Passaic City record., 1893-08-12
EXTRA Session BEGUN.
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

IL i hlIbO OONUhInO0s
Scenes on the Floors of Both Houses
of Importance Transacted in the
Senate-The Representatives Or
ganize With Crisp as Speaker.
Only routine business was transacted on
the first day of the extraordinary session of
the Fifty-third Congress, called by President
Cleveland for the purpose Of enacting legis-
lation to relieve the alarming financial con-
dition of the country. The Senate ad-
iourned very abruptly on receiving
the announcement of the death OF
Senator Stanford, which occurred a
month ago, and the House spent the day in
electing its Speaker and choosing the seats
that the Representatives of the new Congress
will occupy. At the White House President
Cleveland awaited the coming of the usual
committees from the Senate and House to an
nounce to him that Congress was ready to do
business, and was prepare to reply to them
that he would at once communicate to the two
Houses in writing. His message was COM
pleted. and the office carriage stood at the
door to convey the private secretary to the
Capitol with the important document. The
Congressional committees did not arrive,
however, ana CQo message was lOckeQ up IN
the White House safe.
In the Senate just before the stroke of
noon, the yice-President's gavel fell and the
Rev. Mr.. Butler opened the session with
prayer The Vice-President then directed
the Secretary to read the proclamation of
the President convening Congress to ex-
traordinary session, and the document
was read by Mr.. McCook. the outgoing Secre-
tary. Mr.. Quay, who had been absent
during the last session of the Senate, and had
therefore not taken the oath qualifying him
for his new term, had the oath now admin
istered to him, as also had Mr. Pasco. re-
elected by the Legislature of Florida since
the close of the last session. The Vice
President laid before the Senate a COM
munication from Mr.. Beckwith, OF Wyoming,
saying that owing to combination of
circumstances over which he had no control,
he had been obliged to hand In his resigna-
ton to Governor Osborne, of Wyoming, of
his appointment as United States Senator.
The communication was placed on file. On the
suggestion of Mr.. German the oath OF Office
was administered to the new Secretary OF the
Senate, Mr.. Cox, who was escorted to the
desk by the retiring Secretary, Mr.. McCook.
Resolutions were then offered and agreed to
to inform the House of Representatives that
quorum of the Senate had assembled and
was ready to proceed to business to notify the
House and the President of the election OF
Mr.. Cox as Secretary ofthe Senate. fixing the
daily hour OF meeting at noon, and for the
appointment of a committee of two Senator'S
to join a like committee on the part OF the
House to wait upon the President and in
form him that both Houses are in session and
ready to receive any communication he
may be pleased to make. Messrs. Har-
ris and Sherman were appointed as
such committee on the part OF
the Senate. Mr.. White then rose and said
that it was his painful duty to announce the
death Of his late colleague, Mr.. Stanford. He
should, at date to be fixed hereafter re-
quest the Senate to set apart a day for such
remarks in regard to Mr.. Stanford's memory
as might be deemed proper, and should con-
tent himself now with moving, as marx K, OF
respect, that the Senate do now adjourn. The
motion was agreed to, and the Senate, at
1920 adjourned.
In the House of Representatives quarter
before IL the floor was cleared of persons
not entitled to the privilege of being present
during the session, and at noon Clerk Kerr
called the members to order, and the extra
ordinary session of the Fifty-third Congress
began. Then the Clerk read the Presi-
dents proclamation summonng Congress
to convene in extra session and i'm
mediately afterward proceeded to cali the
roll. Three hundred and thirty-slx MEM
bers having responded to their names, the
Clerk announced that there was more than
Quorum present, and that the first business
in order was the election of a Speaker. Mr..
Holman as Chairman of the Democratic eau
Gus, rose and said that he had the honor TO
put in nomination forthat high office the Hon.
.'James"F F. Crisp. of Georgia. The laugh
ter caused by this slip of the tongue
had hardly abated before it was renewed,
when the Clerk fell into the same error and
announced that ''James" F. Crisp had been
put in nomination. Mr.. Reed. of Maine, was
placed in nomination by Mr.. Henderson. the
Chairman OF the Republican caucus. Then
Nv Eop and amid GENERAL laughter.
speaking for the third party, presented the
name of Jerry Simpson. of Kansas. The vote
resulted For Crisp, 214; for Reed, 122; for
Simpson, Z. The announcement was
greeted with loud applause. Messrs.
Holman, Reed and Simpson were
appointed a committee to escort the Speaker
to the chair AS Mr.. Crisp assumed the
gayel a sudden hush fell upon the House.
In a clear but moved voice the Speaker said !;
Representatives Profoundly grateful for
this mark of your confidence, shall try to
be in some degree worthy of it by an honest
effort to discharge the duties of the
office on which / am about to enter
with fidelity, with courtesy, and
with the strictest impartiality. Gap
plause.) I am now ready to take the
oath OF office" The oath was impressively
administered by the father of the House, Mr..
O'Neill, OF Pennsylvania. Prayer was then
offered by the blind Chaplain of the last
House, the Rev. Doctor Milburn. The work
of administering the oath of office to the
members-elect was them entered upon. In
squads OF two dozen they, as their names
were called, took their stand in the area in
front of the Speakers desk, and with right
hand raised swore to obey the Constitution
and the laws of their country Then the
Democratic officers were elected as follows !:
James Kerr, Clerk HI. w. Snow. Sergeant
alarms; A b. Hurt. Doorkeeper
Lycurgus Dalton, Postmaster, and Sam
uel W. Hadaway. Chaplain. When
the drawing for seats was concluded,
it was ordered that the daily hour for the
meeting of the House would be IL m. Mr..
Grosvenor announced the death OF his coli
league, Mr. Enoch, of Ohio, and as a mark
Of respect to the memory Of the deceased the
House at 5. so adjourned.
The Senate.
2p DAy.-The Rev. DIR. Milburn. the new
Chaplain of the Senate, opened the proceed
inys with prayer. The Journal was read by
the new Secretary, Mr.. Cox. The ereden-