Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-08-10
SPECIAL SESSION.
Assembling Of the Fifty-third
Congress.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Charles III. Crisp Takes His Seat n
.Speaker-OficersN Elected as Per
Caucus Much Interest
Manifested.

WASHINGTON, aug. Sine 0rSt
democratic congress under a demo
cratic administration since ante bellum
days met in extra session at the ma
tional capitol at high noon. The occa-
sion was an impressive one, recalling
as it did political situation that has
not existed for over a third of CEN
tury. Deep solemnity was added to the
scene by appreciation that the problem
to be met and solved is a graver one
than has agitated the public mind since
the political struggle over the slavery
question in the ffties.
THE HOUSE.
The clerk first read the proclamation
of the president of the United States
calling congress together liz special ses-
sion and the roll of representatives
elect was ordered to be called. When
the state of Michigan was reached and
the name of George f. Richardson, of
the Fifth district, had been called,
Chief Clerk Kerr stated that since the
certificate of Mr.. Richardson had been
received and duly entered on the roll
another certificate had been received
certifying to the election of Charles E.
Belknap as the representative.
Three hundred and thirty-six mem
quorum was declared to be present.
1.-The clerk is now prepared to re-
ceive motions looking to the election
of speaker, as no other business is in
order until speaker is elected" said
the clerk.
There was slight applause as Mr..
Holman, of Indiana, arose and, after
having moved that the election of
speaker be proceeded with, said: 81
have the honor to place in nomination
for election as speaker of the house of
the Fifty-third congress the name of
Hon. Charles F. Crisp, of the state of
Georgia" Applause
Mr.. Henderson. OF Illinois, next
claimed recognition. Il have the
HONOR said he, ''to place in nomination
for the same office Hon. Thomas =
Reed, representative-elect from the
state of Maine" Applause on the re-
pu blican side.
Mr.. KEN, of Nebraska, a peoples
party man, next arose. 81 have the
honor said he, ito place in nomina
ton for the same position, the name of
Hon. Jeremiah Simpson, of Kansas.
Laughter on the democratic and re-
publican sides.
Messrs. Oaruth, of kentucky: O'Neil1.
of Massachusetts; Bingham, of Penn
sylvania, and Hopkins, OF Illinois, were
appointed tellers.
The roll call was a very perfunctory
affair, but the occupants of the gallery
took as lively an interest in it as though
the result were ens2arouded in clouds of
doubt. Nearly forty minutes was con-
sumed in this formal roll call with the
result as follows: Charles Z. Crisp, PA
votes; Thomas T. Reed, 122 votes, and
Jeremiah Simpson. votes.
Charles T. Crisp, representative
from the state of Georgia" said the
clerk, has received a majority Of all
the votes given and ne is duly elected
speaker of the house of representatives
ef the Fifty-third congress. [Great APP
plause. The clerk appoints Mr.. Hol-
man, of Indiana, Ar. Reed, of Maine,
and Mr.. Simpson, of Kansas, to escort
the spealSer-elect to the chair
There was burst of applause as
Speaker Crisp appeared a few minutes
later under the escort of the committee.
AS he took the chair, he said: Repre-
sentatives: Profoundly grateful for
this mark of your confidence, l Shall
strive to prove in every way worthy of
it by an honest discharge of the duties
enter, with fidelity. with courtesy and
the strictest impartiality. Applause.
l am now ready to take the oath of
Office
Representative O'Neill, of Pennsyl-
vania, the father of the house." adj
ministered the oath of office in impress
i've tones
Before administering the oath of
Office to members, prayer was offered
by the blind chaplain of the last house.
Rev. Mr.. Milburn, now chaplain OF
the senate.
At the conclusion of the prayer the
oath of office was administered by the
;peaker to the members, the roll Qf
states being called for this purpose.
When the state of Michigan was
reached Mr. Burrows, of the repu blican
side. arose and objected to the oath be-
ing administered to Mr.. Richardson,
whose name appears The member
named was ordered to stand aside.
After the administration of the oath
to the members had been completed,
Mr.. O'Ferran, of Virginia, offered
resolution that George f. Richardson
be sworn in, and Mr. Burrows, OF
Michigan, offered a substitute declar-
ing that Charles E. BellSnap was emit
tied to be sworn in on his prima facie
case. After some wrangling the two
resolutions were postponed until to-
morrow.
Mr.. Holman presented resolution
providing for the election of officers of
the house nominated by the democratic
caucus Saturday. a substitute proposed
by Mr.. Henderson submitting the re-
publican caucus nominees was rejected
and the democratic resolution adopted
The oath of Office was then admins
tered by the speaker to the following:
Clerk, James Kerr, of Pennsylvania;
sergeant-at-arms, Herman Snow, OF Il
inois: doorkeeper, a. b. Hurt, of Ten
nessee; postmaster. Lycurgus Dalton,
of Indiana: chaplain, S. w. Haddaway,
of Maryland.
The selection of seats followed until
adjournment
President Debs. of the new American
Railroad union, has begun the actual
work Of orga ni1ation. and will canvass
the entire CO.. -4---
Clippings.