The San Francisco call., 1895-12-03
Pithy Address of the Statesman
Whose Rulings Will Once
More Govern.
ATTENDANCE IN THE SENATE.
Completion of Preliminary Work Prep.
aratory to Receiving the Presi-
dents Message.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 2.-The
machinery for the organization of the
House of Representatives worked to-day IN
very satisfactory manner and without
the slightest lar. Mr.. Reed OF Maine,
in pursuance of the unanimous decision OF
the Republican caucus, was elected TO the
speakership by vote of 234 as against 20
for Mr.. Crisp OF Georgia, the Democratic
candidate, 6 for Mr.. Bell OF Colorado. the
Populist candidate, and for Mr.. Culber-
son of Texas. Democrat. The six votes for
the Populist candidate were given by
Messrs. Baker Of Kansas, Howard OF Ala
bama, KEN of Nebraska and Shuford,
Skinner and Stroud of North Carolina.
The one vote for Mr.. Culberson was given
by his colleague, Mr.. Crane, this being the
only deviation from the party programme.
MI Reeds speech on taking the chair
was brief and decisive. He would not
speak for the past, he said, the past could
speak for itself; nor should he speak of the
future, as they were not now putting off
the harness but putting it on. But be
suggested that those who had acted with
wisdom in the past might be fairly ex-
pected to act with wisdom in the future.
After the oath of Office had been admins
tered to the Speaker and all the members,
the next step in the Republican pro-
gramme, the electing of House officers,
was taken, and Messrs. Mcdowell of Penn
sylvania, Russell of Missouri, Glenn of
New York, McElroy of Ohio and Couden
of Michigan were chosen as clerk, sergeant
alarms, doorkeeper, postmaster and
chaplain respectively.
The rules of the Fifty-first Congress.
popularity known as the Reed rules, were
adopted for the government Of the House
in the present session, after an assurance
from Cannon (R.) of Illinois, who had
offered the resolution, that they would
hereafter be referred to the Committee on
Rules. and tha: the House would have an
opportunity to discuss the decision of the
committee. That assurance seemed to
satisfy Crisp, who had raised the question,
and the matter went through without
further contention.
After some further preliminary proceed
ings and drawing for seats in the usual
manner, perhaps somewhat in contraven-
ton of the anti-lottery law, 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 of the most
distinguished, the House at 3:35 P. NJ. ad-
journed until tomorrow.
The floral tributes as usual, plentiful in
number and unique in design, added an
attractive background to the scene on the
floor and relieved to some extent the dull
ness of the chamber. 4 bunch of ex-
Quisite jacqueminot roses, rising on long
stems from an earthern jar, and tied with
- fnT1r hot
gifts resting on Mr.. Reeds desk.
At noon the Rev. Mr.. Bagby, chaplain
of the last House, offered prayer as fol-
lows:
Almighty God, whose kingdom ruleth
over all, as we meet together in these halls
of legislation, we would first take thy
name on our lips and acknowledge our de-
pendence on thee. Graciously bless we
beseech thee, the President of the United
States and his Cabinet, the Senate and
House OF Representatives and all who ad-
minister the affairs of this Nation. Rule
thou the hearts of our rulers. And may
all men learn to praise thee for the riches
of grace in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Then Mr. Kerr clerk of the last House,
called the members 10 order and the roll
of States was called, beginning with Ala
bama, 341 members responding. Mr..
Grosvenor (R.) of Ohio rose and said:
Il have the honor to present the name
ofThomas Bracket Reed, a Representative
in this body from the State of Maine, for
the Office of Speaker"
Before the sentence had been finished
hand-clapping was started among the Re-
publican members and for minute or so
the clapping was kept up on the floor and
repeated from the galleries.
Then Mr.. Sayres D.) of Texas nominated
in the same brief terms Charles F. Crisp,
q Representative from the State of Georgia.
The clerk then asked if there were any
other nominations, and Mr.. KEN (P.) of
Nebraska nominated John c. Bell, Rep
resentative from Colorado. The nomina-
ton was greeted with a laugh of derision
from the Republicans. Messrs. Hopkins
(R) of Illinois, Loud (R.) of California,
Catchings (D.) of Mississippi and Erdmam
(D.) of Pennsylvania were appointed tellers
and the voting proceeded. The only
break from the political traces was when
Mr.. Crane (D.) of Texas cast his vote, not
for Mr. Crisp, but for Mr.. Culberson (D.) of
Texas.
suit was announced by the tellers as fol-
lows: For Mr.. Reed 234 votes, for Mr..
Crisp 95, for MIR. Bell 6, for Mr.. Culberson
l; total 336 votes.
The oath Of Office was administered to
Mr.. Reed by Mr.. Harmon of Pennsylvania
(A.), the member who has had the longest
continuous service.
After the usual formalities had been OBJ
served the new Speaker made his opening
address. He said:
Oentlemen of the House of Represen-
tatlves; 1t will not be unbecoming in me,
nope l express to this assembly and
acknowledge to it that il is very agreeable
10 me TO stand once more in the place
winch left four years ago. [Applause.
VI the past, however, / snail not
speak, for the past can speak for
Itself IN words more fitting and
suitable than any which can come prop
erly from my lips. Nor shall speak OF
the future, for We are not now putting off
the harness, but putting it on; yet | hope
may say OF the future in the light of the
past that II at any time anything is