The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-12-07
CONGRESS AT WORK
FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY
FOURTH CONGRESS- OPENS.
Thomas Il. Reed. Speaker of tho Fiji
ty First Congress-, Is Elected
Spenkcr-But Little Business Will
he Done Cntil Speaker Reed
Names tn" COmmittccs-The Sem
ate Begins B%usincxx In a Dcltbcr-
ut

ut Manner.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE drawing
of seats, which occurs at the opening
of every new congress, occurred, ana
furnished considerable amusement. All
Northwestern representatives secured
good seats. The name of MI. Nc
Clure (Rep.. Ohio was the first drawn
from the box; MI. Owens uDem., Ky.),
successor of Mr.. Breckinridge, was the
second; MI. Perkins Rep., Iowa) was
third. Popular memlcrs were ap-
plauded as they came forward and Sc
lccted their places and the page boys
scooted from desk to desk conveying
floral pieces, Sent by admiring friends.
Before the drawing was half COM
pleted the array of desks was trans
formed into Il, bower of roses. Among
those who we're thus remembered
We're ex-Speakcr Crisp, Messrs. Hep
burn of Iowa, Henderson of Iowa.
Linton of Michigan and Mercer Of Ne
braska.
Some of the Oldest and most prOmi-
nent members on both sides were
very unlucky in the lottery. MIR. Hit
of Illinois, who will be chairman of the
committee ON foreign affairs; Mr.. Hen
derson OF Iowa. who will probably be
chairman Of appropriations. and MI.
Walker of Massachusetts. who will
head the banking and currency COM
mittce. were obliged to content them
selves with seats on the Democratic
side known as the Cherokee Strip"
Among the last names called was that
of Mr.. Payne of New York, who is
much talked of for the craftsmanship
Of the ways and means. He found IL
vacant seat on the remote left. Mr.
Bartlett Dem. n. W drew the
'booby' prize. His name was the
last called. AS soon rs the drawing
was completed the house, on motion
of Mr.. Payne of New York. adjourned
until tomorrow. EX-Speaker Crisp
assumed the leadership of the minor
ity, and it was significant that Mr..
Payne of New York made the motion
which usually dcvolves upon the lead
er of the majority. This is taken to
mean that he is to be chairman OF the
ways and means committee and the
recognized leader of the Republicans
o n the floor.
In the Senate.
Nothing happened in the senate to-
day that had not been expected. The
new senators and those who had been
reelected We're sworn in. A COM
mittee was appointed to notify the
president and the usual resolutions in
cident to the beginning of a session
were introduced. The senate adjourned
after an absolutely uneyentful ses-
sion. The new senators and those re-
elected We're sworn in in groups. In
the first group We're Messrs. Bacon,
Baker, Berry and Butler. Then came
Messrs. Gallery, Carter. Chandler and
Chiffon. Following them were Elkins,
Frye, Cullom and Geary, and after
them Hoar, Lindsay, Mcbride, McMill-
Burrows, Martin. Morgan. Nelson,
Pettigrew. Sewell. Shoupe, Thurston,
'rillman. Walthall. Warren and Wet
more.
The last group attracted special at
t%ention, being led by ex-Gov. Tillman
of South Carolina d%ispensary fame,
arm-in-arm with Mr.. George of Mis-
sissippi, and Mr.. Blackburn Of Ken
lucky. MI. Wolcott's name vas called
but he was not present.
Representative Linton of Michigan
the distinction Of having intro
duced the first bill in the house Of the
congress. 1t is in the in
terest of the railway postal clerks.
Senate Caucus.
The Republican senators were in
caucus for half an hour after the SEN
ate adjourned, but adjourned until to-
without taking action on the
reorganization of the senate.
The silver conference called for to-
day was n disappointment to it's pro-
%iectors. The only senators who at
were Allen. Kyle. PETER and
Stewart. Populists; Tillman. Dem,
and PritcharIl. Mantle and Teller. Re-
The last named gentlemen
were only there a few moments and
took no part in the proceedings. The
small attendance showed those pres
ent that nothing could be done ut this
meeting. Senator PETER was Of the
opinion that party ties were too strong
to hope to organize the silver party in
the senate. while Senator Allen said
he hoped something might come from