The leader., 1889-12-07
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
The Nations Lawmakers Once
More in Session.
New House Officers Elected and
New Senators Sworn In.


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 tune
because of caucus OF Democratic Repfesen-
tatives in progress, and the first tendency OF
the throng was to turn in the direction OF
the Senate Chamber, where the galleries and
floor were both open. Yhe greater interest
centred in the House, and a crowd gradually
assembled about its doors that packed the
Railways and made progress through them
a matter of extreme difficulty when the
doors were thrown open not only the gal-
leries 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
pages. aud the odor of roses filled the ar
handsome but unobtrusive basket graced the
Sneakers desk Two desks were necessary
to prop up an immense floral horseshoe and
floral chair, each bearing the inscription:
'tOur Little Giant" sent to Mccarthy OF New
York city by his admirers Houk, of Ten
nessee, was the recipient of superb floral
Ship of State.
The roll call of the House showed 372 men,
bers present. Nominations 1of 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- 100; LOT Gar
isle 1874; Cummings, Of New YORK, l,
(Cowles, of North Carohnal ana MI. heeu,
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 Ine
chair Speaker Reed said: "Gentlemen OF Ine
House of Representatives: thank you ior
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 NAV well imagine am at TINS
moment more impressed by its responsible
ities and duties. Under our system OF gov
ernment as it has been developed, tnese
RESPONSIBILITIES and duties are both ponVlcal
and parliamentary. 80 far as Ihe uuCles al .
political, l. sincerely hope thati they may
be performed with proper sense OF wnat Is
due to all the people of the whole country
So faras thev are parliamentary hope with
equal sincerity that they may be per1ormed
with a proper sense of what IS due to both
sides of the Chamber"
Mr.. Reed then took the Speakers cnalr,
and all the Representatives were sworn In:
Mr.. Henderson, of Illinois, next offered
resolution declaring the election OF the
Republican caucus nominees. Ihey
were Mr.. Mcpherson. Of Penn
sylvania, for Clerk; Mr. Holmes, OF OF
Iowa, for Sergeant-at-Arns; Mr.. Adams, OF
MARYLAND, for Doorkeeper; Mr.. Wheat, OF
Wisconsin, for Postmaster, and the Rev.
Charles Ramsdell for Chaplain ,, An tn These @
were elected save the Chaplain. This once I:t
after a close contest went to Rev. w Ill
lam Fl. Milburn, the blind peacher
After the drawing of seats was over ana 9
motion had been adopted authorizing the
+too- Or1R nj a
| 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
Cd 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 ap-
pointed Messrs. Bavne, Hitt Carter, Culber-
son, ofTexas, and Cummings as committee
on the centennial celebration.