The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-07
FIRST DAY OF CONGRESS.
TIE SESSION NOT APT TO BE OF
MUCH IMPORTANCE

~ ~ A-GI ~ n A. ANS4A
The Delay In the speakership Fight
VIII Cause a Speedy Adjournment.
The Presidents Message to Be Read
To-morrow-TheS Sessions During the
Week Likely to Be Short.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-To-morrow at
noon. In accordance with the constitutional
requirement. the Fifty-secoud congress will
assemble. With one branch Of the national
legislature in possession of each of the two
great political parties, and both striving
to shape the course of legisla-
ton so as to affect their
interests in the approaching presidential
campaign and secure supremacy in the con-
troll OF the government, it may be fairly as
sumed that the Fifty-second congress will
take prominent place In the history of
legislative assemblies. In view Of the con-
fiicting majorities in the two branches 1t is
not probable that when it has con-
cluded its labors 1t will have added
to the statutes many new meas
ures of national Importance; but beyond
doubt many fierce battles will be waged
upon leading issues between the two great
parties-the tariff and silver coinage-while
the members Of the small but lively alliance
element may be counted upon to lose no
opportunity IN debate for bringing their
demands and principles before the country.
ASSEMBLING OF THE SENATE.
The usual decorous quiet is expected to
characterize the embling OF the Senate
Tomorrow. An unusually large number
of senators Will stand before the Vice Presi-
1Av. a. N,1~ &k.4,. A. "a
two OF them, nearly one-halt Of the mem
bership of the Senate are either new to that
body or begin new terms Of service.
David b. Hill, governor of New York, Is
not expected 10 appear in the Senate for
some time, and his credentials have not yet
been filed with the secretary.
Redheld Proctor. late Secretary Of War,
has also failed In this respect but he may
yet hand his letter of appointment to the
secretary in time to have it presented to-
morrow.
In two cases there are rival claimants TO
seats. Mr.. Dubois Of Idaho, is challenged
as to the validity of his title by Mr.. Clag-
gett, but as the name Of the former appears
on the secretary's list, he will be sworn in
and Mr.. Claggetts claim will be examined
by the committee on privileges and
elections. Mr.. Call Of Florida also
finds contestant in Mr.. Davidson, who is
a
this case may possibly be referred to the
same committee for a 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 President through a joint committee OF
its readiness 70 receive his communications
will operate TO defer for time the presenta-
tion of the annual message, as well as large
no TTIIlN a ffnW n n hot
must be sent to the Senate for confrme-
ton.
Conferences will be held by the senators
of the different parties early in the week
to arrange the membership of the commit
tees; task of more than ordinary i'm
portance this time, In view Of the incoming
of fifteen new senator's.
APT TO MEET WITHOUT A SPEAKER.
Unless there should be radical change
In the speakership situation tonight or
early tomorrow morning, the House
of Representatives for the first time
since the Thirty-sixth congress, when
the last deadlock over the speaker
ship occurred, will meet without pre-
vious selection by the dominant party of
a presiding officer for the popular branch of
the legislative department Though this
condition of affairs has not existed in re-
cent years. it 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 the parties
tense and close. Thus, In the Twenty sixth
congress, a speaker was not elected
for eleven days, a chairman meantime being
appointed to administer the rules of the
House. In the Thirty-first congress nearly
a month elapsed before the speaker was
elected, and this period of practical inter
regnum was prolonged to two months in the
Thirty>fourth and Thirty-sixth congresses.
In the two last named cases the clerk of the
House presided over its deliberations and
controlled the formalitles made requisite by
the federal constitution.
HOW THE VACANCY WILL BE FILLED.
Should there be failure 70 decide upon
speaker at the caucus tomorrow forenoon
1t will be necessary for the House TO adopt
one or the other of the two methods estab-
lished by precedent for such events, namely,
to elect temporary chairman" or "tem-
porary speaker" according to the titular
designation which may be agreed upon for
the person selected; or else, commit the
duty of presiding to the clerk. In the ab-
sence of an agreement for the perfection Of
the organization of the House, the course of
the proceedings during the coming week is
a matter of pure speculation with but
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, accord
ing to custom, on Tuesday, If the House
completes its organization tomorrow, and
for the rest of the week brief
sessions and adjournments over
for d day or two at time are
probable. The committees are not ex-
peoted to be appointed before the Christ
mas holidays, with the exception of the
committee on rules, on enrolled bills, and
on mileage and accounts. which are usually
named within few days after the speaker