Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-08
THE SENATE.

The SENATE.
The Body Meets and Adjourns Out o.
Respect for the Vice President.
WASHINGTON December The Ssns-
tors were promptly on hand this morning
and for half an hour before noon gathered
in friendly groups around the'Senats Cham
Der exchanging greetings and discussing
the situation. The galleries of the Senate
have net for many years been so crowded
on the opening day Of the session. Tht
walls of the Senate Chamber were drapeC
in deep black out ofrespsct to the memory
Of the late Vice President.
Promptly at noon General McCook, Sec
retary Of the Senate. called the body to
order, and prayer was offered BY the Chap
lain, Rev. De. Huntly, alter which Mr.. Ed
munds offered resolution declaring Sen
Ator John Sherman the President pre-
tempore of the Senate. Mr.. Voorhees,
moved an amendment to strike out the
mans oEJohnShermsn and place instead the
name of Isham Harris. The amsndmt Mt
was voted down by party vote-yeas 20
nays ST.. Mr.. Sherman was without division
declared duly elected President pro tenn.
Mr.. Sherman aud Me-. Harris sbJtsined
from voting.
Upon the request of Secretary McCook,
Mr.. Sherman was escorted to the chair By
Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Voorhees,, and the
oath of Office was administered to him by
Mr.. Edmunds.
Mr.. Sherman then said: Senators:
return you my grateful thanks for the
high honor you have conferred upon me.
10 common With sll the people of the
United States, feel profo U nd sorrow for
ths sudden death of the Vice President,
who, By the constitution, is also declared
to be President Of the Senate. The con.
tngency has now arrived when it becomes
the i'm psrstiys duty OF the Senate to elect
President pro tempore. 10 accepting
the position assigned me, | feel that there
are many Senators on either side Of the
House more sp. in the discharge of the
duties OF this position; more experienced
in the rules and orders Of the Senate, than
myself. STILL accept with the sincere
desire that l may be able to enforce the
rules with kindness and impartislity, 80 as
to ascertain If possible the sense Of the
majority of the Senate, and to give to the
minority its full constitutional right and
protection. With the sincere desire of per-
forming this duty l appeal to each indi-
vidusl Senator for his courtesy and for
besrsuce."
Mr.. Cullom presented the credentials of
Me-. Logsn's reelection as Senator from
Illinois, and Mr.. Pike presented those OF
Mr.. Blair as Senator from NeS Hsmp'
shire. The credentials we're read, aud Mr.
Logan and Me-. Blair were at once sworn
in By the President pro tempore.
Twelve o'clock, noon, was fixed as the
hour of daily meeting, unless otherwise
ordered.
The Secretary was instructed to inform
the President OF the United States aud the
House of Representatives, that the Senate
had chosen John Sherman as President
pro tempore.
Senators Edmunds aud Harris were ap-
pointed q committee to join such 9 COM
mjttee as may be appointed by the House
of R epreentAtiyes 10 wait upon the Presi-
dens aud inform him that quorum OF
each house was assembled aud that Con-
gress was ready to receive any communI'
cation that he may be pleased to make.
While waiting information Of the action
Of the House of Representatives the Sen
ate took recess a. 2:40 p. m. The newly
chosen President pro tempore called the
Senate TO order. The clerk of the House
of Representatives, brougt 3 message from
that body announcing the election Of its
Speaker and Clerk and the appointment OF
q committee to wait on the President II
conjunction with the committee already
appointed by the Senate. Mr.. voorhees,
then offered the following resolution, pre-
facing il with the remark that, in 80 doing,
he was performing the saddest duty OF his
public life: ,
Resolved, That the Senate has received
with profound sorrow the intelligence Of
the death OF Thomas A. Hendricks, late
Vice President of the United States and
for q number Of years distinguished mem
Der of this body.
Resolved, That the business of the Sen
ate be suspended in order that the eminent
public service and the representative Vlr.
tues of the deceased may be appropriately
commemorsted.
Resolved, That the Secretary cf the
Senate be directed to communicate these
resolutions to the House Of r presenta
tives.
Me. VOORHEES, asked that the resolutions
be permitted to lie on the table subject to
be called upon at future day. Of which
the Senate should have due and timely
no'ice. The resolutions were accordingly
laid on the table.
Mr.. Harrison then moved an immediate
adjournment of the Senate 'out Of respect
10 the memory Of the late Vice President.
The motion was agreed to and the Senate,
at 2:4O p m, adjourned till to MORO"
i nNNn