Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-02
TIE HOUSE.

had in his buttonhole during the Fifty
third Congress.
THE HOUSE.
The fifty-fourth House Of Representatives
was called to order at noon today.
By 10 o'clock the marble corridors were
thronged with sightseers and place hunters.
and before IL o'clock the galleries, public
and private, were packed to the doors.
From the galleries the visitors looked down
upon an animated but confused scene on
the floor. New members. old members,
ex-members and place seekers chatted in
groups and filled the hail with a roar of
voices. On the Speakers desk were great
punches of American beauty roses tied
with streamers of red, white and blue, and
other floral pieces. Dotted here and there
on the desks of various members were
other flowers.
The Mace I'm Position.
y At fifteen minutes of IL the floor was
cleared and those who had not the privi-
lege of the floor reluctantly retired and
sought at the thronged doors of the gal
leries an opportuni to get glimpse of
the proceedings below. In the press gal
lery every seat was taken by correspond
ents of the great dalies of the country.
As the hands of the clock opposite the
Speakers desk pointed to the hour of II
Colonel Ike" HILL the deputy sergeant-at-
arms, lifted into it's place on the green
malachite pedestal alongside of the rostrum
the ebony eagle-surmounted mace, the
emblem of the Houses authority; the flag
above the House was run up and Mr.. Jas.
Kerr. the clerk of the last House. called
the Fifty-fourth House of Representatives
to order
A hush Immediately fell upon the as
senbly, and the Rev. Bagby of this city,
the chaplain of the House, offered the in
vocation.
Under the direction of Mr. Kerr the roll
of the members elected to the Fifty-fcurth
House was called.
During the roll call many of the mem
bers moved about among their colleagues
and the buzz of conversation was resumed.
Mr.. Reed, for whom every one was in
curing, had not made his appearance,
but eN-Speaker Crisp. who had taken a
seat in about the center of the democratic
side, was pointed out as he sat chatting to
those around him. At the conclusion of
the roll call Mr. Kerr announced that 81
of the 1856 members of the House We're pres
ent. He also announced that no credentials
had been received from the tenth New
York and the first Nevada districts.
Election of n Speaker.
Mr. Kerr then, in accordance with the
custom. stated that the first thing in order
was the selection of a presiding officer and
called for nominations for Speaker.
No nominating speeches were made. Mr..
Grosvenor (Ohio), chairman of the republic
can caucus. placed in nomination Thomas
Bracket Reed of Maine; Mr.. Sayers CTexas)
presented the name of Charles F. Crisp of
Georgia, and Mr.. KEN (Neb) placed in
nomination John c. Bell of Colorado.
The names of both Mr. Reed and Mr.
Crisp We're vigorously applauded by their
respective party associates.
MeSsrs. Hopkins md Loud (Cal), Erd-
man Pa) and Catchings (Miss) were ap-
pointed tellers, and the roll was called,
the Constitution requiring the election of
Speaker by viva voce vote. All the republi-
cans voted for Mr.. Reed, with one excep-
ton all the democrats for Mr. Crisp, and
all the populists for Mr.. Bell. The excep-
ton was Mr.. Crain.a democrat from Texas
who when his name was called, voted for
his colleague, Mr.. Culberson, of the Lone
Star state.
The result of the vote was: Reed, 234
Crisp. %; Bell. 6; Culberson, l. Total, 33t
Mr.. kerr's announcement of Mr.. Reeds
election was greeted with thunder of APP
plause.
Mr.. Reeds Enthusiastic Reception.
Messrs Crisp, Grcsvenor and Bell were
appointed to conduct the Speaker to the
chair. The committee appeared at the
main entrance. Mr.. Reed leaning on the
arm of ex-Speaker Crisp and Messrs Gros-
yenor and Bell arm-in-arm. As they moved
down the center aisle, the House rose en-
maSSe. A roar of applause followed, the
galleries joining with great enthusiasm in
the demonstration. AS Mr.. Reed assembled
the rostrum the roar sweiled until 1t was
deafening. Above this volume of sound
came like pistol shots cries of Reed, Reedi
Reedr" :
The republicans cheered. many of them
wildly. and the ladies' in the galleries
waved their handkerchiefs. For over
minute the demon tration continued
Mr. Reed. arrayed in a long frock coat
and wearing dark four-in-hand tie. stood
calmly and sereEely, with his hands casped
in characteristic fashion behind his back,
until the House was quiet.
But there was lack of triumph and
pleasure on his strong. mobile face. Mr.
Harmer Republican, Pennsylvania, the
Oldest member in continuous service pres
ent. came forward and administered the
oath of office to the Speaker. The latter
then turned to the House. Looking into
that sea of upturned faces, he delivered his
inaugural.
The Speakers Speech.
Slowly and distinctly the words fell from
his lips. At many places his brief speech
was punctuate with applause.
ut will rot be unbecoming in me- hope
IL l acknowledge to this assembly that it is
very agreeable to me TO stand once more in
tie place which L left four years ago. OF
the past. however, l shall not speak, for the
est speaks for itself in terms more fitting
and appropriate than any words which
could come from my lips. Nor shall 1 speak
OF the future, for we are not now putting off
the harness, but putting it on. Yet 1 think 1
may venture to say of the future, in the
light of the past, that if we do some things
which for the moment seem inadequate 1t
may be that time, which has justified itself
for US on many occasions, may do so again.
Those who have acted with wisdom hereto
fore may be fairly expected to &C. With wis
dom hereafter.
Il am sorry to say that the pleasure asso-
ciated with the honor you have bestowed on
me. an honor which no American citizen can
ia n 1t,s fnr hinh l gri,-
thanks, IS but for the moment; while the
cares and responsibilities extend over many
days.
80 far as the performance of my duties
affects the whole people of the United States
/ invoke their Considerate judgment. So far
as it affects the members of this House |
ask from both sides of the chamber that
cordial cooperation without which | cannot
hope to succeed, assuring them that no eff
fort on my part will be spared to aid them
in The performance of their duties by that
entire irnpartiality which is their just due"
At the conclusion of his speech the men,
hers came forward in little squads, as their