Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-17
From our regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. 7, 1891.
Hon. Edward Mcpherson, the retiring
clerk Of the House of Representatives,
who is probably as widely known among
Republicans, owing to his having been
Secretary of the Republican Congressional
committee in number of campaigns, as
almost any man in public life who has
never been candidate for national office,
called the House to order to-day 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 Representa-
hves was formally declared OPEN
The first business was the swearing in
OF the members, which, in order 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, re-
celvins the unanimous vote of his party,
although 1t was plain to be seen that the
protracted and bitter contest, ending only
few minutes before the convenng of the
goodly portion of them did so unwilling
ly-how unwillingly will be made manifest
later on in the chickering's that are certain
to come over the bestowal of the commit
tee charmanships by the Speaker, task
which will hardly be accomplished before
the holiday recess. The Republicans voted
solidly for Mr.. Reed, and to a man they
were proud to thus publicly endorse his
able performance of the duties of the
Speaker during the long to be re membered
Fifty first Congress.
Mr. Mcpherson then retired from the
chalr and the newly elected Speaker, es-
corted by Mr.. Reed and his principal
competitor before the Democratic caucus
Tor the nomination, took the chair amid
the applause of those Democrats who have
oeen mis- original supporters 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-
hcans with complimentary nominations
The Speaker appointed the usual com
the Senate to personally notify the Pres-
dent that the Flfty-second Congress was
Ia session and ready to receive any message
that he might wish to send it, Then came
"hat Is always the most amusing thing
ABOUT the opening of new Congress-th
drawing Tor seats. Preliminary to this
proceeding all of the members were re-
4uested TO stand up beyond the brass rail
Ing which runs around the hall Just at the
back OF the last row of seats. Each MEM
per was then given a number, and as many
marbles as there were members were cor
respondingly numbered and placed in
oox- blind-folded boy then appeared on
the scene, and after the box had been we'll
shaken he drew out one marble. The
member whose number correspopded with
That on the marble drawn had the first
choice of seat. This was repeated amid
the laughter and cheers of the members
ana the crowded galleries until the mem
oers were all provided with seats. Some
OF The most prominent members of both
parties, as usual, drew the poorest seats,
out tins WAS remedied by other members
VINO were more fortunate trading with
them. Two OF the members-Holman of
INDIANA, on the Democratic side, and ONeil |
ot pennsylvania, on the Republican side
were,in accordance with the usual custom,
allowed as the oldest members of the
tn ..la b,;
drawing began. Owing to the preponder- |
ance of Democrats in the House, many of
them are seated on the west side of the |
chamber, which is known as the Republi- |
can side.
Vice President Morton presided over
the opening session Of the Senate, which |
OWING TO the President having decided to
withhold his annual message until Tues |
day, was confined to the business of swear
Ing in the new Senators, of whom there
were sixteen, an unusually large number.
Commissioners from a large number of
the British Colonies are here, and all of
them confess to being on the anxious
bench lest the President shall take ad-
vantage 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. |, next. They, one
and all, wish to reciprocate with US sufti-
clently to save themselves.
The Mills-Crisp deadlock which existed
in the Democratic caucus from Saturday
until to-day is but demonstration of the
harmony that exists between the Cleve-
land and anti-Cleyeland wings of that
party in the House and it may be added,
out of the House too