Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-07
FIFTY-FoURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Z.
SENATE.

The opening OF to-dayS seeeiol pi
sented something out of the usual run.
The blind chaplain was not present,
and the opening prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. Hugh Johnston, of the Met.
ropolitan Church of Washington. 1t
included an expression OF THANKS LOT
the confidence of the people In Inc
financial strength of the nation. Inc
vice President was also absent, the
Secretary reading note from him say
ing that it was not possible for him TO
be present this morning.
AS soon as this note was read reso'
luton was offered by Mr.. Hale, and
agreed to without dissent, that the
Senate do now proceed to the election
of President pro tempore of the Senate.
This was Immediately followed by an
other, also by Mr.. Hale, declaring WIN.
P. Frye, Senator from the State OF
Maine, elected President pro tempore
of the Senate to hold Office during the
pleasure of the Senate.
MIR. German said: Mr.. Secretary, l
have been instructed by the unanimous
votes of Senators on this side democrat
ic Senators) to present the Bame OF MIR.
Harris. of Tennessee, whom the demo-
Gratis, when they had control OF the
body, honored themselves by selecting
as President pro tempore OF the Senate.
The Senate conferred an honor upon
him in not permitting any other name
to be presented in opposition to his:
That was in accordance with prece-
dent which has grown up in the last
few wears of not having even the ap-
pearance of a scramble for that
high position, but giving it to the
maiority-as in the case OF the
distinguished Senators from Nebraska
(Mr. Manderson) and from Kansas Mr.
Ingalls). Senator Harris, approaching as
matter of course the compliment
which his colleagues on this side pay
him, has requested me, in view OF the
precedents and oil his own desire, not
| to present his name. And only be-
cause of that request / fail to carry out
the directions of the democrats of the
chamber.
Mr.. Harris then took the floor. He
said: Mr.. Secretary, l avail myself Of
this occasion to tender my profound
thanks to the democratic Senators for
the honor they did me in nominating
me for re-. elaction, my term OF Office as
President pro tenn. of the Senate hav-
ing expired with my then Senatorial
term on the fourth of March last. AS
already stated by my friend from Ma
ryland the then senior Senator IRON
the State of Nebraska was in March,
1891, elected President pro tenn. of the
Senate without division and without q
single dissenting vote. In March, 1898,
the Senate honored me by electing me
| in the same manner. 1t is true that, in
1891, there was republican majority
! in this body, and that in 1898, there
was democratic majority here. 1t IS
also equally true that the republicans
| lack one of a majority in the chamber
as the Senate is now constituted. But,
Notwithstanding that fact, and in order
that there shall not be even the ap-
pearance of friction, and in order that
the kindly relations which should exist
between every Senator and the presid-
ing officer shall exist, my own personal
wish is that the distinguished Senator
from Maine may be elected to that high
position in the same manner as Senator
Henderson in 1891 and as / in 1893.
This much have deemed it proper to
say.
The populist party was next heard
from, Mr.. Allen saying, Mr.. Secretary
the populist party numbering six Sen
ators concluded some time ago to pre-
sent the name of the Senator from
South Dakota (Mr. Kyle, populist) for
the Office of president pro tenn. But,
in view of the fact that there has been
such a harmonious union between the
democraticand republican parties in this
chamber, l do not know that it would
be worth our while to present his name.
We can certainly have no choice be-
tween the Senator from Tennessee (Mr.
Harris) and the Senator from Maine
(Mr. Frye. Either Senator, We are
confident, would make a competent
| presiding officer, fair in his rulings.
Therefore the populist party, while
holding to its determination to stand
as distinct party on all vital matters
in this chamber, will not offer any re-
sistance to the election of the Senator
from Maine.
The secretary put the question, de-
clared Mr.. Hale's resolution agreed to,
and requested Senators Hale and Har-
ris to conduct the president pro tenn
elect to the chair. There the oath of
Office was administered by the secretary
to Senator Frye, who, in taking the
chair, said /:
Senators, am profoundly grateful
for this exceedingly generous express
sion of your confidence. can only try
to Justify it by bringing to the discharge
of the duties of this Office to which you
have elected me fidelity and strict i'm
Partially.
Mr.. Walcott obtained consent to take
up the bill to open forest reservations
in the State of Colorado for the loca-
ton of mining claims.
"Will it facilitate the production of
gold ?" Mr.. Hill asked.
eyes," Mr.. Wolcott replied humor-
ously, land it will be of great benefit
to the Senator's constituents, the bank
ers and capitalists of New York, who
think that silver has no rights"
Mr.. Allen then addressed the Senate.
A resolution calling on the Secretary
of the Treasury for an estimate of the
probable increase of the revenue if the
pending House tariff bill should be-
come a law; and to state what the duty
per pound on wool would be under it,
based on the present market prices of
IN