Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-02
54th CONGRESS
Will Spring Into Existence at
High Noon, Today.
Little Beyond Organization Expected
in Either House, This Week.
Numerous Candidates for Offices Both In tho
House and Senate.

| Washington, Dec The 5Ith Con-
gress will convene, tomorrow, at IL, in Its
first regular session. In the Senate, go
members, whose terms begin with this
Congress, and to whose objection Is made
will be sworn in. The list includes Ii
new members. The credentials Of Mr.
| Dupont, who claims seat from Delaware
to succeed Mr.. Higgins, will, according to
the present arrangement, be referred to
the committee on privileges and elections,
pending au investigation, and report that
| he be not seated.
| The oath of office having been admin
istrecd to the newly elected members, no
LITIGATION Will be sent to the House that
the Senate IL organized and ready for
business. and prepared to join the House
in the appointment of "a committee to
wait upon the President to notify him of
the assembling aud organization of Con
gress, and its readiness to receive any
| communication that h, may have to
make. This notifcati, II will probably DO
made Tuesday, and his annual message
will be read that afternoon.
After the adjournment of the Senate,a
caucus of Republican members will be
held 1t is given out, tonight, that no
decisive action will be taken. The meet
ing will be more for the purpose of gen
oral conference, 1t being the first oppor
tunity of the senators to get together
| after the nine months recess.
The nomination for President pro tenn
of the Senate may be agreed upon, and
committee vacancies will be destroyed.
The elective officers viii be considered
but no action on these matters Is expected
for several DAYS at least
In the meantime there will he a re-a
raDgement of committees and the matter
of distributing the appropriation bills
among the appropriate ommittees, after
the method that obtains in the House, is
10 occupy the attention of the caucus A
resolution providing for the distribution
will he offered as soon as practicable, IL
is said, 10y Senator Dubois.
There are numerous candidates for the
two elective offices of the Senate. The
must prominent one for secretary is Hon.
George G. Gurham of California, who has
held the position IL Yeas. Noprogramme
has been arranged for the rest of the week
after Tuesday, and aside from the intro
duction OF bills and resolutions, tho tran
saction of business is not looked for.
The first day in the House will be ex-
hausted by the routine of organization.
First the S56 members and four delegates
Will have to be sworn in the roll being
called by the clerk of the old House, Hon.
James Kerr.
Then will come the election of Speaker
and the subordinate officers, In accordance
with the result Of the Republican caucus,
Saturday. A roll call will probably. be
had upon the election OF Speaker but tho
other officers it is expected, will DO
masscd together in a resolution and the
resolution adopted viva vocc
The usual motions to notify the Senate
and appoint committee to inform the
President will follow. Then, if there ba
time remaining the biennial lottery
known Us the drawing Of seats will take
place.
An adjourned Democratic caucus will
he held, Monday afternoon, to select the
persons to be appointed to the several
minor positions allotted to them In the
organization of the House.
Aside from the Introduction of bills,
resolutions, etc, no business is antici-
pated. this week. The adoption of new
rules and the appointment of committees
by Speaker Reed are the first matters OF
general interest that will he accomplished.