The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-12-10
Lively Scenes in the House
When Congress Meets.
The Speakership Contest the Longest
on Record.
The Occupations and BirthpIaces of
the Members.
WASHINGTON, Dec. z. 1891,

Luz pSdASL VI VIC hOuboI 90 nc
was escorted TO the Speakers chair
aftei having been elected by the unani-
nous vote of the Democratic repre-
sentatives today, was gree ed by sAlvo
after salvo Of applause from the floor
and from the galleries, and FROM the
earnest manner in which he was ap-
plauded by every Democrat in the
chamber. it was apparent that the
long and holly contested fight in the
caucus-the longest for many years
had left no bad blood among the
friends of tho defeated candidates.
Another noticeable and commendable
thing ia that the friends Of the victo-
rious candidate hav shown no dispo-
sition to crow over the friends of those
who were defeated The Democrats
Of the House are today united and
compa It body, and there is every pros
pect Of their remaining Sucb, notwith-
standing the hcrcu can efforts Of the
Republicans to create discord, and
falling in that, TO crea'e the public
impression that there is iiscord.
he Speakers desk was literally
covered with flowers, sent BY admiring
friends, lev minutes alter he had
taken his seat. The first business
after the election Of the Speaker was
The election Of the other Heuse Off
GERS. The retiring Republican Off
cials were all given the complimentary
nomination OF their party, although it
is known that some Of the Republi-
cans we're opposed to SO honoring Mr..
Reed,
Never was the circus which is always
part Of the drawing by lottery for
seats in the House OF the first dsy OF
new Congress, more enjoyed by the
members and spectators than it was
today, and the ring leaders in the fun
were mostly the men vh ,se nerves
had been racked to their u most ten
sion during the long uncertain period
of the Speakership contest in the eau
Gus. The gayety OF the members to-
day was therefore but the natural re-
action of nature. The spectators in
the galleries also took part in the sport.
When the members were all huddled
up in the open spaces behind the seats
and the blindfolded boy made his APP
pearance to begin drawing the num-
bered marbles out Of the box such re-
marks as you'll get pulled for run
ming lottery" "where's the cops"
md "Wanamsker will be after YOU"
might have been heard in all parts of
the galleries, and even upon the fosr
Of the House.
| Never before were there 20 many
new faces in single Congress, and in
consequence there has been an un-
usual run oH the Hrst editioa OF the
Congressional Directory. Everybody
wants to find cut something about the
unknown men. The occupations Of
the Representatives, rs given in the
Directory. show that the lawyers art
still in the majority, there being 21s
who are owners Of legal "sheepskins.
Farmers come next with 65, schoo
teachers AZ, m rchsnts "a, manuiac
turefs 20, bankers and capitalists 10
Journalists 10, printers 9, ply sicans 5
sailors 8, clergynen 3, miner, ! ma
chinist, ! blacksmith, l bookbinder
l carpenter, l tanner, ear Gnishe
and harness maker. The fetal OF oc
equations given is greater than the
membership, but that is beca use com,
Of the members have followed more
than one occupation Nine OF the mem
btrs were born in Ireland, 8 in Ger
, many, 8 in Canada, 2 in Norway, | il
Sweden, in Greece, ! in England ant
| in Scotland. 1t would be Difficult
to get more representative body to
gether,
The fellow who thinks he know
what the House is going to do, Is q
:. numerous ~ usual, but the man VIII
u really knows what the House will d
4. does not exist, II will take some it'll
time for the members to confer an
/. arrive at some conclusion. Nothin
: viii be done hastily, and nothing vi
/. be done b. fore IL has been approve
n With practical unanimity by the Dem,
, cratic members Every member wit
VIII, m your correspondent has talk
sppesrs to fully realize that upon th
action or nsnAction on the House ma
depend the election Of q Democrat
Presid' Mt next year
Ic. The Senate also has an influx
new members, there being sixteen
49,. ,,ol.,.,,., sl,D hoo H.