The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-07
IN THE HOUSE.
Reed Elected, and the Caucus Slate
Broken on Chaplain.

DTOAeH Ou Shhphuihs
WASHINGTON, d. c. December e.
The Fifty-first Congress sat down in
the halls Of its fathers 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 to the general pub
lie, who surged through the lower
corridors until the pressure became
so great that, in order to relieve it,
ingress was permitted to the halls
on the upper floor, and in short
time each closed gallery door was
besieged by crowd of expectant
spectators.
When the caucus adjourned and
the heavy gallery doors swung out
ward ON their hinges, there was a
wild rush for seats, and in few mo
ments there was standing room only
in the wide portals. The executive
gallery was alone entirely empty,
and the gallery reserved for the Dip
lomatic Corps had but few occu-
pants. The picture for which the
galleries formed a gigantic and APP
propriate frame was extremely in
teresting. On the floor the members
mingled together, chatting and
laughing. A great many of the new
Republican members were on hand
early, and received the congratula-
tions of their colleagues. The House
was called to order at IL o'clock by
John B. Clark, the Clerk of the
House in the Fiftieth Congress. The
roll was then called and showed 327.
THE THREE ABsENTEEs.
were O'Neal, of Indiana, Randall, OF
Pennsylvania, and Whithorne Of
Tennessee. More than quorum
having been disclosed, nominations
for Speaker were in order and Mr.
Reed was placed in nomination by
Mr.. Henderson, of Illinois. The
mention of Mr. Reeds name was the
signal for applause on the Republic
can side, which was returned with
interest by the Democrats when Mr.
McCreary, of Kentucky, nominated
Mr.. Carlisle for the honorable posi-
ton.
The vote resulted: Reed, 166
Carlisle, 154; Cummings, of New
York, 1, (Cowles, of North Carolina.
Mr.. Reed having been declared elect
ed Speaker, was escorted to the chail
by Messrs. Mckinley and Carlisle
amid applause, and the oath of of
fee was administered by Mr.. Kelley
of Pennsylvania. During the rol
call Mr.. O'Neal, of Pennsylvania
stated that his colleague, Mr.. Ran
dali, was paired with Mr.. Wilbur, O.
New York.
REEDS NEAT ADDRESS.
On assuming the chair, Speaker
Reed said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REP
REsENTATIvEs:--I thank you for The
high office which your voices have
bestowed upon me. 1t would be i'm
possible not to be moved by its dig
nifty and honor, yet you may wei
imagine that | am at this moment
more impressed by its responsible
ties and duties. Under our system
of government as it has been de
veloped, these responsibilities aut
duties are both political and par
liamentary. So far as the duties
are political, / sincerely hope thai
they may be performed with prop
er sense of what is due to all thu
people of the whole country. So fal
as they are parliamentary, l hope
with equal sincerity that they be
performed with proper sense o
what is due to both sides of thu
chamber. Applause To the enc
that l may be successful in carry
ing out your wishes, l invoke thu
considerate judgment and cordia
aid of all the members of this House
Long continued applause.
THE MEMBERS SWORN IN.
The next step in the organization
of the House was the swearing o.
the member select, and as they rang
ed themselves in squads of twenty
at time in the space in front of thu
Clerks desk, the oath was admins
tered by the Speaker.
When this duty was finished. the
House proceeded to the election o
the other officers. Edward McPher
son was elected Clerk; A. F. Holmes
Sergeant at Arms; G. A. Adams
Doorkeeper, and James L. Wheat
Postmaster. When it came to the
election of a Chaplain there was ,
fight and the Rev. Charles B. Rams
dell, the nominee OF the Republican
caucus, was defeated, and Tie chap
lain of the last House, William H
Millburn, was reelected. These of
fcers were then sworn in. Messrs
Mckinley, Cannon and Carlisle wer'
then appointed a committee to in
form the President that the Hous'
was organized and ready to proceed
to business.