Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-12-13
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
The Nations Lawmakers Once
EOre in Session.
New House Officers Elected and
New Senators Sworn In.

The Fiftv-first Cons ress of the United
States has started on its career at the Nation 5
Capitol The House of Representatives was
called to order at noon by John B. Clark,
the Clerk Of the House in the Fiftieth Con-
cress. Long before that hour the corridors
of the CapitOl were thronged with men. wO-
men and children. The doors of the house
galleries were closed against them for time
because of a caucus Of Democratic Represen-
tatives in progress, and the first tendency OF
the thron2. was to turn in the direction OF
the Senate Chamber, where the galleries ana
floor were both open. The greater interest
centred in the House, and crowd gradually
assembled about its doors that packed the
Railways and made progress through them
matter of extreme difficulty "hen tne
doors We're thrown open not only the ga
Ieries but the floor OF the House quickly
filled with strangers.
MAGNIFICENT floral designs were carried
here and there on the floor Of the House by
naoeS and the OdOr of roses filled the air. A
handsome but unObtrusive basket graced the
Sneakers desk, Two desks were necessary
to OroD I'D an immense floral horseshoe ami 2
floral chair, each bearing the inscriptions:
'sOuo. Little Giant" sent to Mccarthy OF New
York city bv his admirers. HOuk, OF len
nessee. was the recipient of superb horal
Ship Of State.
The roll call Of She House showed 312 mem
bers TSaSent. Nominations for Speaker
were then made. n. henderson, OF ILLINOIS,
nominated Thomas 3. Reed, of Maine and
Mr.. McCre2rv. Of Kentucky, nominated
John G. Carlisle Of that State:
The vote res,t -,ad: For Reed, 1866: for Car
lisle, 154; Cummings, of New YORK, l,
NCowIes Of North CarOina) and MI. heeC'
having been declared elected Speaker was
escorted TO the chair by Messrs. Mckinley
and Carlisle amid applause, and the oath OF
office was administered On assuming the
chair Speaker Reed said: 'Gentlemen OF the
House Of Representatives: L thank you TOT
the high Office which your voices nave De
slowed upon me- 1t would be impossible not
to be moved by its dignity and honor; yet
YOU may well imagine l am at TINS
inomert more impressed by its responsible
tiles and duties Under our system OF gov
nrnment as it has been developed, tneSe
responsibilities and duties are both political
and parliamentary SO far as the duties are
POLITICALLY T. sincerely hope that they may
he performed with q proper sense OF "haO IS
due to all the people Of the whole country
SO faras thew are parliamentary hope with
equal sincerity that they may be performed
with a proper sense of what is due to both
sides of the Chamber"
Mr.. Reed then took the Speakers CHAIR,
and all the Representatives We're sworn IN:
Mr. Henderson, of Illinois, next offered
resolution declaring the election OF ~, the
Republican caucus nominees 1hey
were Mr.. Mcpherson, of Penn
sylvania, for Clerk; Mr.. Holmes, OF
Iowa, for Sergeant-at- Arms; Mr.. Ada1ns' OF
Maryland, for Doorkseper; Mr.: Wheat, of
wisconsin, for Postmaster, and the Rev.
Charles Ramsden for Chaplain. All these
were elected save the Chaplain. rms once,
after a close contest. went to Rev. Will
lam H. Milburn the blind peacher.
After the drawing of seats was over and
Imotion had been adopted authorizing the
Speaker to appoint Committees on Rules, Ac,
counts and Mileage and Enrolled bills, and
the rules Of the last Congress had been re-
Eferred to the Committee on Rules when APP
pointed. the House adjourned.
ID DAY.-SoOn after the reading OF the
journal, the Presidents message was read by
the Clerk. The message was ordered printed
and referred to the Committee of the Whole
49,. Under authority given by the last Sun
dry Appropriation bill, the Speaker APP
pointed Messrs Bayne Hit, Carter CulheT-
son, ofTexas, and Cummings as committee
on the centennial celebration.