Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-04
LAW MAKERS AT WORK.
The Fffty-first Congress Convenes ON
MOnday-Scenes and Incidents of the
Opening Ceremonies - Vast Crowds
Thronging the Hall of the Lower
House.

WASHINGTON, ~. u, Dec. Z.-Ine n1Cy-
first Congress convened to-day.
The holding of the Democratic caucus
at 10 o'clock this morning necessitated
the closing of the floor of the House and
the galleries against the general public,
who sureed through the lower corridors
until the pressure became 30 great that
in order to relieve it ingress was per-
mitted to the halls on the upper floor,
and in short time each closed gallery
door was besieged by acrowd of expect
ant spectators. When the caucus had
adjourned, and the heavy gallery doors
swung outward on their hinges, there
was wild rush for seats, and in few
moments there was standing room only
in the wide portals. The executive
gallery was alone entirely empty, and
the gallery reserved for the diplomatic
corps had but few occupants. The pic
ture for which the galleries formed q
gigantic and appropriate frame. was ex-
tremely interesting. On the floor the
members mingled together chatting and
laughing.
As the hour of noon approached, the
noise and confusion increased upon the
floor, and 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. The roll call
showed the presence of 327 mem
bers-the three absentees being
ONeal,, of Indiana, Randall, of
Pennsylvania, and Whitthorne, of Ten
hou
been disclosed nominations for speaker
were in order and Mr.. Reed was placed
in nomination by Mr.. Henderson, of Ill
inois. The mention of Mr.. Reeds
name was the signal for applause on
the Republican side which was returned
with interest by the Democrats when
Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, nominated
Mr.. Carlisle for the honorable position.
The vote resulted For Reed, 1866; for
Carlisle 154; for Cummings, of New
York /; (Cowles of North Carolina)-
and Mr.. Reed, having been declared
elected speaker, wGs escorted to the
chair by Messrs Mckinley and Carlisle
amid applause, and the oath of Office
was administered by Mr.. Kelley, Of
Pennsylvania During the roll-call Mr..
colleague, Mr.. Randall, was paired with
the chair, Speaker Reed Said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIvEs: thank you for the high office which
your voices have bestowed upon me. 1t would
be impossible not to be moved by its dignity and
honor, but you may well imagine that I am at
this moment more impressed by It's response
bilities and duties. Under our system of gov
eminent as it has been developed, these respon-
sibilities and duties are both political
and parliamentary. So far as the duties po-
litical, sincerely hope that they may be
performed with proper sense of what is due to
all the people of the whole county. So far as
they are parliamentary, l hope with equal sim
cerfty that they may be performed with prop
er sense of what is due to both sides of the
chamber. (Applause) To the end that may be
successful in carrying out your wishes, in
woke the considerate Judgment and cordial aid
of all the members of this house. (Long con-
tinued applausel
The next step in the organization of
the House was the swearing In of the
members elect and 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.
When this duty was finished the
House proceeded to the election of the
other officers. Edward Mcpherson
was elected clerk. A. +. Holmes,
sergeant-at-arms; Z. A. Adams, door
keeper and James L. Wheat postmas-
ter. When it came to the election
of chaplain there was fghs
and the Rev. Charles Bramsdell,
the nominee of the Republican caucus,
was defeat ed and the chaplain of the
last House, William H. Milburn, was re-
elected. Those officers were then
sworn in.
Messrs. Mckinley, Cannon and Car
Isle were then appointed committee
TO notify the President that the House
was organized and ready to proceed to
business