The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-12-06
CONGRESS- AT WORK.
FIFTY-FOURTH U. 5. CONGRESS
IN SESSION.
Some of the Opening Scenes aud Incidents
Thomas Is. Reed Chosen Speaker OF
the House Michigan Man Chaplain of
the House The Grind Begins.

The Eifty-fourth congress of these
United States assembled in the ma
tional capitol at Washington without
very much ostcntation.
THE SENATE was called TO order by Vice
President Stevenson. The final offerings were
unusually abundant, many OF the desks
being literally buried beneath the weight
OF roses and cnrysanthemums. With
impressive tones the blind chaplain in
Voxed the divine blessing on the chamber. The
nrst business transacted was the swearing in
OF new senators ana those reelected. They
proceeded 10 the clerk desk IN groups OF
three ana four. accompanied 10y their state
colleagues, ana with uplificd hands took the
oath as Il was read by the vice. president The
sual formal resolutions were quickly adopted
Providing for Senate sessions beginning at IL
noon daily; notifying the House that Is quorum
of the senate was present and ready TO proceed
with business; providing for a committee or
two Senators and two Representatives to wait
upon the President ana notify him that con
gress awaited any communication the executive
branch desired TO present. The presiding ofticer
designated MeSsrs. Villas and Allison for the
committee Al 12:3) clock recess of an
hour was taken. At l;;o. when the Senate re-
convened Mr.. Prudcu OF the White House
stan was in the chamber with word that the
PRESIDENTS message would not be submitted
until the following day. and, on motion OF Me-.
sherman, the Senate adjourned
THE HOUSE session was more interesting,
INVOLVING the election of "a speaker ana other
officers and the biennial seat drawing Tho
galleries were crowded and floral tributes filled
the desks ON every side AT exac .ly Il O'Clock
noon Clerk Kerr Gale the House 10 order and
Rev. Bagby offered AN invocation. Mr. Kerr
called the roll aud reported 81 of the 3j6 mem
beers present. The election OF speaker being
the hrst business the names OF Thomas IS.
Reed, or Maine Republican; Charles r.. Crisp
OF Georgia, Democrat. and John G.. Bell, OF
Colorado. Popullst, were presented without
nominating speeches. Tellers were appointed
and q viva vocc vote taken which resulted
Reed, 254; Crisp, %; Bell, 8; Culberson, 1. The
announcement OF Mr.. Reeds election was
"a a
Crisp Grosvenor and Bell were appointed a
committee To conduct the speaker 10 the chair
and soon appeared AZ the main entrance, Mr..
Reed leaning on the arm oil oN-Speaker Crisp
and Mcssrs. GrOsvcnor and Bell arm in arm.
As they moved down the center aisle. the
House rost en- massC. y roar OF applause fol-
lowed. the galleries Joining with great enthus-
iasm IN the demonstration Mr.. Harmer.
rep, Pa the Oldest member In continuous
service present, administered she oath OF office
20 the speaker The latter then turned TO the
House aud delivered his inaugural At the
conclusion OF his speech the members came
forward in squads as their names were called
and with uplifted arms. swore to support and
defend the constitution against all enemies
foreign and domestic ana faithfully dis
charge the duties of their ottices. With
out roll call the officers OF tho House,
nominated by the Republican caucus. pre-
ylously held, were then fOr,nally elected Tho
swearing in Of the subordinate officers fol-
lowed Alexander 49, Mcdowell. OF PennsyI-
vauia. rs CLERK. b. r. Russell, OF Missouri, as
scrgcant-at-arms. William Il. Glenn. OF New
uth as duOrkcepef' Joseph H. Mctlroy. OF
Ohio, as postmaster and Henry n. Couden, OF
Michigan, as chaplain. The customary reso-
lutlons were adopted notifying the
President and the Senate of the
election Of MIR. Reed ana Mr. Mcdowell as
speaker and clerk respectively and that the
House had organized aud was ready TO transact
business. At this point the first political clash
occurred Mr. Cannon and MIR. Crisp crossed
swords on I ne formers motion that the rules
OF the Flltv-trst congress be adopted for the
guidance OF the house, which was nnaily done.
The u-uul seat drawing then BEGUN. A(
cordng to the usual custom the House granted
! the cx-speasers. Mr.. Crisp OF Georgia. aud MI
| Grow OF Pennsylvania. the privilege OF Sc
! ieCtug their seats without drawing. The
name OF Mr.. Mcclure Rep Ohio, was the
! irst drawn from the box: Mr.. Owens Dem.
| KY, the successor of Mr.. breckenridge. was
! the second. Mr.. Bartlett, Dem. N. Y }, drew
! the booty" prize. His was the last name
! called. The House then adjourned