West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-12
FIFTY.FIRST CONGRESS.
The Nations Lawmakers Once
More I'm Session.
New House Officers Elected and
New Senators Sworn In.

The Fifty INST Congress Of tho United
States has started oil is carecr nj the Nations
Capitol. The House ~ Representatives. was
Gall-t ~ order at noon 10y John H. Clark
the Clerk of the House I'm the Fiftioth Con-
grcss. Long before that hpnr tho corridors
OF the Capitol were throngcd wits nier, wo-
men and children. Tho doors ot the House
galleries vsrc closed against them FOR umo
because of A catirus OF Democratic ReprcScn-
tativcs IN progress, and tho first tendency OF
the throrg was to turn In thc direction ot
the Senate Charnbcr, whore the galleries and
floor were both opeu Tho greater Interest
centred I'm the House, and crowd gradually
assembled about it's doors that packed tho
Railways and made progress through then
A matter uf extreme difficulty When the
doors wcfs thrown open not only the gal
lcrics hut thd Moor pf tho House quickly
dlled with strangers.
Magnificent floral designs were carried
here and there ON the floor of the House 10y
pages, and the odnr of roses filled the air. a
handsome hut unohtrurivc basket groced the
Speakers desk Two desks were necessary
to prop mp an immense floral horseshoe and n
floral chair, each bearing the inscription
"Our Little Giant sent TO Mccarthy of New
York city ly his admirers. Houk, of Ten
nessec was the recipient OF a superb floral
Ship of State.
The roll call of the House showed 87o mem-
bers present Nominations foT SPEAKER
were then made MIR. Henderson, Of Illinois,
nominated Thomas B. Reed, OF Maine, aud
Mr. MCCreery, OF Kentucky nominated
John g. Carlisle, Of that State.
IL was announced 10y the Clerk that the
election of Amos j. Cummings, lceman
Turner and Columbus Delano, all OF New
York, had not been properly certified 10 and
that they would not be allowed 10 vote Tor
Speaker When the Ninth New York Dis
trict was reached, however, Mr.. Cummings's
name was called, and he promptly voted. IL
was the amusing error Of tic morning.
The vote resulted: For Reed, i66. for Car
isle 1b4: Cummings of New York, |,
CCowles, Of North Carolinal and Mr.. Reed,
having been declared elected Speaker. wRd
escorted TO the chair by Mnsns Mckinley
and Carlisle amid applause, and the oath OF
office was administered. ON assuming tho
chair Speaker Reed said: "Gentemcn OF tho
House of Representatives: thank You for
the high Office which your voices have he
slowed upon me It would he impossible not
10 he moved 10y its dignity and honor; yet
YOU NAV we'll imagine / am ut this
moment morU impressed 10y its responsible
ities and duties. Under our system OF gov
crnmcnt aS 10 has been developed, these
responsibilities and duties are both political
and parliamentary So far as the duties arc
political, / sincerely,hope that they may
be performed with proper sense of what is
due 10 all the people OF tho whole country.
So faras they are parliamentary hope with
equal sincerity that they may be performed
with proper sense OF WhlJ ~ duc 10 uolu
sides Of the Chamber
Mr. Reed then took the Speakers chair,
and all the Representatives were sworn i'm.
Mr. Henderson, of Illinois next offered a
resolution declaring the election of tho
Republican Caicus nominees. They
were Mr. Mcpherson, of Penn
sylvania for Clerk; Mr. Holmes Of
Iowa, for Sergeant at Arms; Mr. Adams, Of
Maryland, for Doorkeeper; Mr.. Wheat, OF
Wisconsin, for Postmaster, and the Rev.
Charles Ramsdel for Chaplain. All these
wero elected snve the Chaplain. This Office,
after close contest, went 10 Rev. Will
lam H. Miburn, the blind peacher.
After the drawing Of seats was over and a
motion had been adopted authorizing the
Speaker 20 appoint Committees on Rules, Ac-
counts and Mileage and Enrolled bills, and
the rules Of the last Congress had been 70
ferred 10 the Committee on Rules when APP
pointed, the House adjourned.