The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-12-12
House.


When the House section OF the Forty
eighth Congress was called to order at noon
the galleries were crowded with spectators.
Numerous floral designs ornamented
the desks of members, among them
a handsome ship of state which
recipient An immense bed of chrysan-
themums covered the desk occupied by j. S.
Barbour, of Virginia and tasteful basket
of flowers adorned the Speakers table. The
members INDUCED in the usual greetings, eN-
changing congratulations on lie election or
coincidence on defeat The Republicans made
good-natured replies to the equally good
natured chatting of the Democrats on the re-
suit of the Presidential contest and no bitter
ness was manifested on either side. Promptly
at noon the Speakers gavel called the House
to order In his opening prayer the chaplain
gave thanks that the members had been
permitted to. return in health and
safety to their legislative duties Inc
Speaker then directed the clerk to call the
roll. The roll disclooed the presence of 222
members, more than aquorum, and the Clerk
was directed to inform the Senate that the
House was ready to proceed TO business.
The speaker appointed Messrs. Randall, Cox
of New York, and Brown, of Indiana, as a
committee to wait upon the President in con-
Junction with similar committee from the
Senate and inform him that Congress was
ready to receive any cOmmunica-
ton he may be pleased to make, Mr..
Holman, presented the credentials of b. T.
Shively as member-elect from the Thirteenth
Indiana District, to succeed W. ii. CalkinS,
(resigned). Mr.. Shively appeared at the bar
of the House and took the oath of Office. At
~ the House took recess for fifteen min
utes. After recess a communication was re-
ceived from the President, and his message
was read When the reading of the message
was finished the House adjourned
Mr. Follett, of Ohio, introduced resolutions
Of rNN INN Anfrt ~ FEAi
States Marshal l.. NJ. Wright. of Cincinnati,
for usurpation of power and intimidation of
voters alleged to have been perpetrated
at the October election III his state.
Mr.. Keifer and Mr.. Reed opposed the reso-
buttons on the point of order that the House
could not bring in articles of impeachment,
and under them merely conduct an investiga
ton of the marshal and his office They also
alleged that it was not q question of priyi-
lege under the rules of the House. Mes,rs.
Cox, of New York; Hammond and Follott,
urged that 1t was right and proper for the
House to adopt such n resolution Speaker
Carlisle overuled Mr.. Refers point OF order
and the resolution was taken up for general
debate, and finally adopted. The matter
will be investigated by the committe, on ex'
penditures in the department of justice.
The House passed the bill making tempo
rary provision for the naval service. Mr..
| Randall, of Pennsylvania, said that the total
appropriation for the navy for the current
| fiscal year was $1,000, l66, a reduction OF
| SOS, 2GS, from the appropriation for the
previous year. The rest of the day was
taken up by the discussion of the interstate
commerce bill Mr. Long, of Massachusetts,,
thought that the evil of the railway system
was not that of extortion. The commissioner
of railroads had said that the United States
had the cheapest railroad transportation il
| the world In Mr.. Longs opinion there had
| been unjust determinations which Congress:
should correct He advocated the passage o.