The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-06
Forty-scvcnth Congress First scs-
sion.
SENATE
WASHINGTON. December Z. 1sel


OF friendly greetings by the members, tn,
President pro tenn, Senator Davis, OF lii
nois,) formally convened the Chamber, and
after prayer by the chaplain presented the
credentials OF Senator-elect William Win
dom, Of Minnesota, chosen to iii the va.
cancy caused by his resignation Of the term
ending March 3, 1888, said vacancy hay
ing been temporarily filled by the appoint
ment OF ex-senator Edgerton.
After the reading OF the credentials Sena-
tor Window, accompanied by Senator Hoar,
appeared and was duly qualified and enter
ed upon his duties.
Resolutions for committees Of notification
to the House Of Representatives and the
President, and informing them OF the or
ganization OF the Senate, were adopted.
The annual reports OF the acting secre-
tary OF the Senate, Sergeant-at-Arms OF
the Senate, Chief Clerk Of the Court OF
Claims, and Public Printer, were present
ed by the Chair and laid on the table.
I The hour Of meeting daily was fixed at
II O'Clock VI.
Mr.. sherman submitted 4 resolution,
which also lies over until tomorrow, for
the appointment on the part OF the Senate
OF six senator's to Join such committee as
D ma. w hllpOllt'u vi tilt lGtIl Ol the HOUSE
to consider and report by what token Of
respect and affection it may be proper for
the Congress OF the United states 10 eX-
press the deep sensibility OF the nation on
/ the event Of the dcceaSe OF the late PreSi-
dent James \. Garfield; and that so much
OF the Presidents message IL relates to
/ that melancholy event be referred to the
said committee.
D Tho rpOfl1r orders NVoro fbo,, ,,rococ IoJ
with, when numerous bills were introduced,
read twice, and laid on the table to be re-
ferred TO committees when the same are
appointed. Among these were the follow
ing:
BY Mr.. Morrill,: For a commission TO
| investigate the tariff and revenue laws.
BY Mr.. Beck: TO provide for the retire
ment Of the trade dollar and its recoinagc
( into the standard silver dollar.
BY Mr.. Miller California;: To enforce
( treaty stipulatonS relating TO the Chinese.
BY Mr.. Window: TO incorporate the
Garfield Memorial Hospital.
BY Mr.. Hill (by request: In relation to
the Venezuelan award.
BY Mr.. Sherman: TO provide for the
issue Of per cent. bonds.
At ITO y. NJ, on motion OF Mr.. ingalls,,
Z a
the reception of communications from the
House and the President.
Upon rcassembling Mr.. Edmunds offered
a resolution continuing the committees Of
the Senate as they existed at the end OF last
session.
Mr.. Pugh moved al amendment author
izing the President OF the Senate 20 decide
whether the committees shall be equally OF
otherwise divided between the two political
parties.
Laid over without action.
At 2:35 the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House met at noon and the roll was
called. The roll-call showed that 300 rep
resentatives had answered TO their names,
the absentees being Morse, Scales, Mills,
and Deuster.
/ Nominations for Speaker being then in
order, J. Warren Keller, Of Ohio, was put
/ in nomination by Mr.. Robson; Samuel J.
/ Randall, Of Pennsylvania, by Mr.. House,
and Nicholas Ford, OF Missouri, by Mr..
Murch.
The roll was called, and the result was
as follows: Whole number OF votes east,
| 80; necessary for choice, 143.
| For Mr.. Keller, 14S for MIR. Randall,
/ 100; for Mr.. Ford, 8.
NlcsSrs. FulkcrsOn and Paul. the Nir-
ginia ReadjusteTs, voted for Keifcr.
The result having been announced, Mr..
Keller was escorted TO the Speakers chair
! by MesSrs. Randall and HiscOck, and took
the oath Of office, which was administered
by lIr. Kelley OF Pennsylvania a. the old
est member OF the House in point OF SER
vice.
Before taking the oath, however, Mr..
Kcifer, when the applause which greeted
his ascent TO the Speakers desk had sub
sided, said:
Gentlemen OF the House Of Representa-
tiyes.-I thank you with Il heart filled with
gratitude for the distinguished honor con-
ferred ON me by IN election rs your
Speaker. | will assume the powers OF this
high office with, trust, due share OF
ditiidence and distrust Of my own ability to
meet them acceptably to YOU and TO the
country. | believe that You, as a body and
individuals, will give me hearty support in
the discharge OF all my duties. promise
to devote myself faithfully and assiduously
TO the work before me. invoke your and
the country's charitable judgment on MI my
official acts. will strive TO be Just to all re-
gardlesS Of party or section. Where party
principle is involved will be found to be
Republican, but i'm all otherTespects hope
TO be able TO act free from party bias. 1t
i singular fact that at this most prosper
Gus time in our nations history no party
in either branch OF Congress has an abso-
lutte majority over all other parties, and ii
Is therefore peculiarly fortunate that at no
other time since and for many years prior
TO the accession OF Abraham Lincoln to the
Executive chair has there been so lew
unsettled vital questions OF national char
acter in relation to which party lines
have been closely drawn. The material
prosperity OF the people Is in advance Of
any other period in the history OF our Gov
cInmeni. The violence Of party spirit has
materially subsidized, and in great measure
because many OF the reasons for it, exist
ence are gone. While the universal ten
dency of the people is to sustain and con-
tinue to build up an unparalleled pros
perity, il should he our highest aim so rs
to permanently promote and not cripple it.
THIS Congress should be, and l pro-
foundy hope il will be, marked pecu-
liarly as business Congress. 1t may
be true that additional laws are
vet necessary TO give TO every citizen
complete protection in the exercise OF all
political rights. With eyenly-balanced
party power, with few grounds for party
strife, and with no impending presidential
election to distract us from purely legisla-
tive duties. | venture to suggest that the
present is an suspicious time to enact laws
to guard against the recurrence Of danger
10 our institutions and to insure tranquility
at perious times in the future.
Again thanking you for the honor con-
ferred. and again invoking your aid and
generous Judgment, | am ready to take the
oath prescribed by law and the Constitu-
ton. and forthwith proceed with my best
ability, guided by a sincere and honest
purpose, to discharge the duties belonging
10 tie Office with which YOU have clothed