The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-08
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec.7.
Ihe Senators were promptly on hand this morn
ing, and for half an hour before noon gathered IN
friendly groups around the Senate Chamber, ex-
changing friendly greetings and discussing the
situation. The galleries of the Senate have not
for many years been so crowded on the opening
oay OF the session. Every seat was occupied eX-
cePt the seats in the diplomatic gallery
:, me walls OF the Senate chamber We're urapea
President
Promptly at noon General McCook, Secretary OF
the Senate called the body to order and prayer
was onered by the Chaplain .,.4.,
| Senator Sherman for President of the Senate.
MI voorhees, moved to substitute the name OF
Mr.. Harris
The yeas and nays were then ordered upon Mr.
fo0rneeS' notion which was l0St by strlct
party vote,
Thereupon Mr. Sherman was elected without
further discussion.
Senators Sherman and Harris both abstained
| from voting.
Mr. Sherman was escorted to the chair by
| Messrs. Edmunds and Voorhees,, and the oath OF
| office was administered by Mr.. Edmunds. Mr.
| Sherman then said:
senators return you my grateful thanks for
| the high honor you have conferred upon me. In
common with all the people of the United states
| feel profound sorrow for the sudden death of
also declared to be President OF the Senate The
contingency has now arrived when 1t becomes the
dent pro tenn, and in accepting that position now
assigned to me feel that there are many Senators
on either side of the house more apt in the dis
charge of the duty of the position and more ex-
| perienced in the rules and orders OF the Senate
than myself. Still accept with the sincere de-
sire that may be able to enforce the rules with
kindness and impartiality so 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 sincere desire of
performing this duty, appeal to each individual
Senator for his courtesy and forbearance."
(nllOm then nrdSPDf66 credentials
Mr.. LOganS reelection as Senator from Illinois,
and Mr.. Pike presented those Of Mr.. Blair from
New Hampshire Their credentials were read,
and MesSrS. Logan and Blair were at once sworn
in by the President pro TEN.
Mr.. ingalls, resolution was agreed to, fixing II
O'Clock noon as the hour for the daily meeting Of
the Senate.
The committee having been appointed to notify
the President and the House of the organization
of the Senate, the Senate at 1925 p. m. took a
recess to await information of the action of the
House.
The newly chosen President pro tempore called
| the Senate to order at 240 p. m.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives
| brought message from that body announcing the
election of its Speaker and Clerk, and appoint
ment of committee to wait on the President in
conjunction with the committee already appointed
Mr. Voorhees, then offered the following resou-
| tions, prefacing them with the remark that in
| doing 50 he was performing the saddest duty of
| his public llfe
ResoIved 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 number of years dis
| tinguished member of this body.
ReS0ICed That the business of the Senate be
| suspended in order that the eminent public SER
vices and representative virtues of the deceased
may be appropriately commemorated.
ResoJUed, That the Secretary of the Senate be
| directed to communicate these resolutions to the
| House OF Representatives
Mr.. voorhees, asked that the resolutions be per-
mitted to lie on the table subject to be called up
| at future day, of which the Senate should have
| due and timely notice.
ha laid n fhp
| table
Mr.. Harrison then moved the immediate ad-
journment of the Senate ssout of respect to the
memory of the late Vice President"
The motion was agreed to, and the Senate at
2.43 O'Clock adjourned till tomorrow noon
HOUSE.
At precisely noon the House of Representative
was called to order by j. B. Clark its clerk, and
the first session of the Forty-nntb Congress be-
gan.
The clerk proceeded to call the roll of members
elect When the State of Nebraska was called
the clerk stated that he was doubtful whether the
certificates received from that State fully COM
piled with the law, but as they were identical
with those received in the 47th and 4sth Con-
crosses, and as there was no protest or contest,
he had placed the names of the gentlemen whose
election was thus certified upon the rolls.
The roll-ca disclosed the presence of 800
members
Nominations for Speaker were then in order,
and Mr.. Tucker of Virginia was recognized, and
presented the name Of John G. Carlisle Of Ken
lucky.
MI. Cannon of Illinois presented the name Of
Thomas B. Reed of Maine.
The vote was Immediately taken, and the re-
suit was announced as follows;
For Carlisle .......- ..-.......,......-......laa
For Reed. ...............i........l3
Amid loud applause the clerk declared Mr.. Car
Isle elected, and appointed Messrs. Tucker and
Reed as committee to conduct the Speaker to
the chair.
On taking the chair, Mr. Carlisle returned
thanks for the manifestation OF continued conf
dence and without making pledges in advance,
said he would promise to administer the laws gov
erning the House in the most even manner. 1t
may reasonably be anticipated, also, that wide
differences of opinion will exist on many ques-
tionS resulting perhaps in exciting contests on the
hoor and it may be that these dtferenceS Will not
always be defined by recognized party lines; IN.
der these circumstances proper appreciation OF
the integrity and patriotism of each other, sincere
respect for the honest opinions OF opponents In
debate, and the cultivation of spirit OF mutual
forbearance, will be necessary to enable the
House to conduct its proceedings with order and
deliberation, and avoid unpleasant incidents
seriously regretted by those who participate in
them.
The oath was then administered to Mr.. Carlisle
by Mr.. Kelley OF Pennsylvania.
The clerk then called the roll of members who
appeared at the bar Of the House and were sworn
On motion Of MI. Morrison of Illinois, the clerk
was directed to inform the Senate that the House
had organized and was ready to proceed to bus-
ness.
on motion of Mr.. Blount Of Georgia, the Speak
er appointed MeSArS Blount Randall and Reed
committee to wait upon the President and inform
him that the House had organized and is ready to
receive any communication he may be pleased TO
While waiting for the committee to report, the
House proceeded, on motion of Mr.. Springer OF
Illinois, in order to save time, to draw for seats
Mr.. Mills of Texas asked unanimous consent
that Mr. Kelley of Pennsylvania, the Father Of
the House, be permitted to choose his seat in ad
| vance, but Mr.. Rennett of North Carolina, OBJ
| jected.
Mr.. Reed thereupon suggested that Mr.. Kelley
leave his hat upon his desk, and assured him that
his wish would be respected.
The members then retired behind the circle of
| desks and waited while the blindfoded page drew
| from box the numbered marbles Which cores
| ponded to the numbers attached to their names.
| The first marble drawn was No. 237, and Mr.
| Stahlnecker of New York proved to be the lucky
| man. He selected a seat on the Democratic Side
| little to the left of the Speakers chair, and
| three rows from the front.
| Mr. breckenridge of Arkansas was the next for
| tunate one, and he took possession of his old
| desk
| The next dozen names drawn were those of new
| members, and the faces of the older men length
| ened as they saw the chance of securing promi-
| nent seats leSSening.
On the Democratic side however, Messrs War
| ner of Ohio McAdoo of New Jersey, Springer
| and Eden of Illinois, and Bland of Missouri were
| able to secure good positions. Mr.. Randall secur
| ed his old position, while Mr. Holman obtained
| commanding place.
| Among the last names called was that of Mr..
| Kelley, and he took the seat which his hat and
| the courtesy of his fellow-members had reserved
| for him.
| The drawing of seats having been concluded,
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, rose and said:
| Ai. Speoker:-The melancholy duty has devoly-
| ed upon me of announcing to the House that
| Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President of the
United States, athiS home in the city of Indanap-
/ life. The death of this eminent citizen, after
long period of public service, and holding the sec
| ond office in the gift of the republic with repu-
tation in public and private life OF unsullied good
ness, has occasioned widespread expressions SO OF
| doubtedly Congress will, at an early moment act
| ing through both of its houses, provide an occa-
| sion for a proper expression touching the life,
| character and public services of the deceased.
| And out of respect to his memory, move the
| House does now adjourn
| The motion was agreed to unanimously, and ac
| cordingly at $50, the House adjourned.