St. Paul daily globe., 1891-12-07
OPENING OF CONGRESS.
How the House Is Likely to Pro-
Ceed Today.

How the House Is Likely to Pro-
ceed Today.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Tomorrow at
noon, in accordance with the constitu-
tional requirement, the Fifty-second
congress will assemble. With one
branch of the national legislature in
the possession of each of the two great
political parties, and both striving TO
shape the course OF legislation so
as to affect in their interests
the approaching presidential campaign
and secure supremacy in the control OF
the government, it may tairiy be as
Sumed that the Fifty-Second congress
Will take prominent place in the his
tory OF legislative assemblies. In view of
the conflicting majorities in the two
branches, it is not probable that when
it has concluded its labors it will have
added to the statutes many new meas
ureS of national importance; but be-
yond doubt many fierce battles will
be waged upon the leading issues
between the two great parties = the
tariff and silver cOinage-while the
members of the small but lively Alli-
ance element may be counted on to
lose no opportunity in debate for bring
ing their demands and principles before
the country. The usual decorous quiet
is expected to characterize the assem-
bling of the senate tomorrow.
An unusually large number of sena-
tors will stand before the vice president
to take their oath of Office, for thirty
two of them (nearly One-half of the
membership of the senate) are either
new to that body or begin new terms
of service. David B. Hill, gov
prnOr nf Nou VOrI- ic
to appear for some time, and his
credentials have not yet been filed with
the secretary. Redfield Proctor, late
secretary of war, has also failed in this
respect, but he may yet hand his letter
or appointment to the secretary in time
to have it presented tomorrow. In two
cases there are rival claimants to seats.
Mr.. Dubois, of Idaho, is challenged as
to the validity of his title by Mr.. Clagett:
but, as the name of the former appears
upon the secretary's list, he will be
sworn in, and Mr.. Clagett's claims will
be examined by the committee on priv
lleges and elections. Mr.. Call, of
Florida, also finds contestant in Mr..
Davidson, who is armed with the gov
ernOr'S certificate, and this case NAV
possibly be referred to the same COM
mlttee for report before either party is
admitted.
Should the house fail to organize
tomorrow, the senate will not be
able to transact business; for
Its inability to notify the preSi-
dent through joint committee of it's
readiness to receive his communications
Will operate to defer for a time the
presentation of the annual message, as
wel as the large accumulation of
recess appointments that must be sent
Il
ferences will be held by senators of the
different parties early IN the week to
arrange the membershipof the commit
tees. task of more than ordinary i'm
p0rtance this time III view of the incOm-
ing OF fifteen new senators. Unless
there should be radical change III the
speakership situation tonight or early
tomorrow, the house of representatives
for the first time since the Thirty-sixth
congress (when the last deadlock
over the speakership occurred)
Will meet without previous
selection by the dominant party of a
presiding officer for this branch of the
legislative department. Though this
condition of affairs has not existed in
recent years, 1t was not so rare in the
stormy years between the Mexican and
civil wars, when the conflict over the
slavery question drew lines without and
within parties tense and close. Thus,
H. theTwenty-siXth congress, the speaker
was not elected for eleven DAYS,
chairman meantime being appointed
to administer the rules of the house.
In the Thirty first congress nearly
a month elapsed before the speaker was
selected, and this period of practical in
terregnum was prolonged to two months
in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth
In hn L
cases the clerk of the house presided
over its deliberations and controlled the
formalities made requisite by the fed
eral constitution.
Should there be failure to decide
upon speaker at the caucus tomorrow
forenoon, it will be necessary for the
house to adopt one or the other of the
two methods established by precedents
for such events, namely, 10 elect a
Temporary chairman" or Temporary
speaker" according to the titular desig-
nation which may be agreed upon for
the person selected) or else commit the
duty of presiding to the clerk. LIZ the
absence of an agreement for the per5ec-
tion of the organization of the house
the course OF proceedings during the
coming week is matter of pure specu-
lation, with few and insignificant facts
upon which to base conjecture. In any
event very little business will be
transacted in the house during
the week. The presidents message
will be received and read according to
custom on Tuesday, If the house com
pleteS Its organization tomorrow: and
for the rest of the week brief sessions
and adjournments over for day or two
at time are probable. The committees
are not expected to be appointed before
the Christmas holidays, with the ex-
ceptiOn of those on common rules. ON EN-
rolled bills and on mileage and accounts,
which are usually named within a few
days after the speaker is inducted into
Office.