The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-12-06
CAR REED TO RULE.
ONCE MORE HOLDS THE GAvEl IN THE
NATIONAL HOUSE

Many New Members Take Their Seats In
Both Legislative Chambers-Some Men
of Uncommon Note Come Iuto the up.
per House."
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2-As the clocks In
the two legislative chambers in the ma.
tional Capitol pointed to ~ noon today the
gavel of Vice President Stevenson in the
senate chamber and Clerk Kerr in the
house came down with sharp thuds and
the several hundred statesmen who are to
legislate for the welfare of the people of
the United States and who had been scat
tered about the chambers talking politics
and other subjects sought their seats and
came to order Ii was the first act-those
gavel thumps-of the Fifty-fourth con.
gress. The clerk called the house to order
duty. Crisp's term Of Office expiring with
the Fifty-third congress.
New House Officers Elected,
Supplying the house with a presiding
action. The Republicans had caucused
and chosen their men, Reed of course be
ing the speaker, and their majority is so
great that the election of the ticket was
very dry formality. Crisp was the man
the Democrats in caucus had selected for
their complimentary vote, and when this
duty was done and Reed declared elected
he was escorted to the speakers chair
amid loud applause and "the car was
once more where he can "sit down." If
he chooses, on those who for couple of
years have had so much fun with him.
Some Old Faces Are Missing.
As the speaker took his place to make q
brief address of thanks for the honor con.
ferred, etc., he saw a sea of new faces in
the place of many of the familiar ones.
Among those whom he missed were
Springer, Holman, Bourke Cochran, Will
son (of the tariff bill) Hatch, Kilgore Che
Of the tremendous kick and many others.
AS soon as Reed was formally installed
the drawing of seats, which is known as
the congressional ''rafflc," began. This is
a somewhat tedious but amusing affair
and will occupy the remainder of the af-
ternoon. The first week of the Fifty-fourth
congress promises nothing at either end
of the Capitol in the way of actual legisla-
ton. In the house nothing can be done
until the committees are appointed.
Speaker-elect Reed says that the commit.
tees will not be announced this week, with
perhaps single exception-the COMMITTEES
on rules.
Mccain Will Make Record.
Representative Lawrence McGann, of
Chicago, who held seat in the Fifty-sec-
ond and Fifty-third congresses, and was
chairman of the committee on labor in the
last congress, will furnish to the house
the unusual spectacle of member max
ing voluntary relinquishment Of seat
to which he holds the certificate. AS soon
as he is able to secure recognition from the
speaker McGann will make q statement
to the house to the effect that he thinks
that his Republican opponent, Hugh II.
Belknap, is entitled to the seat, and that
he (McGann) valves all claims thereto.
This step will make it possible for the
committee on elections, as soon as it Is
organized, to report in favor of seating
Belknap and will relieve that gentleman
of the necessity of making contest before
the committee.
The full roll of house officers elected Is
as follows, all those named having been
selected ut the house caucus Saturday:
Speaker, Thomas Il. Reed, Of Maine;
clerk, Alexander Mcdowell, of Pennsyl-
vania; sergeant-at arms, Benjamin f.
Russell, of Missouri; doorkecper, William
j. Glenn, of New York; postmaster 10.
III. n. Conden, OF Michigan.