The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-12-10

WASHINGTON, December 2.-The
Fiftyfourth Congress opened on Mon
day, December I'd, at noon, with the
usual ceremonies. The deliberations
in the Senate were conducted with
historical dignity, while the opening
in the Lower House took on the same
animated appearance that has always
characterized its sessions.
The Senate was called to order by
Vice-President Stevenson, and the
House by James Kerr, clerk of the
last House, the gavels in each cham
ber falling at the same instant on the
stroke of II O'Clock. Fifteen New
Senators were to be seen in the Upper
House, and six or eight times that
many in the Lower House. One of the
most notable festures of the opening
of the House of Representatives was
the large number OF young faces to be
seen. In point of age, the present
House is the youngest in the history
of the American Congress.
Congressman GrOsvenOr, of Ohio,
placed L. B Reeds name in nomina-
tion for Speaker of the House. Sayers,
of Texas, follow ed in close order with
the name eX-Speaker Crisp. Then
came Congressman KEN, of Nebraska,
with the name of John G. Bell, of
Colorado, a Populist.
All the Republicans voted for Mr..
Reed, all the Democrats for Mr.. Crisp
and all the POpulists for Mr.. Bell,
with one exception. That one eXcep-
tion was Mr.. Grain of Texas, who
voted for Congressman CulbersOn of
that State.
When the result was announced
Mr.. Reed had clean majority of 132,
! and the galleries showed their appre-
citation by tremendous applause. They
became even more demOnstrative a
| few minutes later when Mr.. Reed was
escorted into the chamber on the arm
of ex-Speaker Crisp, followed by Con
gressmen Bell and GrOsvenOr, who
had been appointed committee to
usher him TO the seat of honor.
In accepting the speakership Mr.
Reed said, at will not be unbecom-
ing in me, / hope, if l acknowledge to
| this assembly that it is very agree
able to me to stand once more in the
place / left four years ago. OF the
past, however, [ will not speak, for
the past speaks for itself in terms
more fitting and appropriate than
any words that could come from my
lips.
"NOr shall / speak of the future, for
we are not putting off the harness,
but putting it on Yet [ think L may
venture to say of the future, in the
light of the past, that if we do some
thing which for the moment seems
Inadequate, 1t may be that time,
which has justified itself for US on
many occasions, may do so again.
Those who have acted with wisdom
heretofore may be fairly expected to
act with wisdom hereafter.
II am sorry to say the pleasure as
sOciated with the honor you have be
slowed on me, an honor no American
citizen can fail to appreciate, aud for
which / give thanks, Is but for mo-
ment or so, while the cares and re
spOnsibilities extend over many days.
$50 far as the performance of my
duties affects the whole people of the
United States, / invoke their consider
ate judgment. So far as 1t affects the
members of this House, l ask from
both sides of the chamber that cordial
co operation without which [ cannot
hope to succeed, assuring them that
no effort on NY part will be spared TO
aid them in the performance of their
duties by that entire impartiality
which is their just due"
Mr.. Reeds speech in the Republican
caucus of Saturday night was the most
significant utterance of the opening
days OF this the Chronicle CORE
spondent says: The speech was care
fully thought out, ana it Is found to
be more full of meaning the more
closely it is studied It's central idea
is an assurance to the great CONNER
cial interests of the United States that
the Fifty fourth Congress will devote
itself first of all to the great work of
re-establishiug business confidence;
that radical legislation likely to affect
unfavorably the commercial and in
dustrial world Will be discouraged
ana, if necessary, kept down with
firm hand, while the Republican ma
jOrity in the House, 80 far as 1t may
ne Influenced by the Speaker, will
devote itself unselfishly and patriotic
ally to the task OF placing the finances
of the Government upon firm basis.
The restoration of business conf
dence viii be the keynote TO the policy
of the Republicans in Congress under
Mr.. Reeds guidance. That is what
Mr.. Reed meant when be said:
While history would accord the Re
publican party praise for what it did