The Cecil Whig., 1881-12-10
MEETING OF CONGRESS,

MEETING OF CONGRESS.
Congress met on Monday last. In the
Senate President pro tempore Davis oc-
cupied the chair and Senator-clect Win
dom. of Minnesota. was sworn in. \
number of bills We're introduced. among
them the following: By iir. Beck. to
provide for the retirement OF the trade
dollar: by Nr. sherman. to provide for
issue Of 3 per cent bonds: by i:r. Gar
land for IL Tariff Commissions; by Mr..
Morrell. ior :, tariff and tax commission;
by IcsSrS. Grover aud Miller. to restrict
Chinese immigration: and ley Nj. Lap
ham, to punish attempts tn assassinate
she President. Mr.. Frye offered reso-
luton. which was laid over. providing
for n special committee of seven. TO con-
sider amendments to the Presidential
election laws. Nj. Edmunds offered q
resolution that the standing and special
committees of last session be revived and
continued. MIR. Pugh offered an amend
men: that the President of the Senate be
authorized to decide upon the "epYesen
tation of the respective parties on said
committees. Pcndin. the matter the
Senate adjourned.
The assembling of the first regular
session OF the Forty-seventh Congress
had the effect of drawing to the Capitol
vast number of visitors. AS early as
ten clock the approach leading to the
building presented a lively appearance.
and by eleven every seat in the galleries
of the House of Representatives Except
/, in the space reserved for the Diplomatic
Cnrpsl was filled, even the steps leading
to them being utilized as seating places.
On the floor the members indulged IN
cordial handshaking and greetings. Mr..
keiter stood for a short time in the rear
of the desks and was warmly congratu-
lated by his colleagues upon his success
i'll obtaining the Republican nomination
for Speaker.
The hum OF conversation and the bursts
OF noisy laughter continued till twelve
o'clock. when it was promptly hushed.
when the Clerk Of the House, Mr. Adams.
called the body to order and announced
the opening Of the session. He then pro-
ceeded to call the roll, beginning with
the State OF Alabama. The roll call dis
closed the presence of 80 Representa-
tives elect: and the list of ahsentces was
called. The roll call was then finished
and showed that 900 Representatives had
answered to their names, the absentees
being MeSsrs. Morse, Scales, Mills and
DeuSter.
The election Of officers of the House
was next in order, and resulted as fol-
lows: j. W. keifer. of Ohio, was elect
ed Speaker by 14S votes to 129 for s. J.
Randall, and $ for Nicholas Ford The
members elect We're then sworn in, OBJ
.iections to Il number Of them having
been overruled by the House The or
ganization of the House was then COM
pieted by the election Of Edward Me
fherson as Clerk. and also the other can
diaates nominated by the Republican
caucus. Pending action on a resolution
continuing the rules of the last Congress
until otherwise ordered, the House a,i-
journCd.
TUESDAY.
In the Senate several additional bills
were introduced. among them one for
the admission of Dakota rs q State, and
one by Mr.. Pendleton for the reform of
the civil service. Resolutions were sub
mitted by Messrs Beck and Maxey. di-
recting the Judiciary Committee to in
quire whether legislation is necessary to
provide for the Presidential succession in
case of vacancy. The resolutions were
laid on the table, with the understanding
that they should be called up for discus
sion next Tuesday. The Presidents mes
sage was received, read. and ordered to
be printed. Mr.. Sherman's resolution
for the appointment of a joint commit.
lee to prepare an expression Of the SEN
timent of the nation in regard to the
death OF President Garfield was taken
up and agreed to. Several other bills
We're introduced. among them one by
Mr.. Blair, for the support OF the COM
mon schools Of TIE Emitted States. Mr..
EImunds' resolution ontiuuing the Sen
ate Committees was passed.
In the House. all the Territorial Dele
gates except the Delegate from TAN,
We're sworn in. Mr. Haskell of Kansas,
offered Il resolution that Allan C. Camp
hell be sworn III as Delegate from Utah.
hu; after SOME discussion the matter was
postponed. The President Message was
read, ordered printed. and referred To the
Committee of the Whole. NJ. kiniey,
of Ohio, offered q resolution. which was
unanimously adopted. for the appoint |
men: al u committee of one member from |
each State represented, to act iii conjurc
ton with 4 Senate committee. to prepare
" SVi'dpiS FApieSsioit Ill ICSalN 10 Tue
death Of President Garfield. Mr. McI.ame
asked leave to OFFER resolution asking
the President to communicate to the !
House the instructions sent to our Min
listers to Chilli and Peru. but Mr. Robe |
son objected. The House thea adjourned !
until Friday, with the understanding that !
a further adjournment should then he |
taken until Tuesday.
WEDSE>nhI.
In the Senate e number of bills We're |
introduced, among them one by Mr.. |
Plumb, making trade dollars legal ten |
der, except where otherwise expressly |
stipulated in the contract. and one by |
Mr.. Davis, establishing Department OF !
Agriculture and Commerce. Mr.. Iioar |
offered 4 resolution. whieh was referred. |
for the appointment Of Il special Com !
mittee on Woman Suffrage. Mr. Nor
riii's Tax Commission resolution came !
up in order, but that gentleman, pre- /
terring not 10 weary the Senate with Z
long speech at this time, moved an ad- |
wbir!, ua,.nnI n,