Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-03-18
The Extraordinary Session.

capacity. while 10 more have served III
former congresses, making altogether
14s new members and 200 who served
in the last congress. Politically classi-
fed. there are 206 Republicans, l22 Dem
ocrats and 80 fusion Silverites and fop-
ulists.
Mr. Alexander Mcdowell. clerk OF the
last house. called the house to order at
noon. when prayer was offered by the
blind chaplain, Rev. Couden- The clerk
then read the Presidents proclamation
convening congress and the roll OF mem
hers was called. showing that 33r mem
bers had answered to their names.
The next business in order was the
election of Speaker, and Mr.. Grosyenor
rep. Ohio presented the name OF
Thomas Bracket Reed
Mr.. Richardson dem. Tenn placed
in nomination Joseph W. Bailey, OF
Texas. John C. Bell pop. Col was put
in nomination by Jere Simpson pop
Kan.)
The clerk stated that there were SIX
members elect whose names were not on
the roll because their credentials had
not been received by him.
The election of Speaker was then pro
ceeded with, the result being; For Reed
1919 votes. Bailey ia, Bell 81, and New
lands of Nevada 1. The clerk announc-
ed that Reed, having received a maJorl-
ty of all the votes cast, was duly elect
ed Speaker. and he appointed Messrs
Grosvenor. Bailey and Bell to conduct
the Speaker-elect to the chair
Mr.. Reed, having been conducted to
the chair amid much applause, address
ed the house briefly He was sworn in
by Harmer (rep. Pa and then the oath
was administered to the members, FOL
those whose certificates had not arrived
being sworn in by unanimous consent
| A committee was then appointed tc
wait upon the President.
The extraordinary session OF the Fifty
fifth congress was opened in the Senate
by the reading of the Presidents pro
clamation converting it. Sixty-elgh'
Senators answered to the roll call and
/ the galleries were filed TO overfowing
w. A Harris pop. Kan) was sworr
in as successor to PETER. The creden
tials Of Henry w. Corbett, appointed
by the Governor of Oregon to succeed
John Fl. Mitchell, the Legislature hav
| ing failed TO elect, were presented By
Mcbride (rep. -Ore.) who stated tina
Corbett was present and ready to take tn
oath of office. Gray dem. Dell move'
that the credentials be referred to tn
committee on privileges and election
and il was agreed to-
After the appointment Of committee
to notify the President and the Hons
that the Senate was ready to begin 1t
duties, a recess was taken until Z. NJ
After the recess Speaker Reed an
nounced the committees on Ways an'
Means, Rules and Mileage The com
mittee on Ways and Means is as fol
lows:
Dingley of Maine, Payne of Ney
York. DaIzell Of Pennsylvania, Hopkin
of Illinois, Grosvenor of Ohio, Russell
of Connecticut, Dolliver Of Iowa. Steel
of Indiana, Johnston of North Dakota
Evans Of Kentucky. Tawney Of Mime
sofa, Republicans; Bailey of Texas, Nc
MiIlin of Tennessee. Wheeler of Ala
bama. McLaurin of South Carolina
Robertson of Louisiana and Swanson 0
Virginia, Democrats
| The four appropriation bills that fail
ed in the last Congress were re-intro
duced, and both Houses adjourned M
IN rouay. y-------------
President McKinley's message wa
short and pertinent and begins as fol
lows:
To the Congress of the United STATES:
Regretting the necessity which ha
required me to call you together, l fee
that your assembling in extraordinar
session is indispensable, because of tn
condition in which we find the revenue
Of the Government 1t is concede
that its current expenditures are great
er than its receipts, and that snch
condition has existed for now NOR
than three years. With unlimite'
means at our command, we are present
ing the remarkable spectacle of increas
ing our public debt by borrowing mon
ey to meet the ordinary outlays Incl
Tdent upon even an economical. and pru
dent administration of the Govern
ment. An examination Of the subjec
discloses this fact in every detail am
leads inevitably 10 the conclusion tina
the condition of the revenue which nj
lows it is unjustifiable and should b
corrected.
Here follows a brief resume Of tn
finances of the National Governmen
and the conclusion reads:
II may be urged that even if the rev
enues Of the Government had been suf
ficient to meet all its ordinary expense
during the past three years, the golt
reserve would still have been INSULT
cient to meet the demands upon it ant
that bonds would necessarily have beer
issued for its repletion Bo this as j
may, it is clearly manifest, withou
denying or affirming the correctness o
such conclusion, that the debt woult
have been decreased in at least tn
amount of the deficiency, and busines
confidence immeasurably strengthened
| throughout the country.
Congress should promptly correct tbs
existing condition, Ample revenue
must be supplied not only for the ordi
nary expenses Of the government, bu
| for the prompt payment OF liberal pen
sions and the liquidation of the princi
| pal and interest of the public debt II
raising revenue duties should be so lev
led npon foreign products as to preserv,
the home market, so far as possible, t.
our own producers; 10 revive and in
crea re manufactures, 10 relieve and en-
courage agriculture; to increase oul
domestic and foreign commerce; TO ait
and develope mining and building, ano
| TO render to labor in every field Of use
| full occupation the liberal wages and
adequate rewards TO which skill and
industry are justly entitled The nee
essity Of the passage Of tariff law
| which shall provide ample revenue
need not be further urged. The i'm
| perative demand of the hour is the
prompt enactment of such meas
ure, and to this object / earnestly re
| commend that congress shall max,
every endeavor Before other busines.
is transacted, let us first provide suffi
cient revenue to faithfully administer
the government without the contract
ing Of further debt, or the continued
| disturbance of our finances
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. March 10, 1897
HARRISBURG.