The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-03
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-
CALLED TO ORDER IN HARRINGTON
 AT NOON YESTERDAY.

M sentatlves-O Organization of the latter Mir. Reed Elected spoaker-The Presl-
 dents Message Tomorrow.
 Washington, Dec. 2-The senate and house of representatives were called to order promptly at noon to-day in their respective chambers, amid the usual scenes of animation and excite ment. By 10:30 o'clock, an hour and half before the time of meeting, the { public galleries in both houses were filled and an eager crowd overflowed into the outer corridors. Many women were in the throng.
 No such revolution in the personnel of the members of the house has oc- cured in recent years as was evident at the beginning of the session to-day. There were 163 new faces in a total of 356 members. The republicans control thirty-one of the forty-four state dele gations They have twenty solid dele cations, while the democrats have but four. Tn the once "solid South" the Kentucky and Tennessee delegations
 
 Carolina and Missouri the republicans control. The West Virginia delegation is solidly republican. Texas and Vir- g1nia each has a republican, and South Carolina and Alabama send populists. The number of populists in the house is reduced from twelve to six. Among those whose absence was most notice able were Judge Holman, dem., of In- diana, who began his congressional ser vice in 1859; the silver advocate, Bland, of Missouri, William M. Springer, dem, of Illinois, General Hooker, William L. Wilson, Bourke Cochran, dem, of New York, and Tom Johnson and M. D. \ Harter, dem., of Ohio.
 The presence of new blood was quite as noticeable in the usually slow-chang- ing senate as in the house. Among the more notable of the lbsentees were Butler, dem., of South Carolina Ran som, dem., of North Carolina, Coke, dem., of Texas, Dolph, rep, of Oregon, Manderson rep, of Nebraska, and Mo Emerson, de'm., of New Jersey, each of whom had served more than one term. Of the thirty senators whose terms ex- pired on the Fourth of March last, only thirteen were reelected.
 Among the new men are Marion But Ter, pop of North Carolina, vice M. w. Ransom; Thomas H. Carter, rep, of Montana, vice Thomas c. Power; Stephen B. Elkins, rep, of West Vir- ginia, vice J. N. Camden; John H. Gear, rep, of Iowa, vice J. F. Wilson; George w Mcbride, rep, of Oregon. vice J. N Dolph; Knute Nelson, rep, of Minne- sota, vice w. D. Washburn: W. J. Sewell, rep, of New Jersey, vice J. R. McPherson; Benjamin R. Tillman, denl., of South Carolina, vice M c. Butler, and George R. Wetmore, rep, of Rhode Island, vice Nathan F. Nixon. The preponderance of seats on the republi- can side was noticeable, three having been transferred from the democratic division to accommodate Messrs. FL kins, Bakef, and Sewell, and one for MT Butler, populist. Four of the six independents now have seats in the re- publican section.
 The change in the appearance of the senate chamber was quite as great as the membership. Probably the most striking change in the furnishings was that made in the chairs Heretofore
 
 assortment of seats. These have been removed and eighty-eight square ma hogany chairs substituted. New car pets have been laid, and all the work painted or vanished. In the niches of the gallery left for the busts of dead vice presidents, there are two additions, one of Richard M. Johnson and the other of Willard Fillmore. A new light ing apparatus has been put in, con- cealed above the skylights.
 The senators began to assemble early in the day, exchanging greetings and renewing acquaintances. MT Sherman, rep, of Ohio, crossed the chamber and greeted his associate, MT. Brice, dem, who was in a group with Messrs Cor man, dem, of Maryland, Cockrell, dem, of Missouri, and Harris dem., of Ten nessee. The floral decorations were un- usually abundant. The desk Of MT. shoup, rep, of Idaho, held fruit as well as flowers.
 Exactly at F o'clock the vice presi- dent called the senate to order. Pray CT was offered by the blind chaplain of the senate, who referred to the aff1iction in the family of ex-Senator Wilson of Iowa, and to the absence of Isaac Bas- sett, the veteran doorkeeper of the senate, who is now dangerously i'll.
 The first business transacted was the swearing in by the vice president of new senators and of those reelected.
 The usual formal resolutions were quickly adopted, that of MT. Cockrell, dem., of Missouri, to provide for senate sessions beginning at 12 a. daily, that of MT. Sherman, rep, of Ohio, to notify the house that quorum of the senate was present and ready to proceed with business; that of MT. Villas, dem, of Wisconsin, to provide for a committee of two senators and two members to wait upon the president and notify him that congress awaited any communica- ton the executive branch desired to present. The presiding officer designat- ed Messrs. Villas and Allison for the committee to wait on the president.
 At 12:30 o'clock recess of an hour was taken.
 At 1:30, when the senate reconVened, MT. Prudden, the presidents secretary, was in the chamber with word that the presidents message would not be submitted to-day, and, therefore, at 1 30 An1y +;.1.. tl,.o 41,a