Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-12-05
CONGRESS MEETS.
OPENING OF THE FIFTY
FOURTH SESSION..
Tremendous Crowd at tho Capitol
Speaker Reod Given . Rouslng Well
come

Washington, Dec. 2.-The Senate
was called to order Mt noon to-day by
Vice President Stevenson. The decor
um Of the upper branch Of Congress Is
seldom disturbed, even by the opening
of Congress, and to-day, with crowd
ed galleries and general air Of cx-
pectancy, there was the same even
and unrufIied procedure which charac-
terizes the Senate. All the galleries,
public and private. except that re-
served for the diplomatic corps, were
filed to overflowing by IL o'clock, and
the outer corridors were crowded with
those unable to gain admission.
The senators began to gather early
in the day, exchanging greetings and
renewing acquaintances.
In impressive tones the blind chap
lain of the Senate invoked divine bless
ing on the chamber, referring eloquent
ly to the affiiction of the family OF ex-
Senator Wilson of Iowa, and to the alb
sence Of Isaac Bassett. the veteran
doorkeeper, who Is now dangerously
i'll.
The first business transacted was the
swearing In Of new senators and OF
those reelected. They proceeded TO
the clerks desk in groups of three ana
four, accompanied by their state COL
leagues, and with uplifted right hands
took the oath as 1t was read by the
Vice President
The usual formal resolutions were
quickly adopted. That of Mr.. Cockrell
democrat of MIssourD provided for
Senate sessions beginning at IL noon
daily; that of Mr.. Sherman Qiepubli-
can of Ohio notified the House that n
quorum of the Senate was present and
ready to proceed with business; that
of Mr.. Villas Democrat of Wisconsin,,
provided for q committee Of two sena-
tors and two representatives to wait
upon the President and notify him that
Congress awaited any communication
that the executive branch desired to
present.
The presiding officer designated
Messrs. Villas and Allison for the COM
mittee to wait on the President.
At 1890 n recess of an hour was tax
en-.
At 80, when the Senate reconvened,
Mr.. Pruden of the White House stafr
was in the chamber with word that the
Presidents message would not be sub
mitted today, and at 1 80 O'Clock, on
motion of Mr.. Sherman, the SENATE I'D
journed until tomorrow.
At fifteen minutes Of twelve o'clock the
floor was cleared and those who had not
the privilege of the floor reluctantly re-
tired and sought at the thronged 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.
Under the direction of Mr.. Kerr, the
roll of members elected to the Fifty
fourth house was called. Mr.. Kerr an
nounced that 341 of the 35G members of
the House were present, and also that
no credentials had been received from
the Tenth New York and the First Ne
vada districts.
Mr.. Kerr then called for nominations
for speaker. No nominating speeches
were made. Mr.. Grosvenor. Republican,
Ohio, chairman of the Republican eau
Gus, placed in nomination Thomas B.
Reed of Maine; Mr.. Sayres, Democrat,
Texas, the name of Charles s. Crisp, Of
Georgia, and Mr.. KEN, Populist, Ne
braska, John G. Bell of Colorado. The
names of both Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Crisp
were vigorously applauded by their re-
spective party associates. Messrs. Hop
kins, Republican, Illinois; Loud, Repub-
lican, California;; Erdman, Democrat,
Pennsylvania, and Catchings, Democrat,
Mississippi, were appointed tellers, and
the roll was called, for the constitution
requires the election of speaker by viva
voce vote. All the Republicans voted
for Mr.. Reed, with one exception, all
the Democrats for Mr.. Crisp, and all the
Populists for Mr.. Bell. The exception
was Mr.. Grain from Texas, who, when
his name was called, voted for his col
league, Mr.. Culberson of Texas. The re-
suit Of the vote was: Reed, 234; Crisp,
%; Bell, G.; Culberson, 1.
Mr.. Kccr's announcement of Mr..
lteeu eleCtlOu WitS SIeelcu With u tuuit
der Of applause.
AS Mr.. Reed ascendcd the rostrum,
the roar swellcd until 1t was deafcning.
Above this volume of sound came like
pistol shots cries of Reed! Reed!
Rcedr" The Republicans cheered,
many of them wildly, and the ladies in
the gallery waved handkerchiefs. For
over a minute the demonstration con-
tinued.
Mr.. Reed, arrayed in long frock
coat, and wearing dark four-in-hand
tie, stood calmly and sercnely with
his hands claspcd in characteristic
fashion behind his back until the
House was quiet. Mr.. Harmer, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania, the oldest
member IN continuous service present,
came forward and administered the
oath of office to the speaker. The LIT
ter then turned to the house. Looking
into the sea Of upturned faces he deliv-
cred his inaugural. Slowly and dis
tinctly the words fell from his lips At
many places his brief speech was
punctuated with applause.