Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-10
MR.. CRISP VOTED THE CAVEL
The Georgian Elected by the
Democratic Caucus.
TO PRESIDE OVER THE HOUSE
"No Step Backwards for
Tariff Reform"
The New Speakers Pledge After His Elec-
tion--niiIls' Forces Were Loyal and staid
by Him to the Last--rhirty Ballots Re-
quired--Other Ofiiccrs.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-After balloting
for 10 hours and contest Of the speaker
ship that is without precedent, the Demo-
cratic caucus was compelled to adjourn at
II o'clock, last night, without having sue
ceeded in selecting candidates for Speaker
and minor officers of the House.
After the seventeenth ballot, which
showed no change in the situation, the
caucus, on motion of Mr.. O'Neill of Mas
sachusetts. who, though consistent sup
porter of Moses T. Stevens of the Old Bay
State, could not be charged with making
the motion in the interest of any of the
candidates, adjourned until 10 o'clock
Monday. The motion was carried unani-
mously.
Sunday affords but slight breathing
spell to the candidates contesting for the
Speakership. All day long their lieu
tenants have been consulting and rushing
about rallying their men preparatory to
theresumption ofthestruggle Of tomorrow.
Tonight there appears to be practically no
change in the situation as 1t was left by
the caucus at midnight, after 10 hours of
continuous balloting. 1t appears TO be ex
tremely doubtful whether the situation MS
it exists now will be days instead OF hours
before this great contest is ended.
1t is already the most stubbornly con
tested battle since the famous fight for the
| Speakership in 1857, which dragged out
| its monotonous length for two'months and
| finally resulted in the election of General
Nathaniel L. Banks.
| The devoted followers of McMillin of
Tennessee, are tirmer than ever, while the
ensign of Springer, somewhat tattered, is
still held aloft by a faithful hand. Hatch,
who charged the breastworks with but IA
men, n mere handful, and who lost in the
! .tars al l.,.k
| reform his shattered squad to-day, and
claims tonight that he will 90 into the
caucus tomorrow with his original vote
of ii.
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
The Republican caucus, last night was
but slimly attended. Speaker Thomas u.
Reed and the other officers of the last
House were unanimously renominated,
and Mr.. Reed made brief speech in re-
cognition of the honor. The chairman of
the caucus, he said, had remarked that he
was glad that the burdens of the last SEES
sion would not descend upon him now. In
this view he (Mr. Reed differed with him.
Any burden that was cast upon him (Mr.
Reed he would take upon him because
there were many reforms for the advantage
of the American people which Congress
could enact. The Republican party was
suffering from temporary setback only.
=
fections of the people.
THE RESULT OF A DEADLOCK.
Should the House fail TO organize to-
morrow, the Senate will not be able to
transact business, for its inability to no
tify the President through Joint com
Inittee OF its readiness to receive his COM
inunications will operate to defer for a
time the presentation of the annual mes.
sage as well as the large accumulation Of
recess appointments that must be sent to
the Senate for confirmation.
Unless there should be a radical change
in the Speakership situation tonight d
early tomorrow morning the House Of
Representatives, for the first time suce the
Ihlrty sixth Congress when the last dead
lock over the Spnakership occurred, will
meet without previous selection by the
dominant party of presiding officer fol
the popular branch of the legislative de
parmcnt.
Though this condition of affairs has moi
existed in recent years, it was not 50 rar,
IN the stormy years between the Mexican
and civil wars, when the conflict over Tho
slavery question drew lines without and
within parties tense and close. Thus, il
the Twenty-sixth Congress n Speaker was
not elected for II days, chairman mean
time being appointed to administer til,
rules of the House, In the Thirty-firs
Congress nearly month elapsed befor,
the Speaker was selected, and this period d
practical interregnum was prolonged to tw,
months in the Thirty-fourth and Tbirt,
sixth Congresses. In the two last-namet
cases the clerk Of the House presided owe
its deliberations, and controlled the for
, malities made requisite by the Fedora
| Constitution. Should there he n failure t.
decide upon Speaker at the caucus to
morrow forenoon, It will be necessary fol
! the House 70 adopt one or the other Of tn
| two methods established by precedent 70
such events, namely toelect d 'tcmporar,
Chairman" or Temporary Speaker (ac
cording to the tithiir designation which
may be agreed upon for the person Sc
lecteD or else commit the duty Of prcsid
1 ing to the clerk. In the absence Of al
e agreement for the perfection of the organ
+ cation of the House, the course Of proceed
ings during the coming week il i matte
: of pure speculation with few and inse
0 nilicant facts upon which to base conjec
/, ture.