The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-02
THE NATIONAL HOUSE.
The Opening of the House Amid FIOwe
and Bustls at Noon Today.

The Opening of the House Amid Flowers
and Bustle at Noon To-day.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2-The Fifty
fourth house of representatives was
called to order at noon.
By 10 o'clock the marble corridors
were thrOnged by sightseers and place
hunters, and before II o'clock the gal
leries, public and private, were packed to
the doors. From the galleries the visit
ors looked down upon an animated but
confused scene on the floor. New mem
bers, old members, ex-members and place
seekers chatted in groups and filed the
hall with roar of voices.
On the speakers desk were great
lunches of American Beauty roses, tied
with streamers of red, white and blue
and other floral pieces. Flowers were
conspicuous on the desks of the various
members.
At fifteen minutes of 12 o'clock the
floor was cleared and those who had not
the privilege of the floor reluctantly re-
tired and sought at the throaged doors
of the galleries an opportunity to get
glimpse of the proceedings below.
In the press gallery every seat was
taken by correspondents of the great
dailies of the country. AS the hands of
the clock opposite the speakers desk
DOl0L0U X, OOl- Ik0 Hill, Luo O6DutJ
sergeant-at- arms, lifted into it's place on
the great pedestal along side of the ros-
trum, the ebony eagle surmounted 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 i'm
mediately 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
ME- Reed for whom every one was in
curing had not made his appearance.
Mr. Kerr announced that 3i1 of the 800
members 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 nom
nations for speaker. No nominating
speeches were made.
Messrs. Hopkins (Rep. Ills.): Loud
(Rep. Cali.); Erdman dem. PENN and
Catchings Dem. Miss) were appointed
tellers and the roll was called up, the
constitution requiring the election of
speaker by viva voce vote.
Mr.. Grosvenor, (Rep. Ohio) chairman
of the Republican caucus, placed in
nomination for speaker of the house
Thomas B. Reed of Maine, Mr. Sayres
Dem. Texas) the name of Charles F.
Crisp of Georgia and Mr. KEN Pop
Neb) John c. Bell Of Colorado. The
names of both Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Crisp
were vigorously applauded by their
respective party associates.
All the Republicans voted for Mr.
Reed. With one exception, all the Dem
ocrats for Mr.. Crisp, and all the Popu-
lists for Mr.. Bell. The exception was
Mr.. Grain, from Texas, who voted for his
colleague, MIR. Culberson of Texas.
The result of the vote was: Reed 234;
Crisp 90; Bell e. Culberson l.
Mr.. Kerr's announcement of Mr..
Reeds election was greeted with q
thunder of applause.
Messrs. Crisp, Grosvenor and Bell were
appointed a committee to conduct the
speaker to the chair, and soon appeared
at the main entrance, Mr.. Reed lean
ing on the arm of ex-Speaker Crisp and
Messrs. Grosvenor and Bell arm in arm.
As they moved down the center aisle, the
house rose en- masse. A roar of applause
followed, the galleries joining with great
enthusiasm in the demonstration.
AS Mr. Reed ascended the rostrum the
roar swelled until it was deafeaning.
Above the volume of sound came like
pistol shots cries of "Reed, Reed. Reed" :"
The Republicans cheered, many of
them wildly, and the ladies in the gal
leries waved handkerchiefs. For over a
minute the demonstration continued,
Mr.. Reed, arrayed in long frock coat
and wearing a dark four-in- hand tie,
stood calmly and serenely with his hands
casped in characteristic fashion behind
his back, until the house was quiet.
Mr.. Harmer (Rep, Penna.) the oldest
member in continuous service came for
ward and administered the oath of Office
to the speaker.
The latter then turned to the house.
Looking into the sea of upturned faces,