The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-18
FIFTY:FIRST CONGRESS.
The Nations Lawmakers Once
More in Session. =
New House Officers Elected and
New Senators Sworn In.

The Fifty-frst Congress of the United
States has started on its career at the Nations
Capitol. The House of Representatives was
called to order at noon by John B. Clark,
the Clerk of the House in the Fiftieth Con-
gress. 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 throne was to turn in the direction OF
the Senate Chamber, where the galleries and
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 Wnen tne
doors were thrown open not only the gal
leries but the floor of the House quickly
filed with strangers
Magnificent floral designs were carried
here and there on the floor of the House by
pages and the odor Of roses filed the air. A
handsome but unobtrusive basket graced the
Sneakers desk. Two desks were necessary
to prop I'D an immense floral horseshoe and
floral chair. each bearing the inscription:
"Our Little Giant" sent to Me- cCarthy Of New
York city by his admirers. Houk, OF Ten
nessee, was the recipient of superb floral
The roll call Of the House showed 372 men,
hers present Nominations for Speaker
were then made Mr. Henderson, OF Illinois.
nominated Thomas B. Reed, Of Maine, and
Mr.. McCreery, Of Kentucky, nominated
John G.. Carlisle, Of that State.
The vote resulted: For Reed, 166: Tor Car
Isle. 14: Cummings of New York, !,
Cowles, Of North Carolina) and Mr.. Reed,
having been declared elected Speaker. was
escorted to the chair by Messrs. Mckinney
and Carlisle amid applause. and the oatn OF
office was administered. On assuming the
chair Speaker Reed said: "Gentlemen Oh the
House of Representatives: thank you for
the hiph Office which your voices have be-
slowed upon me. 1t would be impossible not
to be moved by it's dignity and honor; yet
YOU may well imagine l am at TINS
moment more impressed by its responsible
tiles and duties. Under our system OF gov
ernment as it has been developed, tnese
responsibilities and duties are both political
and parliamentary So far asthe duties are
political, I, 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 nope WIN
equal sincerity that they may be performed s
with proper sense OF what is due 10 poCn
sides Of the Chamber"
Mr.. Reed then took the Speakers chair,
and all the Representatives were sworn IN;
Mr.. Henderson, Of Illinois, next offered
resolution declaring the election of the
Republican caucus nominees. iney
were Mr.. Mcpherson, of Penn
sylvania, for Clerk; Mr.. Holmes Of
Iowa, for Sergeant-at-Arms;M Mr.. AdaIos, OF
MARYLAND, for Doorkeeper; Mr.: Wheat, OF
Wisconsin, for Postmaster, and the KeV.
Charles Ramsden for Chaplain. AL these
were elected save the Chaplain. This otlce
after close contest, went to Rev. Wln-
lam n. Milburn, the blind peachsr.
After the drawing Of seats was over and a
motion 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-
ferred to the Committee on Rules when ap-
pointed, the House adjourned.
I'd 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 Sum
dry Appropriation bill. the Speaker ap-
pointed Messrs. Bayne, Hit, Carter, Culber-
son, of Texas, and Cummings as committee
on the centennial celebration.