Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-10
ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE.
Crisp Reelected Speaker and James
Kerr CIsrk-Ad IN n istering the Oath.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-As early as 1890
the galleries of the House were filled to re-
pletion. At II o'clock the reserved gal
leres were opened and in one minute the
seats even there were at premium. The
picture presented was an animated aud in
teresting one.
At noon Clerk Kerr of the House called
the members to order and the extraordinary
session of the Odd Congress began. The
clerk read the presidents proclamation
summoning Congress to convene and called
the roll. Three hundred and thirty-six
members having responded to their names
the clerk announced that there was more
than a quorum present and that the first
business in order was the election of a
speaker.
My. Holman Of Indiana, as chairman of
the democratic caucus, nomln ated Mr.. Crisp
Of Georgia. Then Thomas B. Reed of Maine
was placed in nomination by Mr.. Henderson
of Illinois, the chairman of the republican
caucus.
The mention Of Reeds name was greeted
with republican applause. Mr.. KEN OF Ne
braska. .anid general laughter, speaking for
the third party, presented the name of Jere-
miah Simpson Of Kansas.
The nominations were then closed and the
rots rssulted: For Crisp 2l4 for Reed 122,
Ior Simpson 7.
The announcement was greeted with loud
applause; Messrs. Holman, Reed and Simp-
Non were appointed a committee to escort
The speaker to the chair and the dis
tinguished gentleman entered the main door
Gaming upon the arm OF Mr.. Holman,
The Members Bro fe into Cheers.
Mr.. Crisp assumed the gavel and said:
"Represen tatives, profoundly grateful for
ibis 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 striotest i'm
partially. (Applause.) am now ready
to take the oath OF office "
The oath was then imprsssively admins
tered by the father of the House, Mr..
ONeill of Pennsylvania. Prayer was then
altered by the blind chaplain OF the House,
Rev. DR.. MIlburn.
Administering the Oath.
The work of Administering the oath OF
flee to the members elect was the nentered
pom. In squads of two dozen they, as
neir names were called, took their stand in
he area in front Of the speakers desk anc
we're sworn.
There was but one hitch in the proceed
,ngs, and that was when the name Of
George F. Richardson was called as repre-
sentative elect from the Fifth Michigan dis
trct. Mr.. Burrows Immediately arose and
objected to the oath Of office being admin
istersd to this gentleman. He asked that
according to custom, Mr.. Richardson b.
asked to stand aside for the present. Thi
course was pursued when the oath had bseI
administered to all the other members.
Mr. O'Ferrall of Virginia offered a reso
luton declaring that George +. Richardson
be now sworn in as representative from tht
Fifth district OF Michigan.
Mr.. Burrows moved as a substitute
resolution reciting that the certlficat
given to Mr.. Richardson had been an
nulsd and made void by reason of the judg
ment of the Supreme Court, and that tn
board of canvassers had declared and cert
fed that Charles f. Bslknap had been d al
slectsd and declares that said Bslknap is en-
titled to be sworn on the prims facie case
An agreement was arrived at by whic
each side was to be allowed one hours de
bate, but at the suggestion of Mr.. Oates G