Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-04

n
ard there being no prospect of the House
organization being completed in time to do
business this afternoon adjourned until to-
morrow.
HOUSE.
Long before noon the galleries OF the
House of Representatives were filled with
spectators to witness the open scene OF the
4sth Congress. On the floor, political feel
ings have been laid aside for the time, and
friendly greeting and merry conversation
were the order of the day. Now and then q
prediction might be heard as to the result OF
the battle in 1884 and few speculations were
INDUCED in as to the probable chairmanship
If the most important committees of the
House But aside from this the converse
tons were of social and non-political char
aeter. At noon Clerk Mcpherson tapped the
House to order and proceeded to call the roll
of representatives. Mississippi having been
reached, the clerk said he wished to make a
statement. The failure to put upon the roll
the name of any representative-electf from the
second district was due to the fact that no
paper which could be considered a certificate
of election, in the sense of the law, had been
presented here. Chalmers had filed four.
In regard to the first district of North Caro-
lima, the clerk stated that he bad not received
any certificate of election of the successor of
Wallace X. Pool, who died in August last.
The roll call disclosed the presence of BIG
members.
Mr. Geddes of Ohio, nominated for Speaker
of Congress, Hon. John q. Carlisle OF Ken
lucky.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois presented the name
of Hon. j. W. keifer for Speaker.
Mr. Lyman of Massachusetts, presented the
name of G. w. Robinson of Massachusetts,
tor Speaker.
Mr. Carlisle had 1911 votes and was de-
clared elected.
Mr.. Carlisle made a very conservative
speech after taking the chair.
After the oath of Office was administered
Speaker Carlisle called the House to order.
Mr.. Converse of Ohio, rising to a question
of privilege said that for reasons satisfactory
to Mr., Manning, he had chosen not to present
the certificate of that member until action
had been taken by the House. 1t had been
the policy of the House by an unbrOken
train of precedents to seal the member who
held the certificate of a Governor. Converse
therefore asked to have the certificate read.
MIR. Keifer of Ohio said Mr.. Manning had
never accepted the certificate, but had put
on the clerks files a statement which showed
he was beaten by $50 votes. He had also in
effect stated that he would not be seated on
that certificate.
After further discussion Mr.. Converse Of
fered a resolution which recited the fact that
Van II. Manning holds the certificate of the
Governor of Mississippi and providing that
he may be Immediately qualified as a member
from the second district of that State, with
without prejudice to the final right to the
seat
Mr. Kasson of Iowa doubted whether the
House had right to order a man who did
not claim a seat to be sworn in, to which Mr..
Converse replied that Mr.. Manning did claim
his right seat. The previous question was
ordered Oh resolution; yeas l6l, nays 1873.
Mr.. Calkins of Indiana offered a resolu-
ton, providing that a certificate from the
governor Of Mississippi certifying the cleo
ton of Mr.. Manning to Congress from the
second district of that State, together with q
certificate in the hands of the clerk of the
House, touching the right of Mr.. Chalmers
to seat, be referred to the committee on
elections when appointed, with instructions
to report without delay which of the parties,
if either. is entitled prima facia to be sworn
in, pending the decision in the Merritts case.
Pending the action, the House, at B 40 p,
M, adjourned, after adopting a resolution
that the daily hour of meeting shall be IL.
A Democrat caucus is announced to take
place this evening at 80.