Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1895-12-07
TOM REED IS THE STAR
Fiifty-Fourth Congress Assembled
Monday Noon.
ALL EYES ON TIE FORMER
Senate opening an Animated and Brit.
Liant Occasion, but the Proceed
ingS were Routine.

Washington, D. G., Dec. 2.-The Fif
ty-fourth congress assembled at noon
today. 1t is q tidal wave" congress
and, like most of it's predecessors OF
that character, is notable for the num-
ber of faces that are missing and the
number Of faces that appear for the
first time, ana many Of the owners Of
which, up to the closing of the polls
in their respective localities, had
scarcely the slightest hope that they
would figure in the organization of the
present house.
AS the members strolled in by ones,
and tWOs, and threes this morning,
the occupants Of the press galleries,
VINO have seen congressman come and
90, could not fail to be struck with the
fact that this was a decidedly new"
house, and TO further note the large
number of old stand-bys that were
among The absent. The seat so long
occupied by Richard p Bland of Mis-
souri,, was appropriated by a new
conner, 50 with Breckenridge of Ken
lucky, Bryan of Nebraska, Bynum of
Indiana, the eloquent Bourke Cochran
Of New York, the economical Holman
Of Indiana, kilsore Of Texas, Springer
Of Illinois, Wilson OF West Virginia,
leader of the democracy in the last
house, Hooker of Mississippi, Harter of
Ohio and Philadelphia, and Jerry Simp-
son, eX-idOl of the populists. all Of
these are alive and in the flesh, but
We're turned down year ago, and may
reappear some day in the future when
democracy is once again IN the sad
die.
While the democratic side of the
house had dwindled to about half of
its former size, few Of the old members
of the former republican minority We're
missing. There was one vacant chair
on that side of the house, and the bow
of crepe that was attached to the desk
gave silent token that one of the most
honored and respected of the old re
publican members, General CogsWcll
of Massachusetts, had passed to an
other land. OF the new members, Lor-
inner of Illinois, who carried a dyed-in-
the-wOol democratic district, mainly
owing to Governor Mckinley's speech
in Chicago q year ago last October,
John Patrick Tracey and Joel D. Hub
bard from Missouri, H. II. Culp Of the
Seventeenth Pennsylvania district,
hitherto democratic from the day of its
organization, William Alden Smith of
Grand Rapids, Mich, Corliss of De
troit Crump of Bay City, Miner of
ColdWater, and Charles P. Taft Of Gin
cinnati who has made the Times-Star
Of that city one Of the most influential
exponents of rapublicanism in the mid
die states, We're conspicuous. Many of
the old members were heartily greet
4 H.,
cordial welcomes We're extended to
many Of the best known representatives
Of the 'ncW blood"
SPEAKER REED THE STAR
The house of representatives passed |
today into control of the republicans
and Thomas Bracket Reed of Maine
again triumphantly assumed the speak
ership gayel. The open session was as
usual an animated and brilliant occa-
sion. set off with crowded galleries in
holiday attire, intoxicating with the |
perfume of hundreds of floral tributes
to popular members and pervaded with |
a spirit Of jubilation and good nature. |
Old familiar faces were absent, but |
there We're plenty Of new ones TO take |
their places. Still the proceedings |
Themselves as usual with opening ses-
sions. We're of d routine character and |
devoid of sensational features, The
house simply organized, adopted the
usual resolutions to notify the presi-
dent and the senate that the house was
ready for business and wound up by
INDUCING i'm the biennial lottery or seat
drawing contest.
Speaker Reed was beyond question
the star Of the occasion. His appear
ance was the signal for a most flat
tering ana enthusiastic demonstration.
His inaugural was modest and full of
good feeling, but non-committal as to
policies. However, it was not expected
that the speaker would touch upon
questions to be dealt with.
PAYNE AS LEADER
E7x-Speaker Crisp assumed the lead
ership Of the minority and it was sig
niticant that Mr.. Payne Of New York
made the motion which usually de-
wolves upon the leader of the majority.
This Is taken to mean that he is to
be chairman Of the ways and means
committee and recognized leader Of the
republicans on the floor.
CALLED TO ORDER.
BY 10 o'clock the marble corridors of
the hall of representa- tives were throng-
ed with sightseers and place hunters,
and before II o'clock the galleries, pub
lie and private, were packed to the
doors. Flowers We're conspicuous on
the desks of various members. AS the
hands of the clock pointed to II, Clerk
Kerr called the Fifty-fourth house of
representatives to order. Rev Bagby
of this city, chaplain of the house, Of
fered the invocation. Under the direc-
ton Of Mr. Kerr, the roll of members
called. Mr. Reed, for whom every one
was inquiring, had not made his ap-
pearance. Mr.. Kerr announced that
341 of the 356 members of the house
were present and that credentials had
not been received from the Tenth New
York and the First Nevada districts.
Mr.. Kerr then called for nominations
for speaker. Mr.. Grosvenor, repub
lican, of Ohio, chairman of the repub-
Iican caucus, placed in nomination
Thomas B. Reed Of Maine: Mr.. Sayres,
democrat, of Texas, named Charles S.
Crisp of Georgia, and Mr.. KEN, popu-
list, John c. Bell of Colorado.
The result of the vote was: Reed
234, Crisp 95, Bell 6, Culberson l.
Messrs. Crisp, Grosvenor and Bell
We're appointed a committee to con-
duct 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. AS Mr.. Reed ascended the
rostrum the roar swelled until it was
deafening. Above this volume Of sound
came like pistol shots cries Of Reed,
Reed, Reed" The republicans cheered,
many of them wildly, and the ladies
in the gallery waived handkerchiefs.
Reed stood calmly and serenely, with
his~hands in characteristic fashion be-
hind his back until the house was quiet.
Mr.. Harmer, republican, of Pennsyl-
vana, the oldest member In continu-
Gus service present, came forward and
administered the oath Of office to the
speaker, The latter then turned to the
house and delivered his inaugural.
Slowly and distinctly the words fell