Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-03
F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS The Most Youthful Ever Assem- bIed in America. THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
 . Will Be Delivered to the House and Senate
 Today
WAS CORDIALLY RECEIVED
The House Was Organized With MT. Reed as Speaker-The Reed Rules of the Fifty-frst Congress Adopted
 by the House.

Washington Dec. 2.-The Flfty- fourth congress began its session at noon today with crowded galleries and many other manifestations of acute interest m it's proceedings, including, of course, the inevitable floral decorations.
 For the third time in the last twenty five years, the popular will found expres- sion in a reversal of political dominance and the new congress was called to order with democratic ascendancy in the sen ate on the point of disappearing and the house overwhelmingly republican.
 There were fifteen new faces among the senators, not counting MT. Chiffon of Texas who reoccupieS the seat he once held before by appointment. and there were in addition thirteen reelected sen ators to be sworn in by Vlce-Preslden1 Stevenson as their own successors. VI the holdover senators whose terms Will expire two years from now some or the most prominent, including Blackburn Brice Hill Voorhees,, Vest and Pe11er, took their seats today with shadow hanging over them of the strong propa- bility that their places may be hlled by others when this congress expires.
 In the house of representatives the changes were still more marked. One or the features which provoked comment from the galleries was the youthful ap- pearance of many of the new members. Several states have sent men as repre- sentatives who are still in their twenties. Probably two score of others are under 4O In point of age the present house is the youngest in the history of American legislation, These boyish-appearing members, bright-faced, intelligent-look- ing, well-groomed, well7mannered and we1l-dressed college men. most of them, presented a striking contrast in their ftl n their veteran sociates, such as Grosvenor of Ohio, whose flowing white beard gives him venerable appearance disproportionate to his age; to Ex-Speaker Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania, hale, hearty and vigor- ous, despite his 70 odd years; to Culber- son of Texas, now entering upon his eleventh term, and others of the house veterans whose political prospects were not temporarily submerged in the No vember elections of 1894.
 The Senate.
 There was an unusually large attend ance of senators when the Flfty-fourth congress convened today, the only re- York, Mr. Lindsay of Kentucky, MT. Wolcott of Colorado and the two senators from Louisiana. MT. Palmer of Illinois and MT. Jones of Arkansas were absent during the first half of the proceedings, but came in in time for the adjournment.
 
 swearing in of the new senators. But being officially advised that the presi- dents message would not be delivered until tomorrow the senate immediately thereafter adjourned until tomorrow.
 The cordiality with which Senator Cor man of Maryland was received by his associates on both sides of the chamber was one of the marked features of the day He entered the chamber closely followed by MT. Brice of Ohio, and as the two stood talking and joking Sen ator Frye of Maine and others joined in the badinage. and Senator Frye in an audible voice remarked: "They have not downed this man yet"
 Senator sherman entered alone and took little part in the general congratu- lations.
 The House.
 The machinery for the organization of the house of representatives worked to- day in very satisfactory manner, with out the slightest jar. MT. Reed of Maine, in pursuance of the unanimous decision of the republican caucus, was elected to the speakership by vote of 234 to 95 for MT. Crisp of Georgia, the democratic candidate; for MT. Bell of Colorado, the populist candidate, and 1 for MT. Gull person of Texas, democrat The six votes for the populist candidate were given by Messrs. Baker of Kansas, Howard of Alabama, Rem Of Nebraska and Shifford. Skinner and Stroud of North Carolina. The one vote for MT. Culberson was giy- en by his colleague, MT. Grain, this be- ing the only deviation from the party programme. MT. Reeds speech in taking the chair was brief. He would not speak for the past, he said. The past could speak for itself. Nor would he speak for the future, as they were not pulling off the harness. but pulling it on. He sug- gested that those who had acted with iCdn in fhn oyf frr1,t | pected to act with wisdom in the future.
 After the oath of office had been ad- ministered to the speaker and all the members, the next step in the republican programme, the election of house officers, was taken up, and Messrs. McDowell of Pennsylvania. Russell of Missouri Glenn of New York. McElroy of Ohio and Cou- den of Michigan were chosen as clerk, sergeant-at-arms. doorkeeper, postmas- ter and chaplain respectively. The rules of the .Fifty-frst congress, popularly known as the Reed rules, were adopted for the government of the house for the present, after an assurance from MT. Cannon republican, of Illinois, who had offered the resolution, that they would hereafter be referred to the committee on rules and that the house would have an opportunity to discuss the report of the committee. The assurance was to satisfy MT. Crisp. who had raised the question, and the matter went through without further contention.
 After some further preliminary pro- ceedings and drawing for seats in the usual manner, and in which drawing many of the prizes fell to some of the least known of the members and many of the blanks to some distinguished. the house at 3:35 p. m, adjourned until to- morrow noon.
 MT. Linton, republican. of Michigan, had the honor of introducing the first bill in the Fifty-fourth congress The meas ure provides for a reclassificatiop of rail- way postal clerks. Under it they are di- vided Into ten classes. Those of the first class are to receive salary of $500 per year, from which sum their salaries are graded up to $500 per year. Promotions are to be based solely upon efficiency.