The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-03
MR.. REED MADE SPEAKER.
The First Meeting of the Lower
Branch of the Congress-.

WASHINGTON, December 2.-In the House,
as the hour of noon approached, the noise
and confusion increased upon the floor. Mag
niicent floral designs were carried here and
there by pages, and the odor of roses filled
the air. A handsome but unobtrusive
basket graced the Speakers desk. At 11.5O
the executive and diplomatic galleries were
filled. As the hands of the clock pointed to
the hour of Il, Clerk Clark called the House
to order and proceeded to read the roll OF
members elect. The roll call showed the
presence Of 327 members.
More than quorum having been dis
closed. nominations for Speaker were in or
der. and Mr.. Reed was placed in nomination
by Mr.. Henderson of Illinois. The mention
of Mr.. Reeds name was the signal for ap
plause on the Republican side, which was re-
turned with interest by the Democrats when
Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky nominated Mr..
Carlisle for the honorable position.
The vote resulted: For Reed, 166; for
Carlisle, 154 for Cummings of New York,
(Cowles of North Carolina), and Mr.. Reed
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 I:
"Gentlenera Of the House Of Representatives:
l thank you for the high office which your
w
impossible not to be moved by its dignity
and honLr, yet you may well imagine that
am at this moment more impressed by its re-
sponsibilities and duties. Under our system
veloped. these responsibilities and duties
are. both. political and parliamentary.
So far as the duties are POLITICAL sincerely
hope that they may be performed with a
proper sense of what is due to all the people
of the whole country. So far as they 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. [Applause.l To the end that 1
may be, successful in carrying out your
and cordial aid of all the members of this
House." Long continued applause]
The next step in the organization of the
House was the swearing in of the mem
bers-elect, and as they ranged thems elves in
squads of 20 at time in the space in front
Of the clerks desk, the oath was adminis-
tered by the speaker.
Mr.. Henderson of Illinois offered a resolu-
tion for the election of Edward Mcpherson
as clerk, A. j. Holmes as sergeant-at. arms,
G. A. Adams as doorkeeper. James L.Wheat
as postmaster, and Rev. Charles B. Ramsdell
chaplain of the House. Mr.. Cheadle of In
diana offered an amendment striking out the
name of Charles B. Ramsdell and inserting
that of William 81. Milburn. That portion
of the resolution for the election of clerk,
SeTR6dut-dtdItho, uOOIhccpor, anu pOSLulaS-
| ter was adopted by a viva voce vote. On
the vote on that portion of the resolution
which provided for the election of Rev.
William III. Melburn as chaplain, the yeas
| and nays were ordered. This portion of the
resolution was likewise adopted; yeas 160,
| nays 155, Messrs. Cheadle, Lehlback and
| Moore of New Hampshire voting in the af-
| irmative with the Democrats. The newly
elected clerk, doorkeeper, postmaster and
| chaplain then appeared at the bar of the
| House and qualified.
| A resolution was adopted directing the
| clerk to inform the Senate that the House
had organized and was ready to proceed to
business. Messrs. Mckinley, Cannon and
| Carlisle were appointed committee to in
form the President TO the same effect.
Mr.. Perkins of Kansas, offered resolu.
tion providing for drawings of seats by lot
Immediately chorus of suggestions arose
/ as to what members should be exempted
from the danger of i'll luck by being allowed
to select their seats in advance. Finally, on
motion of Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky, res.
olution was adopted, the effect of which was
to permit ex-Speakers Banks, Randall and
Carlisle and Mr. Kelley Of Pennsylvania, to
select their seats. Balloting then began
The drawing having been concluded the
| sergeant-at-arms-elect appeared at the bar of
the House and qualified.
Mr.. Bayne OF Pennsylvania offered reso
luton directing the speaker to appoint q
committee on rules, accounts, enrolled bills
and mileage, each to consist of the same
number OF members as provided for by the
rules OF the Fittieth Congress, and referring
the rules of the Fiftleth Congress to the com