The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-12-02
THE "ENENING Herald" IS READ Fl
THE FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
The Man From Maine Again Assume,
the SpeakerShip.
LITTLE BUSINESS THIS WEEK
To-morrow's Session in Both Houses will
be Devoted to the Reading of the
Presidents Message Senators May
Have Contest for oficers.

have a Contest for Of1cers.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.--The first week of
the Fiftyfourth congress, which convened
at noon today, promises nothing at either
end of the Capitol in the way of actual leg
islation. The time before the Christmas hol-
idays is usually devoted to preliminary
matters, and the work of the session does
not begin until after the recess. The new
congress will probably not be an exception
to this rule.
Mr. Kerr clerk of the last house, called
tho house to order. After the roll call
came the election of the officers nominated
by the Republican caucus on Saturday
night They are: Speaker, Thomas b.
Reed of Maine; clerk, Alexander Nc
Dowell of Pennsylvania; sergeant-at-
arms, Benjamin f. Russell of Missouri; !;
doorkeeper, w. j. Glenn of New York;
postmaster, J. @. McElroy of Ohio; chap
lain, Rev. II. N. Couden of Michigan. The
officers of the Republican house caucus,
who will serve during the session, are
Chairman, David b. Henderson of Iowa;
secretary, Warren B. Hooker of New
York
As soon as Mr.. Reed was formally in
stalled as speaker the drawing of seats,
which is known as the congressional
''raffle, was begun. This is somewhat
tedious but amusing affair, and will oc-
cupy the remainder of the afternoon. The
reading of the presidents message will
consume tomorrow, and at its conclusion
the house will probably adjourn until
Thursday, and on convening Thursday
adjourn Immediately until Monday These
adjournments will continue probably un-
til the committees are announced. This is
the program, but the unexpected might
occur, as it so often does in the house, if
some aspiring member should introduce a
sensational resolution and ask for it's inn
mediate consideration.
Speaker Reed says that the committees
will not be announced this week with,
perhaps, single exception-the commit
tee on rules. This committee formulates
the rules which are to govern the house
during it's sessions, and it is customary
for the speaker to name it during the first
week in order that it can Immediately be-
gin it's labors. While it is believed that
the rules of the Fifty-first congress, over
which Mr. Reed presided will be reported
for the guidance of the present house, it is
understood that few changes will be
made, as result of experience, which are
designed to still further improve the house
machinery and the facilitation of public
business.
Representative Lawrence McGann, of
Chicago, who held seat in the Fifty-second
and Fifty-third congresses and was chair
man of the committee on labor in the last
congress, will furnish to the house the un-
usual spectacle of a member making "a vol
untary relinquishmento of the seat to which
he holds a certificate. AS soon as he is able
to secure recognition from the speaker Mr..
McGann will make a statement to the
house tc the effect that he thinks his Re
publican opponent, Mr.. Hugh h. Belknap,
is entitled to the seat, and that he (Mc-
Gann) valves all claims thereto This
step will make it possible for the commit
tee on elections, as soon as it is organized
to report in favor of seating Mr.. Belknap.
and will relieve that gentleman of the
of making a contest before the
committee. Mr. Bel1nap is son of Hon.
w. w. Belknap, who was secretary of war
under President Grant.
1t is not probable that the first week of
will not witness much serious
effort at legislative work in the senate. If
should be accomplished beyond
the receipt of the presidents message and
of the recess nominations and the intro
duction of bills the session would be an
exception in the history of the senate
The proceedings of today consisted in
the swearing in of the newly elected mem
bers who were present. and the appoint
ment of committee to wait upon the
president. Tomorrow the senators will
listen to the reading of the Presidents
message, and the brief sessions OF Wednes-
day and Thursday will be devoted largely
to the introduction Of bills, of which there
will be several hundred.
Following precedents, the senate will
adjourn on Thursday until the following
Monday. One or two brief executive ses-
5ions for the reference of nominations are
also among the probabilities for the week.
If the senate Republicans, at their eau.
Gus this afternoon, decide upon an effort |
10 reorganize, as is now generally con
,eded, the Democrats will follow with a
conference tomorrow or Wednesday, at
which they probably will decide upon
course of action. 1t now appears probable |
hat all three parties will place candidates
'or president pro tempore in the field, and |
n that event the week will be enlivened |
by triangular contest for this .
md the officers of tire senate