Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-04
CONGRESS- IN SESSION,
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO
BE DELIVERED TODAY.


O'Clock to be the Hour of Meeting for
the Present.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-LOng before the
hour of noon the galleries of the House of
Representatives were filed with specta-
tors to witness the opening scenes of the
Forty-eighth Congress. The new uphOl-
stering of the desks of the members, the
bright colOrs of the carpeting of the
Chamber and the baskets of flowers which
were distributed here and there through
ont the hall served to enliven the
scene. while on the floor, politi-
cal feelings being laid aside for
the time, friendly greetings and
merry conversations were the order of the
day. Now and then prediction might
be heard as to the result of the battle in
1884, and few speculations were indulged
in as to the probable chairmanships of the
more important committees of the House,
but aside from this the conversations were
of a social and nOn-DOlitical character
As the floor was being cleared of strangers
some little excitement was OccasiOned by
the obstinate refusal of Col. PinchOYer, a
noted character in Washington, TO vacate
a seat in which he had enscOnced himself
Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky, however.
succeeded in overcoming his objections
and in leading him from the Chamber. At
precisely u O'Clock, Clerk Mcpherson
took his stand at the Clerks desk, raped
the House to order and proceeded to call
the roll of Representatives elect. The
State of Mississippi having been
reached, the Clerk SAID that he wished
to make a statement as to his
failure to put upon the roll the
name OF any Representative elect from
the Second district. The reason for this
was that no paper which could be con-
sidered a certificate of election in the
sense of the law had been presented to
him. Mr.. Chalmers had filed four eX-
hibits in support of his claim for the seat
but, neither individually nor collectively,
did these exhibits afford the Clerk of the
House sufficient authority for the enroll
ment of Mr.. Chalmers. If the Governor
Of Mississippi had issued a certificate Of
election to any one it had not been pre-
sented to the Clerk.
In regard to the First district of North
Carolina, the Clerk stated that he had not
received certificate of election of a sue
cessOr of Walter X. Pool, who died in Au-
gust last. The roll call disclosed the
presence of 3l6 members. The nOmina-
tions for Speaker being then in order, Mr..
Geddes, of Ohio. said: II nominate for
Speaker of this House for the Forty-eighth
Congress, Hon. John G. Carlisle, of Ken
lucky, a man of acknowledged pTe-emi-
nent qualifications for the place."
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, presented the
name of Hon. j. w. keifer, of Ohio; and
Mr.. Lyman, of Massachusetts, presented
the name of Hon. G. ID. Robinson, of Mas
sachusetts.
Messrs. Morrison, of Illinois; Tucker, of
Virginia; Reed, of Maine, and Calkins, of
Indiana, were appointed as tellers, and
the Clerk proceeded to call the roll. The
result was announced as follows:
For Carlisle Observation-Disclosures. 1871
For Keller ...................... 112
For Robinson .................... 2
Mr.. Robinson's vote came from Messrs.
James, of New York, and Lyman, of Mas
sachusetts.
For j. S. Wise, of Virginia, l, Mr..
York, Of North Carolina, casting the
ballot.
For J. w. Wadsworth, of New York, 1,
the vote coming from Mr.. Ochiltree, of
Texas.
For Edward 5. Lacy, of Michigan, 1,
MIR. White, of Kentucky. casting the vote.
The Clerk thereupOn declared Mr.. Car
Isle elected, and Mr.. Randall, of Pennsyl-
vania, and Mr.. Keifer, Of Ohio, escorted
that gentleman to the char. His entrance
into the chamber was the signal for loud
applause, and the oath of office was adj
ministered.
Upon taking the Chair Mr.. Carlisle said: :
Gentlemen of tile House of Representatives: l
thank you sincerely for the high honor con-
ferred upon me by the vote just taken. To
be chosen from the membership Of great
body like this to preside over its deliberations
is a distinction upon which any citizen
might properly congratulate himself, and
| assure you That your kindness and par
tiality are fully appreciated. At the same
time l realize the fact that the position to
which you have assigned me is one of very
great labor and responsibility, and while pro-
fOundy grateful TO you for this manltesta-
tion of your confidence, | shall enter on the
discharge of its duties with a serious distrust
of my capacity to meet in an acceptable man
ner the requirements of this Office. /
promise you, however, to devote
to your service all the zeal and ability
OF which | am possessed. Gentlemen, the
maintenance of order on the floor is essential,
absolutely essential, to the intelligent and
systematic transaction of the public business,
and | earnestly invoke your assistance in the
enforcement of the rules adopted for the
government Of our proceedings. The
large addition to the membership of this
House, resulting from the late apportionment
OF Representatives, makes this duty even
more difficult than IL has been before, and
without your cordial cooperation and sup
port | cannot reasonably hope evenly TO dls-
charge the ordinary daily duties of this Office.
in every proper effort to preserve order and
to facilitate the business OF legislation, L
have no doubt. But, gentlemen, l shall ask
something more of you than mere cooperation
in the discharge Of my duty. Assuring you
of my earnest desire at all times to be just
and Impartial still | cannot expect to avoid
mistakes and shall be compelled, therefore.
frequently no doubt, to rely on the friendly
forbearance of the gentlemen on both sides
of the House. | am sure, gentlemen, that all
matters of legislation presented during this
Fnh afFr
consideration as the magnitude and charac-
ter of the interests involved require,
and that your action upon them
will be wise, conservative and
patriotic. Sudden aud radical changes in the
laws and regulations Affecting the CONNER
cial and industrial interests of the people
ought never to be made, unless lmperatlyely
demanded by some public emergency, and in
nv opinion. under the existing circumstances,
such changes would not be favOrably received
by any considerable number of those who
have given serious attention to
the subject Applause. Many reforms
are undoubtedly necessary, and it will be
YOUR duty. after a careful examination of the
whole subject IN all its bearings to decide how
far they should extend, and when and IN
what manner they should be made. APP
plause. If there be any who fear that your
action on this or any other subject Will actu
ally be injurious to any m
cause for alarm, l am quite sure
that they will be agreeably disappointed.
Applause What the country has the right
To expect is strict economy in the administra-
tion of every department OF the government,
lust and equal taxation for public purposes,
faithful observance of the limitations of the
Constitution, and scrupulOus regard for the
rights and interests of the great body of the
people, in order that they may be
projected, as far as Congress has
power to protect them, against
encrOachment from every direction. What
ever can be done under the circumstances
II q
ought to be done, in my judgment. But, gen.
tlemen, without OBTAINING you further, am
ready 10 take the gath of office prescribed by
the Constitution and laws, and proceed to
complete the organization of the House.
Applause.
The ironclad oath of office was then ad-
ministered by Mr.. Kelley, OfPennsylvania,
the oldest member of the House in cOntin-
uous service, and Speaker Carlisle called
the House to order. The States were
then called alphabetically, and the Rep
resentatiyes, as their names were called,
came forward and qualified.
Mr.. Converse, of Ohio, rising to ques-
tion of privilege, said that the Clerk ofthe
House this morning had stated that had
the certificate of the Governor of Missis-
sippi been presented by any person claim
ing to be the Representative from the
Second district of that State he
would have pla ced his name on the roll.
For reasons which were satisfactory to
Mr.. Manning, he had chosen u0t to pre-
sent that certificate until action had been
taken by the House. He Mr.. COnverse) J,
had called upon Mr.. Manning's attorney
and asked permission to present Mr..
Manning's credentials to the House. 1t
had been the policy of the House by an
unDroken train of precedent to seat the
member who held the certificate of the
Governor. He asked to have the certiti-
cate read.
r sNN.s hot M~