator
Cameron's interests, would under no circumstances
vote for slr. MCPHERSON AS far as these reports
affected MeSsrs Bayne and 0'Neil, they we're neor-
rect and did those gentlemen an injustice. The
Cameron Independents" as they were jocularly
styled today, are MesSrs. Barr, Bingham
sistcntly declared that they would "neyer
never vote for Mcpherson" They kept their prom
ise bravely by voting at the last moment as they
solemny declared they never, never would" for
Edward Mcpherson, who was elected by a majority
OF ten over both the other candidates.