The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-03

animated and brilliant occasion set oil
with crowded galleries in holiday attire,
intoxicating with perfume of hundreds oil
floral tributes to popular members and
pervaded with a spirit of iubilation and
p3od nature. Old familiar faces were alb
sent, but there we're plenty of new ones to
take their places. Still the proceedings
themselves, as usual with opening ses-
sious, were of a routine character and de-
void of sensational features. The mouse
simrl organized, adopted the usual 'es-
olutions to notify the president and the
senate that the house was ready TOR Dusl'
ness. and wound up in indulging IN the
biennial lottery of seat drawing contest
Sneaker Reed was beyond question the
star of the occasion. His appearance was
the signal for most fatterlng ana en-,
tbusiastic demonstrations. HIS inaugural
was modest and full of good feeling. but
non-committaI as to policies. However
it was not expected that the speaker
would touch upon questions to lie dealt
with b, the house.
Ex-SpeaKer Crisp assumed tho leader
ship of the minority, and 1t was signlI-
cant that Mr.. Payne of New ork made
the motion which usually devolves upon
the leader of the majority. This is taken
to mean that he is to be chairman or the
ways and means COMMITTEES ana the rec
ognized leader of the Republicans on the
floor.
BY 10 o'clock the marble corridors OF the
hall of re representatives we're thronged with
sightseers and place hunters, and before
Ii o'clock the galleries, public ana prl-
vate, were packed to the doors From the
galleries the visitors looked DOWN upon
an animated but confused scene. new
nemb ers, old members, eN-mem beers and
place seekers chsttsd In groups ana hlled
the hall with roar of voices. On the
speakers desk were great punches OF AM
erican Beauty roses tied with streamers
of red, white and blue, and other floral
pieces. Flowers were conspicuous on the
desks Of various members.
As the hands of the clock opposite the
speaker's desk pointed ~ CLERK Kerr
called the Fifty fourth house Of represent
atiyes to order. Rev. Bagby OF this city,
the chaplain of the house, offered the
invocation. .
Under the direction of Mr.. Kerr the roll
of the mem bers elected to the Fifty
fourth house was called.
Mr., Reed, for whom every one was in
outing. did not make his appearance.
Mr., Kerr announced that 3il OF the 356
mem bsrs of the house were present, and
also that no credentials had been received
from the Tenth New YORK ana First Ne
vada districts. Mr.. Kerr then called for
nominations for speaker. No nominating
speeches were made. Mr.. Grosvenor,
Republican of Ohio. chairman OF the
RepubliCan caucus, plhceu III mum liauioH
Thomas B. Reed OF Maine; Mr.. Sayres,
Dem ocrat, of Texas. the name Of Charles
y. Crisp OF Georgia, and Mr.. KEN, Popu-
list, of Nebraska, John c. Bell OF Colo
RADIO.
The result of the vote was: Reed, 23l;
Crisp, 95; Bell, 6: Cult erson, l.
Messrs. Crisp, Grosvenor and Bell were
appointed committee to conduct the
speaker to the chair, and soon appeared
at the main entrance, Mr. Reed leaning
on the arm of ex-Speaker Crisp, and
Messrs. Grosvenor and Bell arm in arm.
MAS Mr.. Reed ascenoed the rostrum the
roar swelled until 1t was deafening.
Above this volume of sound came like
pistol shots cries OF "Reed! Reed
Reedr'
The Republicans cheered, MANY Of
them wildly, and the ladies in the gal
lery waved handkerchiefs. For seevral
minutes the denomination continued.
Mr.. Reed, arrayed IN along frock coat,
and wearing dark fourth hand tie,
stood cain and serene. with his hands
lasped in characteristic fashion behind
his back, until the house was quiet.
Mr.. Hammer, Republican, Of PEI nsyl-
vania the oldest member in continuous
service present, came forward and adj
ministered the oath of office to the
speaker The latter then turned to the
house. Looking into the sea of upturned
faces, be delivered his inaugural. Slowly
and distinctly the words fell from his
lips. At many places his brief speech
was punctuatsd with applause.
p At the conclusion OF his speech the
members came forward i'll squads, as
their names were called, and with up
lifted arms swore to support and defend
the constitution against all enemies, for
eign and domestic, and faithfully dis
charge the duties of their office This
proceed ng occupied over half an hour.
Unanimous consent was given tina! Mr..
Nswlan il of Nevada and Amos Cum
mings OF New York, whose credentials
had not arrived, be sworn in. Accord
ingIy, Speaker Reed administered the
oath to these gentlemen.
Without roll call the officers of the
house nominated by the Republicans in
caucus Saturday were then formally
elected, the Democrats presenting the
names of the officers OF the last house
The swearing i'll of the subordinate oth-
Gals of the house followed:
Alexander b. Mcdowell of Pennsylva-
MIA, as clerk; B. i. Russell of Missouri,
as sergeant alarms; w. b. Glenn OF New
York as doorkeeper; J. B. McElroy OF
OHIO as postmas ter and Henry b. Cow
den of Michigan as chaplain. The Gus
tomary resolutions were then adopted
notifying the president and the senate of
the election of Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Nc
DOwell as speaker and clerk respectively,
and on motion of Br. Payne (Rep.) Of
New York committee consisting OF
Messrs. Payne, Cannon (Rep.,) of H.
linois an Crisp (Dem.) of Georgia was
appointed by the speaker to Join a similar
committee to notify the president that
the house had organized and was ready
to receive any communication he had to
make. AT this point the first political
clash occurred. Messrs. Cannon and
Crisp crossed swords on the formers
motion that the rules of the Fifty-hrst
congress be adopted for the guidance OF