Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-06
The Fifty-FOurth Congress.

Its Organization on Monday with Thos.
II. Reed for Speaker---the New Menu
bers sworn In---SOme of the Opening
Scenes.
A caucus of the Republican members of
the House was held last Saturday night
and Thomas b. Reed was nominated for
speaker by acclamation and amid great en-
thusiasm. In his speech accepting the
nomination Mr.. Reed said:
eve have unfortunately divided gov
ernment which usually leads to small re-
suits. But there are times when rest is as
health-gving as exercise. We must not
forget our first aud greatest duty is to do
all we can to restore confidence to business
and that we must avoid all business legisla-
tion except in the direction of improving
business. Rather than run risks we can
afford to wait until well-matured plans
give us assurances of permanent benefit.
Crude and hasty legislation is above all
things to be summed Could we cause our
immense popular ma iority to overflow into
other branches of the government and
could we have full control we would Gre
ate, not a perfect world perhaps, but a
world rather more fit to live in than we
have lately had. Even as things are | do
not for a moment doubt that our patriotic
instincts will lead us to make every sacri-
flee except of principle to rescue our coun-
try from its temporary disaster"
The other nominations were those of
Alexander Mcdowell of Pennsylvania for
clerk, Benz. F. Russell of Missouri for ser
geant-at-arms, VIM. j. Glenn of New
York for doorkeeper, and Henry N. Con-
don, blind clergyman of Michigan, for
chaplain.
The Democratic caucus was held in the
afternoon and Mr.. Richardson of Tennes-
see, who proposed the denomination of
Speaker Crisp, did not hesitate to remind
his associates of the contrast between their
numbers and feeling in 1891 and 1893 with
their present condition. He was full of
hope for the future, however, and predict
ed 1.-THE final triumph of the low tariff pol
icy of the party"
The organization of the House was eff
fected Monday by the election of the Re-
publican nominees. The vote for speaker
stood Thomas B. Reed, Republican, 234 !;
Chas. F. Crisp, Democrat, 95; John C..
Bell (ot COlOrado) Populist, g; Mr.. Colber-
son, l. After his election had been de-
clared Mr.. Reed was escorted to the chair
and acknowledged the honor done him in
very brief speech.
The oath of office was then administered
by the speaker TO members of the House
| whose names were called by states alpha
betically, the members ranging themselves
in the space fronting the chair, and hold
ing up their right hands as the formula was
pronounced. Where there were few men,
bers from state they were joined by those
| from the next state or states on the list,
aid so the ceremony went on until all had
sworn to be faithful to the constitution and
to theiI duties as representatives.
The organization of the House was then
completed by the adoption of a resolution
electing the other officers nominated by
the Republican caucus.
A substitute, which was offered by Mr..
Sayres, of Texas Dem. }, electing the Dem
ocratic holders of those offices, was put to
a viva voce vote. The speaker said, with
an amusing pretence of hesitation, that the
noes appeared to have it, and then, af-
ter general laughter, he announced that
the ''noes" had it.
President Cleveland's message was re-
ceived and read in both houses on Tuesday
Beyond this little business of importance
was transacted.