The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-07
THE WEEKS NEWS.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8.

the Fifty Fourth Congress was opened
with no unusual incident. In the House
the clerk of the last session in accordance
with law and constitution called the new
House to order and directed that the
roll be read. Thomas B. Reed, OF Maine,
was elected speaker amid much enthusi-
asm from the Republicans. Mr.. Crisp,
of Georgia was the candidate OF the
Democrats, and John c. Bell Of Colora
do, was placed in nomination by the
group of six populists.
Messrs. Hopkins rep, Ill., Loud
(Rep., Cal,) Erman Dem. Pa..) and
Catchings (Dem., Miss.) we're appointed
tellers and the roll was called. the Con-
stitution requiring the election of
Speaker by viva voce vote. All the Re-
publicans voted for Mr.. Reed, with one
exception, all the Democrats for Mr..
Crisp, and all the Populists for Mr.. Bell
The result of the vote was: Reed, ga;
Crisp, 90; Bell, 6; Culberson. l.
Mr.. Kerr's announcement of Mr.
Reeds election was greeted with a
thunder of applause.
Messrs. Crisp, Grosvenor, and Bell were
appointed committee to conduct the
Speaker to the chair and Mr.. Reed
made his inaugural address. The oath
was administered to the members. With
out roll call the officers of the House
nominated by the Republican caucus
Saturday were then formally elected,
the Democrats presenting the names Of
the officers of the last House. The
swearing in of the subordinate officials
of the House followed: Alexander b.
Mcdowell of Pennsylvania as Clerk, B.
F. Russell, of Missouri as Sergeant-at-
Arms, William B. Glen, of New York as
Doorkeeper Joseph B. McElroy, Of Ohio.
as Postmaster, and Rev. Henry N. Cou
den, of Michigan, as Chaplain. After
the biennial seat drawing by lot, the
House adjourned for the day.
The United States Senate was called
to order at IL o'clock by Vice-President
Stevenson. The decorum Of the upper
branch of Congress is seldom disturbed
even by the opening of Congress, and
Monday, with crowded galleries and
general air of expectancy, there was the
same even and unruffied procedure
which characterizes the body. All the
galleries, public and private. except that
reserved for the diplomatic corps. were
filled to overfiowing by IL o'clock, and
the outer corridors we're crowded with
those unable to gain admission.
The Senators began to gather early in
the day. exchanging greetings and re-
newing acquaintance
The new Senators and those who had
been re elected we're sworn in. A com
mittee was appointed to notify the Presi-
dent, and the usual resolutions incident
to the beginning of a session were intro
duced. The Senate took q recess OF an
hour at 1928 P. NJ, and at 100 adjourn
ed, after an uneventful session. The
new Senators and those re elected were
sworn in in groups. The last group at
tracted special attention, being led by
Ex-Governor Tillman of South Carolina
dispensary fame arm in arm with Mr..
George of Mississippi. behind whom
came Mr.. Walthall, of Mississippi, on
the arm of Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky.
DIRECTOR PRESTON Of the mint says:
"The result of the currency legislation
of the United States for over hundred
years has been such as to leave an inco
herent monetary system, as inconsistent,
illogical and expensive as can we'll be
imagined, that inspires little confidence
at home and is not conducive to our
credit abroad, and it's reform is one of
the most important and urgent political
and financial questions of the hour"
CONGRESSMAN T. E. BURTON, of Cleve.
land, will introduce bill at this session
of Congress providing for the division of
the States into. Congressional districts
Immediately after each census, such
fixing for districts to stand unchanged
until the next census that is for ten
years-a good bill which ought to pass
to prevent partisan gerrymandering.
The Secretary of the Nays report al
ways is quite or nearly the most inter
esting of the documents yearly compiled
by the heads of departments "for the
information of Congress and of the rest
of mankind says the Inter Ocean.
Possessing as we do the longest line of
coast area and the largest volume of
coastwise traffic of any nation, and hav
ing the fewest, and until very recently
by far the poorest, war ships to guard
them. every years official statement of
the relative weakness-we cannot yet
call it strengthen our navy is deeply
interesting.
Secretary Herbert tells us that we have
sixty four war vessels of all kinds afloat
and twenty-six in course Of construc-
tion. Great Britain has DAT afloat, not
including torpedo boats, which count as
three out of our sixty -four, and she also
has forty-two ships in process Of build
ing. France has 144 ships afioat and has
4 g. 1. "a. Al. L..