The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-04
Congress Meets To-day.
An Interesting Programme
for the First Day. The
Presidents Message
Will Probably be
Sent in Today.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The Fifty.
fourth Congress will convene to
morrow at ~ O'Clock according to
law, in first regular session. In the
Senate, the 29 members whose terms
begin with this Congress and to
whose admission no objection is
made, will be sworn in. The list in
cludes Is new members of the body.
The credentials of Mr.. Dupont, who
claims seat from Delaware. to sue
ceed Mr.. Higgins, will, according to
present arrangements, be referred to
the committee on privileges and
elections and pending Investigation
and report he will not be seated The
oath Of Office having been admins
tered to the newly elected members,
notification will be sent to the House
that the Senate is organized and
ready for business and prepared to
join the House in the appointment of
a committee to wait upon the Presi-
dent to notify him of the assembling
and organization of Congress. ready
to receive any communication ne
may have to make. This notification
will probably be made to Cleveland
on Tuesday and his annual message
will be read that afternoon.
After the adjournment Of the Sen
ate, caucns of Republican members
will he held. 1t is given out to-
night that no decisive action will be
decided upon. The meeting is more
for the purpose of general confer
ence, it being the fist opportunity
for senators to get together after the
nine months recess. A nomination
for president of the Senate pro tenn.
may be agreed upon and committee
vacancies will be discussed The
elective Offices will also be consid-
cred, but no action on these matters
is expected for several days at least.
In the mean time, however, there
will be the re arrangement of com.
mittees and the matter of distributing
the appropriation bills among the ap
preparation committees, after the
method that obtains in the House,
TO occupy the attention of the eau.
cuses. A resolution providing for
this distribution will be offered as
soon as practicable, it is said. bv
Senator Dubois.
There are numerous candidates fer
the two elective Offices of the Senate
The most prominent one for secretary
is the Hon. George G Golman, of
California, who held the position for
II years No prografd'lie has been
arranged for the rest of the week
after Tuesday and aside from the in
PRODUCTION of bills and resolutions,
the transaction Of business is not
looked for.
The first day in the House will be
exhausted by the routine Of orgam-
zation First he $50 members aud
four delegates will have to be sworn
in. the roll being called by the clerk
of the old house, Hon. James Kerr.
Then will come the election of
speaker and the subordinate officers,
according to the results Of the Re-
publican caucus on Saturday night
4 rol! call will probably be had
upon the election of speaker. but
tie other officers. it is expected will
De named together in resolution,
and the resolution adopted viva voce
The usual motions to notify the Sen
ate and to appoint committe to in
form the President will follow And
# there be time remaining, the bi en-.
nial lottery known as the drawing Of
seats will take place.
An adjourned Democratic caucus
will be held Monday afternoon, to
select the persons to be appointed to
the several minor positions allotted
to them in the organization Of the
house Aside from the introduction
of the new measures, bills, resou-
tions, etc., no business is anticipated
this week The adoption Of new
rules and the appointment of COM
mittees by Speaker Reed are the first
matters of general interest and i'm
portance that will be accomplished.
In the hurry and confusion of re-
porting the caucus, which was held
behind closed doors the vote upon
the election of cleark of the
caucus, was reversed last night. Mr..
W. B. Hooker, of New York, was
chosen. rot Mr.. Ellis, Of Oregon, his