Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-06
FoRTY-sEvEnTH CONGRESS-
Keller Elected Speaker.
Readjusters Vote for Him.
Delay Over the Admission OF
Members.
Several Bills Introduced in the
Senate.
Senate.

| Senate.
| WAsHIxGToS, Dec. 5.
After the usual interchange of friendly
greeting bv members. President pro tenn,
| Senator Davis Of Illinois, formally convened
the Chamber. after prayer by the chaplain,
| and presented the credentials of Sen-eiect
Vim. Window of Minnesota to fill the va
eancy caused by his resignation in the term
ending March 3D. 1858, said vacancy having
been temporarily filled by the appointment
of ex-senator Edgerton. After reading the
| credentials Window accompanied by Hoar
was duly qualified and entered upon his duties.
| The hour of meeting daily was fixed at II
| O'Clock.
A large number of bills were introduced,
among them the following: By Garland. for
| the appointment of a commission of investi-
CATION of the tariff and the revenue laws; Dy
| Beck, for the retiring of the trade dollars
and recoining them in standard silver dollars;
by Logan. to place Gen. L. ;. Grant upon
the retired list of tile army
| At ID a recess was taken until 80, to
await notification OF the organization of the
House.
| Mr. Sherman introduced bill to provide
| for the issue of 3 per cent. bonds. This bill
| authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to
receive lawful money of the United States to
the amount of fifty dollars or any multiple of
that sum and TO issue in exchange therefor
| an equal amount of registered or coupon
bonds of the United States, bearing interest
at the rate of three per cent. per annum, pay
| able quarterly or semi-annually at the Treas
ury Such bonds to be exempt from all tax
ation to be payable at the Treasury after
Jan LIST, 1887. and the money received for
these bonds to be applied solely 70 the re-
demrtion of the three and a half per cent
bonds. The aggregate amount to be depOs-
tied, under this act, is not to exceed $780,
900 900.
Mr.. Sherman submitted resolution, which
also lies over until tomorrow, for the ap-
pointment, on the part of the Senate. of six
Senators to join the committee of the House
to consider by what token of respect and af
lection it may he proper for Congress to ex-
press the deep sensibility Of the nation on
the event of the decease of the late President
Garfield, and that much of the Presidents
message, as relates to that melancholy event
be reported to said committee.
| By Lapham for punishment of attempts
to take the life of the President of
the United States, or other charged with the
| duties of the office of President. The bill
| fixes the punishment for life.
Mr.. Frye offered resolution for a special
committee of seven senators to take into
consideration the mode of voting for the
President and Vice President, and the mode
| of certifying the same, and report such prop
ositions for change in the laws OF constitution
as may seem to them expedient. Laid over
for the present.
| The assembling of the first regular session
of the Forty seventh Congress had the effect
of drawing to the capitol this forenoon,
vast number of visitors as early as ten
o'clock. The approaches leading to the
building presented lively appearance and by
eleven every seat in the galleries of the
House with the exception of the space
served for the diplomatic corps, was filled,
even the steps leading to them being utilized
as seating places.
| On the floor the members INDUCED in cor
dial Handwriting and greetings. Mr.. Keifer
| stood for a short time in the rear of the desk
and was warmly congratulated by his col
leagues upon his success in obtaining the re-
publican nomination for Speaker.
! At ~ o'clock the clerk of the House. Mr.
Adams, called that body to order and an
nounced the opening of the session; he then
proceeded to call the roll, beginning with
Alabama. The roll call disclosed the pres
ence of 2S5 representatives-electa and a list of
the absentees was called.
Kasson, of Iowa, called attention to the
fact that the clerk had called the name of
Farnum as representative of the third dis
trict OF Vermont instead of Grant. The
clerk stated that it was clerical error
which he Immediately rectfed. The roll
call was then finished and showed that 290
representatives answered. The absentees be-
ing Morse, Scales. Mills and Denster.
The nominations for Speaker being then
in order J. Warren Keifer of Ohio, was put
in nomination by Robinson, Samuel j. Ran
dali of Pennsylvania, by House, and Mich
olas Ford of Missouri by Murch. Messrs
Burrows of Michigan, Holman, Mct'ook and
Ladd were appointed tellers. The roll was
was called, and resulted as follows;
Whole number of votes cast, 2S5
Necessary for choice, l43
Keifer had 14S
Randall, l99
Ford, 8
These votes for Ford were Jones of Texas,
Ladd, Mosgrove, Muroh and Rice of Missouri
None of the candidates voted. Fullerson and
Paul the Virginia readjusters, voted for
Keifer. The result having been announced
keifer was escorted to the chair by Randall
and Hiscock and took the oath of office,
which was administered by Kelley of Penn,
!, as the oldest member in point of service.
!, Before taking the oath keifer. when the
applause which greeted his ascent to the
! speakers desk had subsidized, said
''Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
, tives, | thank you with heart filed with
/ gratitude for the distinguished honor confer
red on me by an election as your Speaker
! will assume the powers of this high office
, with, trust, due share of difiiience and
) distrust in my own ability to meet them ac-
ceptably to you and to the country. l believe
you will give me hearty support in the dis
charge of all my duties. promise to devote
nv self faithfully and assiduously to the work
before me. | invoke your and the countrv's