Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-08
CONGRESS- NO. g.
The New Body, Which Promises tc
Make Important History,
HAS ENTERED UPON ITS CAREER.
Both Houses Formally Opened and the New Mem
bers of the Senate Sworn fisherman Enters
Very Mild Protest Against Brico-The
House Goes to Work To-Day.

WASHINGTON, D. c., December r.
| The Senate galleries were crowded with
spectators eager TO witness the opening
of the Flfty-second Congress. The
Presidential and Diplomatic galleries
were unoccupled, but the reserved sec
tionS were we'll filled with ladies, in
cluding wives and daughters OF Sena-
tors. Here ard there, throughout the
chamber the desks of the Senators who
were TO take their seats as Senators for
the first time were marked by baskets
of flowers, and the Vice Presidents
desk was distinguished in like manner.
There was an unusually large number
Of new Senators TO be sworn in, count
ing up seventeen without the Senator
from Florida, neither the name of Mr..
Call nor that of Mr.. Davidson being on
the printed list of Senators. At noon
the Vice President took the chair and
the session was opened with prayer by
the Chaplain, Rev. j. G. Butler.
The Vice President welcomed the
Senators to the resumption OF their OFF,
cial duties, and called the Senate TO
order. fhe Vice President then laid
before the Senate the credentials OF new
Senators and the letters of resignation
received by him during the recess.
Those papers were read, the first being
the letter of resignation OF Senator
Reagan, of Texas, and the appointment
by the Governor of that State of Mr..
Chiffon in his stead.
The next creden tials read were those
of Mr.. FELTON,, of California, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death Of Mr..
Hearst, and the next were the resigna-
tIOn Of Mr.. Edmunds, of Vermont, and
the appointment of Mr.. Proctor in his
stead. The next credentials read were
those of Mr.. Call and Mr.. Davidson,
each claiming to be Senator from
Florida.
After they were both read, Mr.. Har-
ris expressed the opinion that the proper
course to be pursued by them was to
refer them both to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. so that the
question might be decided in the light
of thorough investigation. He asked
that both credentials be laid on the ia
BILE for the day, and said that he would
probably tomorrow name their refer
ence to the Committee on Privileges
and Elections.
Mr.. George said he would not now
object to that request. He had after
careful examination both as TO the law
and the facts found that there was no
controversy as 10 the facts, and there
fore there was no necessity for an in
vestigation of them by the committee.
As to the law, ii was plain and had re-
ceived the judicial determination of
the Senate, so that there remained
neither question OF law nor question
Of fact for the attention OF the com
mittee.
Mr.. Hoar said that he had received
and carefully examined the statement
of the Governor of Florida, and that it
presented, so far be could discover,
simply the conStitutionality and con-
struction of the existing law Of Congress
as to the election OF Senators.
Mr.. George added some further remarks
TO the effect that the Governor OF FiOr-
Ga had undertaken to surpass his power
in appointing Senator after one had
been elected. Both credentials were
placed on file.
The credentials of Mr.. Briee, as Sen
ator-eleet from Ohio. having been pre-
sented and read, Mr.. Sherman said:
Before the oath OF Office is administer
ed TO Mr.. Brice, l desire to say that
large portion of the citizens of Ohio
contend that he was not an inhabitant
OF that State at the time OF his election,
and was therefore not eligible TO seat
in this body.
''On examining the precedents, of
which there are several in the history
OF the government, and some OF them
most important, l am entirely satisfied
that Mr.. Brice is entitled 10
De sworn in on the prima faeie
ease of his credentials, which are regu-
lar in form. simply give this notice,
however, so that his being sworn in may
not be considered any waiver, nor any
misapprehension or misconstruction, if
J the people, or the Legislature Of Ohio
should assert and prove to the satisfac-