The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-12-02
FIFTY FOURTH CONGRESS-
The Man from Maine Again AS
sumes the speakership.
LITTLE BUSINESS THIS WEEK.

TomOrroW's SESSIONS In Both HOUSES VIII
be Devoted tn tho Reading OF tho PresI-
dents trcssage--scnatcrs May Have n
Contest for 0meers OF That Dody.
wAsHrNGToN, Dso. Q. The first week OF
the Fifty-to congress, which convened
at noon to-day. promises nothing at either
end OF the Capitol in the way of actual leg
islation. The time before tho Christmas hol- I
idays ii usually devoted to preliminary
matters, snd the work Of tho session does
not begin until after the recess Tho new
congress will probably not be an exception
to this rulc.
Mr.. Kerr, clerk Of the last house. called
tho house to order. After the roll call
came the election Of the officers nominated
by the Republican CAUCUS on Saturday
night. They are: Speaker, Thomas b.
Reed Of Maine; clerk, Alexander Nc.
Dowell of Pennsylvania; sergeant-at-
arms, Benjamin Il. Russell of Missouri;
doorkeepdr, w. ]. Glenn of New York;
postmaster, j. G. McElroy Of Ohio; chap
lain, Rev II. N. Couden OF Michigan. The
officers OF the Republican house cuucus
who will serve during tho session, are
Chairman David b. Henderson OF Iowa;
secretary Warren b. Hooker Of New
York.
stalled as speaker the drawing of seats,
which i4 known as the congressional
.'raffie," was begun. This Is somewhat
tedious but amusing affair, and will oc-
cupy the remainder Of the afternoon. The
reading 6f the Presidents message will
consume tomorrow and at its conclusion
the house will probably adjourn until
Thursday, and on convening Thursday
| adjourn immediatoly until Monday, These
adjournnAents will continue probably un-
/ til tho committees are announced. This is
| the program, but the unexpected might
occur, as IL so often does In the house, II
some aspiring moinbcr should introduce
| sensational resolution and ask for its i'm
| mediate consideration.
Speaker Reed says that the committees
will not be announced this weok with,
| perhaps, b single exception-the commit
| tee on rules. This committee formulatos
| tho rules which arc to govern the house
during It's sessions, and 1t Is customary
for the speaker to name it during the first
week in order that 1t can Immediately be-
gin it's labors While 1t Is believed that
tho rules of tho Fifty first congress, over
which M. Reed prcsidsd, will be reported
!, for the guidance of the present house, itis
understood that few changes willSpe
made, as q result of experience, which are
designed to still further improve the house
machinery and the facilltation of public
| business
Representative Lawrence MeGann, OF
Chicago, who held seat in the Fifty-second
and Fifty-third congresses and was chair
man Of the committee on labor In ths last
congress will furnish to the house tho un-
usual spectacle of n member making vol
untary rhlinquishment Of the scat to which
ha holds ii cDrttficAte AS soon as he is able
to secure recognition from the speaker Mr..
McGann will make o statement to the
house to the effect that he thinks his Re-
publican opponent, Mr.. Hugh r. Belknap,
is entitled TO the seat, and that he me
Gann) valves all claims thereto. This
, step will make 1t possible for the commit
tee on elections, as sooa as it is organized
to report in favor of seating Mr.. Beik nap,
and will relieve that gentleman OF the
necessity of making contest before the
COMMITTEES. Mr.. Belknap is a son Of Hon.
w. w. Bolknap, who was secretary Of war
under President Grant.
1t Is not probable that tho first week OF
congress will not witness much serious
effort at legislative work In the senate. II
anything should DO accomplished beyond
tho receipt Of tho presidents message and
of the RECESS nominations and the intro
, duction of bills the session would be an
exception In tho history of tho senate.
The proceedings OF today consisted in
the swearing in of the newly elected mem
bers who were present, and the appoint
ment of o committee to wait upon the
, president. Tomorrow the senators win
! listen I'd the reading of the president .
. message. and the brief sessions Of Wednes.
, day and Thursday will be devoted largely
. to tho introduction of bills, OF which there
, will bo several hundred
, Following precedents, tho senate will
, adjourn on Thursday until the following
, Monday One or two brief executive ses-
sioHs for the reference OF nominations ara
, . also amdng the probabilities for the week
. II the senate Republicans, at their eau
Gus this afternoon, decide upon an effort
j to reorgRnizc, as is now generally con.
ceded, tile Democrats will follow with q
conference tomorrow or Wednesday, at
which they probably will decide upon O
a course OK action, 1t now appears probable
. that all three parties will place candidates
, for president pro tempore In the field, and
! In that event the week will be enlivened
eomewhhb by u triangular contest for this
/, and the officers of tho senate.