Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-12-03
CONGRESS OPENED.
The First Day Devoted to
Organization.
TIE NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN.

Interest Chiefly Conferred in HOus'
PrOceedings-Reed Assumes
the Speakership.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, December 2 Th'
House Democratic caucus met thi
morning. The old officers were renomi
mated, and the following was adopted
without division: "Resolued, That we
the Democratic members of the House o
the Fifty.fitst Congress, at the beginning
of the first session, hereby send greeting
to the people of the country and assurance
of our continuous confidence in and de-
votion to the principles of tariff reform
as embraced in Cleveland's message to
the last Congress upon the subject, and
in the platform of principles adopted al
the last Democratic National Convention
at st. Louis; that we hail with delight
the emphatic approval Of those principles
by the people as expressed at the polls
at the recent elections and pledge our.
selves to renew and continue in Congress
the contest for the reduction of war taxes
80 ably begun and prosecuted by our Rep
resentatives and Senator'S"
The questions of election of permanent
officers and modification of House rules
were postponed and the caucus ad-
journed.
As the gallery doors of the House
swung outward there was wild rush for
seats, and in few moments there was
standing room only. On the floors the
members mingled together chatting and
laughing.
THE HOUSE CALLED TO ORDER.
At noon Clerk Clark called the House
to order. Roll-call showed the presence
of 1927 members, the three absentees
being O'Neall, of Indiana; Randall, Of
Pennsylvania, and Whitthorne, of Ten
nessee.
Reed was placed in nomination for
Speaker by Henderson, Q of Illinois.
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 voting resulted !:
Reed, 1865; Carlisle, 1854; Cummings, of
New York, l.
Reed having been declared elected
Speaker, he was escorted to the chair by
Mckinley and Carlisle amid applause,
and the oath of Office was administered
by Kelley, of Pennsylvania.
Randall, of Pennsylvania, paired with
Wilbur, of New York.
RBED's ACCEPTANCE OF THE sPRAKERsHIP.
Speaker Reed, on taking the chair,
said: II 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, yet you
may we'll imagine that am at this mo-
sment more impressed by its responsible
tiles. Under our system of government
it has been developed that these respon-
, sibities and duties are both political and
parliamentary. So far as the duties are
political sincerely hope they may be
performed with proper sense of what is
due both sides of the chamber. Applause.
To the end that may be successful in
carrying out your wishes, invoke the
considerate judgment and cordial aid of
all members of this House." Long
and continued applause.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN.
The next step in organization was the
swearing in of the members-elect, and as
they ranged themselves in squads of
twenty at time in the space in front of
the Clerks desk, the oath was admins
tered by the Speaker.
ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
The House then proceeded to the cleo
ton of other officers. Edward McPher-
son was elected Clerk; A. F. Holmes,
Sergeant-at- Arms; @. A. Adams. Door.
keeper; James L. Wheat, Postmaster.
When it came to the election of the
Chaplain there was fight. Rev. Charles
B. Ramsdale, the nominee of the Re.
publican caucus, was defeated, and the
Chaplain of the last House, William II.
Milburn. the blind preacher, was re-
elected. These officers were then sworn
in.
Mckinley, Cannon and Carlisle were
appointed q committee to inform the
President that the House was organized
and ready to proceed to business.
THE SEATS APPoRTIoNRD.
Perkins, of Kansas, offered resolu.
ton, which was adopted, providing for
the drawing of seats by lot.
On motion of McCreary, of Kentucky,
q 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 McCresry's resolu-
ton, Banks selected a seat to the left Of
the Speakers desk, we'll in front. Ran
dsll's old seat was secured for him, and
Kelley selected that which he has occu.
pied many years. Carlisle selected a
seat across the aisle from that occupied
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, Breckinridge kentucky,
Mason Illinois) and Cannon were the
favorites of fortune and retained their old
desks. Mckinley obtained a desk well
in the center of the House, with Hit, of
Illinois, as neighbor. The first for
tunate New Workers were Farquhar,
who seated himself in front of Mckinley,
and Flower, who chose the seat which
he occupied before. Lodge, of Massa.
chusetts, preferred the companionship OF
Mckinley and Hit to a more prominent
position, and joined the little group
which had surrounded these popular
members. Mills, of Texas, secured 9
seat much less advantageously situated
than last session.
THE CAL1FoRNIANs' SEATS.
OF the California delegation, Van