Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
Opening OF Both Houses-Reed's Stirring
Speech.

CONGRESSIONAL.
Opening OF Both Houses-Reed's Stirring
Speech.
WASHINGTON, December 2d.-There was
little or no excitement attending the open
ing of the Fifty-tirst Congress on the Senate
side. The public curiosity seemed largely
transferred to the House.
The interest in the floor was devoted
largely to the Senators from new States.
They had seats assigned them on the Re-
publican side.
Senator Casey of North Dakota took his
seat on the end of the second row, against
the north wall. Directly behind him sat
the Washington Senators, Allen and
Squires, while Pettigrew and Moody of
South Dakota were in the fourth row, near
the center of the room.
Senator Pierce of North Dakota has the
end seat in the fourth row, but he is not
present to-day.
On the Democratic side there are twoseats
so far unassigned. They will be occupied
by the Senators from Montana when they
have been chosen.
AS tie gallery doors swung outward there
was a wild rush for seats and in a few mo-
ments there was standing-room only. On
the floor the members mingled together,
X
At noon the Vice President entered the
Senate chamber, and the Chaplain opened
the proceedings with prayer.
The oath of office was administered by
the Vice President to Senators Chandler of
New Hampshire and Nathan +. Dixon of
Rhode Island.
The credentials of Moody and Pettigrew
of South Dakota, and Allen and Squires of
Washington, were presented.
Platt moved that the oath of office be
administered.
The motion was agreed to, and the four
new Senators, each escorted by Senator,
proceeded to the Clerks desk amid ap-
plause from the galleries and took the oath
of office.
Senators Edmunds and Harris were ap-
pointed committee to join like commit
tee from the House to inform the Presi-
dent that the Congress was ready to receive
any communication that he may choose to
make.
A resolution providing for the continu-
ance of select Committee on Transporta-
ton and on the sale of meat products was
agreed to.
Aldrich offered resolution, which was
laid over for the appointment of select
committee of nine Senators, to be called
the Centennial Committee, and to which
the proposed celebration of the four hum
dredth anniversary of the discovery of
America.
THE HOUSE.
At noon Clerk Clark called the House to
order. Roll-c showed the presence of
327 members, the three absentees being
O'Neal of Indiana, Randall of Pennsyl-
vania and Whithorne of Tennessee. Reed
was placed in nomination for Speaker by
Henderson of Illinois.
The mention of Reeds name was the
signal for applause on the Republican side,
which was returned with interest by the
Democrats when McCreary of Kentucky
nominated Carlisle. The vote resulted
Reed, 1866; Carlisle, 154 Cummings of New
York, 1. Reed having been declared elected,
the Speaker was escorted to the chair by
Mckinley and Carlisle amid applause, and
the oath of Office administered by Kelley of
Pennsylvania.
Speaker Reed said Il thank you for the
high Office which your votes have be-
slowed upon me- 1t has been impossi-
BILE not to be moved By its dignity and
honor. Yet You may well imagine that |
am not at this moment more impressed by
its responsibilities under our system of
government as it has been developed.
These responsibilities and duties are both
political and parliamentary. So far as the
duties are political, l sincerely hope they
may be performed with proper sense of
what is due all the people of the whole of
the country. So far as they are parlia-
mentary, hope with equal sincerity they
may be performed with proper sense Of
what is due both sides of the chamber. To
the end that l may be successful in carry
ing out your wishes, | invoke the consid-
crate Judgment and the cordial aid of all
the members of this House, Loud and
long continued applause
The next step in the organization was the
swearing in of the members elect as they
ranged themselves in squads of twenty at a
time in the space in front of the Clerks
desk The oath was administered by the
Speaker.
The House then proceeded TO the cleo
| tion of other officers. Edward MCPHERSON
| was elected Clerk, Alfred Holmes Sergeant
| at Arms, G. A. Adams Doorkeeper and
| James L. Wheat Postmaster.
When it came to the election of q Chap
lain there was fight. The Rev. Charles
B. Ramsdell, the nominee of the Republi-
can caucus, was defeated, and the Chaplain
of the last House, William II. Milburn.
| the blind preacher, was reelected.
Mckinley, Cannon and Carlisle were ap-
| pointed committee TO inform the Presi-
dent that the House was organized and
ready to proceed with business.
Perkins of Kansas offered a resolution,
which was adopted, providing for the draw
| ing of seats by lot.
| On motion of McCreary of Kentucky.
resolution was adopted, the effect of which
was to permit ex-Speakers Banks Randall
and Carlisle and Kelley of Pennsylvania to
select their seats.
| In accordance with McCrearys resolu-
| ton, Banks selected seat to the left of the
Speakers desk, well in front. Randall's
| old seat was secured for him, and Kelley Sc
lected that which he occupied for so many
years. Carlisle selected seat across the
aisle from that occupied in the last session
| by Mills.
Then the lottery began, and ''P' proved
| the lucky letter, the first three names called
being Perry, Paynter and Perkins.
Grosvenor Breckenridge of Kentucky,
| Mason of Illinois, and Cannon were favored
| By fortune, and retained their old desks.
| Mckinley obtained a desk well in the
center of the house, with Hit of Illinois as
| q neighbor.
The first fortunate New Workers were
| Farquehar, who seated himself in front of
Mckinley, and Flower, who chose the seat
which he occupied before. Lodge of Mas
| sachusets preferred the companionship of
Mckinley and Hit to more prominent
| position, and joined the little group which
had surrounded these popular members.
| Mills of Texas secured seat much less
advsntsgeously situated than the one he
had last session.
When the drawing was concluded the
Sergeant-at-Arms elect appeared at the bar
of the House and qualified.
Bayne of Pennsylvania offered resolu-
ton directing the Speaker to appoint COM
! mittees on Rules, Accounts, Enrolled Bills
and Mileage, each to consist of the same
number of members as is provided for by
the rules Of the Fiftieth Congress, and re-
ferring the rules of the Fiitieth Congress to
the Committee on Rules. Adopted.
Adjourned.