San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d &c. Z. 1891.

WASHINGTON, ID &c. I. 1871.
Hon. Edward Mcpherson, the re-
firing Clerk of the house of represen.
tatives, who is probable as widely
known among republicans, owing to
his having been Secretary OF the re.
publican Congressional COMMITTEES IN
number OF campaigns, as almost
any man in public life who has never
been u candidate for 8 national Office
called the House TO order today, as
the two hands met on the face of the
big clock, over the door of the main
entrance, and the session of the
House of Representative was formal
ly declared open.
The first business was the swear
ing ia of the mem bers, which in or
der to save time, was done by State
delegations. AS soon as this was
over the House proceeded to the
election of its officers. The demo
crat was of course, elected speaker
receiving the unanimous vote of his
party, al hough it was plain to be
seen that the protracted and bitter
contest, ending only a few minute,
before the converting of the House,
had left its wounds and that good.
ly vi tlCtll uiu OF I'LL < y
how unwIllingly will be made
manifest later on in the chickering's
that are certain to come over the be.
stowal of the committee chairman
ships by the Speaker, task which
will hardly be accomplished before
the holiday recess. The republican
voted solidly for Mr.. Reed, and to a
man they were proud to thus public
ly endorse his able performance of
the duties of the Speaker during the
long to be remembered Fifty. first
Congress.
Mr.. Mcpherson then retired from
the chair and the newly elected
Speaker. escorted by Mr.. Reed and
for the nomination, took the chair
amid the applause of these democrats
who have been his original supper
tiers In the caucus. Then the house
proceeded to the election of its other
officers. All OF the retiring House
officials were honored by the repub-
licans with complimentary nomina
tions.
The speaker appointed the usual
committee from the Senate to person
ally notify the President that the
Fifty-second Congress was in session
and ready to receive any message
that he might wish to send it. Then
came what is always the most anus
ing thing about the opening of q new
Congress-the drawing for seats.
Preliminary TO this proceeding all
of the members were requested to
stand up, beyond the brass railing
which runs around the hall, just at
the back of the last row or seats.
Each membe was then given q
mber, and as many marbles as
there were members were correspon-
dinghy numbered and placed in box.
A blind folded boy then appeared on
the scene, and after the box had
been we'll shakened he drew out one
marble. The member whose mum Der
correspondent with that on the marble
drawn had the first choice OF seat.
This was repeated amid the laug hter
and cheers of the members and the
crowded galleries until the members
were all provided with seats. Some
of the most prominent members OF
both parties, as usual, drew the poor
est seats, but this was remedied by
other members who were more for
tunate trading with them. Two OF
the members of Indiana, on
the democrat side, and ONeil of Pen
sylvania on the republican side
were in accordance with the usual
Gus tom, allowed as the oldest men,
bers of the House TO select their seats
before the drawing began. Owing to
the preponderance OF democrats in
the House, MANY of them are seated
on the West side of tho chamber.
which is known as the republican
side.
Vice President Morton, presided
over the opening session of the Senate
which owing to the President hav-
ing decided to withhold his annual
message until Tuesday, was confined
to the business of swearing in the
new Senators, of whom there were
sixteen, and unusually large num-
Der.
Commissioners from large num- |
Der of the British Colonies are here, |
and all of them confess to being, on |
bench lest the Presiden shall |
take advantage of the authority |
given him by the reciprocity clause |
of the Mckinley Tariff law to restore
the duty upon their hides and sugar |
after Jan. l, next. They one, aud all |
wish to reciprocate with us suffic lent
ly to save themselves.
The Mills-Crisp and deadlock
W hich existed in the democratic eau
Gus from Saturday until today, is but
a demonstration of the harmony that |
exists between the Cleveland and
ant Cleveland wings of that party in
and it may be added out of
the House too.