The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1895-12-06
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.

FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Both Houses Called to Order in Due Form
Reed Chosen Speaker.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The United
| States senate was called to order al
noon by Vice President Stevenson.
Prayer was offered by Chaplain Mil.
burn.
The decorum of the upper branch ot
congress is seldom disturbed even by
the opening of congress, and with
crowded galleries and a general air OF
expectancy there was the same even
and unruffled procedure which usually
eharacterizes the senate. All the gal
leries, public and private, except that
for the diplomatic corps, were filed to
overtlowing by IL o'clock, and the outer
corridors were crowded by those un.
able to get admission.
The senators began to gather early
in the day, exchanging greetings and
renewing acquaintances. Mr.. Jones,
of Arkansas, and Mr.. Teller, of Colo
rado, were among the first arrivals.
They were soon joined by the venera-
bic Hoar, of Massachusetts,, and his
colleague, Mr.. Lodge. Mr.. Peffer and
Mr.. Allen showed special attention to
the acquisitions to the populist sena-
torial ranks. There was a special in
terest in the many new faces Mr.
Martin, of Virginia, was introduced to
his associates by Mr.. Daniel Mr.
Sherman crossed the chamber and
greeted his Ohio associates, Mr.
Brice, who was in a group with
Messrs. German, Cockrell and Harris.
The floral offerings were unusually
abundant. The desk of Mr.. Shoup, of
Idaho, held fruit as well as flowers.
The two North Carolina senator's, Mr..
Smith and Mr.. Sewell, were intrenched
behind enormous banks of American
Beauty roses, rising 6 feet from the
floor. Other senators RENE m bered with
baskets and punches of flowers were
Allison, Baker Cullom, Faulkner, Gal
linger, Hansbrough, Harris, Jones, of
Arkansas; Lodge, Mcbride, Mantle,
Martin, Mitchell, of Oregon; Proctor,
Quay and Roach.
The Fifty-fourth house of representa-
At 11:45 the floor was cleared End
those who had not the privilege of the
floor reluctantly retired and sought
at the thronged doors of the
galleries an opportunity to get
a glimpse of the proceedings be-
low. In the press gallery every seat
was taken by correspondents of the
great dailics of the country. As the
hands of the clock opposite the
speakers desk pointed to 12, Col
ike" Hill, the deputy sergeant
alarms, lifted into it's place on
the green pedestal alongside of
the rostrum the ebony eagle-surmount-
ed mace, the emblem of the houses
authority, the flag above the house
was run up and Clerk Kerr called the
Fifty-fourth house of representatives
to order.
A hush Immediately fell upon the
assembly, and Rev. Bagby, of this city,
the chaplain of the house, offered the
Invocation.
Under the direction of Mr.. Kerr the
roll of members elected to the Fifty
fourth house was called.
Mr.. Reed, for whom everyone was
inquiring, had not made his appear
ance. Mr.. Kerr announced that 841 of
the $50 members of the house were
present, and also that no credentials
had been received from the Tenth New
York and the First Nevada districts.
Mr.. Kerr then called for nominations
for speaker. No nominating speeches
were made. Mr.. Grosvenor (rep.). of
Ohio, chairman OF the republican eau
cus, placed in nomination Thomas B.
Reed, of Maine; Mr.. Sayers dem of
Texas, the name of Charles L. Crisp, OF
Georgia, and Mr.. Kemp (pop.), of
John C. Bell, of Colorado
The names of both Mr.. Reed and Mr.
Crisp were vigorously applauded by
their respective party associates.
The ballot was then taken. The re-
suit of the vote for speaker was: Reed,
2S4; Crisp, 95; Bell, 6; Culberson (dem)
L. Total. 336.
The announcement of Mr.. Reeds
election was greeted with great ap-
plause.
After Reeds election, the other re-
publican caucus nominees for house
offices were promptly elected.
The oath of office was administered
to llr. Reed by Mr.. Harmer, of Penn
sylFania, republican, the member who !
has had the longest continuous service.