The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-09
DOINGs OF CONGRESS.
PARTY cAucus1Na.

PARTY CAUCUSING.
The Republican members of the House Of
Representatives met in caucus at the Capitol in
Washington on Saturday, Dec. 8, and were
called to order by Mr.. HubbelI, of Michigan
Mr.. Robson, of New Jersey, was chosen Chair
man. 4 call of the roll revealed the presence of
146 Representatives, including J. Hyatt Smith,
of New York, elected as an Independent. Nom
nations for the Speakership being in order,
seven candidates were placed in the field-be.
ing Messrs. Hiscock, Keifer, Easson, Dunnell,
Orth, Burrows, and Reed. On the first ballot
Refer received 80 votes, Hiscoek IA 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-Arms, Col. Hooker, Of
Vermont ard for Doorkeeper, Col. Brown
Gen. Henderson, of Illinois, seconded
by Updegraff, Of Iowa, the following resolution
was unanimously adopted: "That the follow
lng-named honorably- discharged soldiers, MI
nus leg or arm, or both, and now borne on
the soldiers roll of the House of Representa-
tiyes of the United States, DO retained by the
Doorkeeper of the House on said roll, subject,
however, to dismissal for just and sufficient
cause: S. H. Decker, both arms off, Ohio; John
Ryan, one leg off, Pennsylvania; James l. Nc
Cormick, one leg off, Indiana; Hugh Lewis,
one arm off, Wisconsin; John Rome one arm
off, New Jersey; Capt. J. W. White, one arm
off, Ohio" Three of these soldiers are Re-
publicans and three Democrats.
Soon after the adjournmant of the Republi-
can caucus the Democratic members-elect as
sembled, in the same hall, and organized their
cancus by re-electing 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-
lions of the Democratic National Conventions
OF 1876 and 1880, the supposed object being to
put Democratic members on record in favor Of
the plank indorsng " o tariff for revenue only"
The resolution was supported by Representa-
tlves 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 voce, 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
Crandal, of Washington, D. c., for Sergeant
alarms H. Martin Williams, of Missouri,
for DOOrk6eper and W. II. Moore, of Penn
sylvania, 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.
on IF fha I
the relative merits of specific and 0d UdiOgena
duties, with view to providing proper legls-
lation to meet defects and remedy unjust dis
examinations and other evils. The bill is in the
nature of a substitute for the Eaton bill
OF last session. Mr.. Lapham introduced
bill providing for the punishment of at
tempts 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 confine-
mont or at hard labor in the discretion of the
court. Mr.. Sherman introduced q 3-peI-
cent funding bill; Mr.. Beck a measure 10
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 q resolu-
ton to continue all committees of the Senate
as 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 caucus of the
Republican Senators in the evening, it was re-
solved to support Mr.. Edmunds' resolution.
The House was called to order at noon by
Clerk Adams. The roll call showed that only
Messrs. Morey, Scales, Mills and Deuster were alb
sent. ballot for Speaker resulted in 148 votes
for Keifer, 1873 for Randall, and for Ford.
Objections were made to the swearing in Of
seven members, among them Chalmers of Mis-
Eisslppi and Dibble of South Carolina, but all
were finally admitted, the objections being with
drawn. AS soon as all the members were
sworn in. the Republican Caucus nominees for
House officers were sworn in.
A number of bills were introduced in the
Senate on the 9th inst. including one by Mr..
Ingalls, granting the franking privilege to Mrs.
Garfield; one by Mr.. Pendleton to improve the
civil service, and to prevent extortion, coercion
and bribery by persons in the public service;
and one by Mr.. Saunders admitting Dakota as
State. Mr.. Edmunds' resolution continuing
the Senate committees of last session was
passed, Mr.. Davis voting win the Repub-
Hcans for the resolution. He made q speech
defining his position. He said he thought it
only proper that the party responsible for the
legislation should have q ma ority of the COM
mlttees. He announced his intention TO vote
for the present Senate officers, all Democrats,
thus dividing his influence. Mr.. Davis denied
the charge that he had sold out to the Re-
publican party; said that he would support the
administration when it was right, and oppose
it when it was wrong, and that he would strive
to bring about more cordial union between
North and South. In the House. the drawing
OF seats and the reading of the message occu-
pied the session, and an adjournment was
voted till Friday the 9Th