Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-18

AAlti6SL CtILcIEu DIT Inc uOuS6 PIlu vi
the capitol where the organization of
the new house and seat lottery were
the drawing cards. Great crowds were
attracted to the galleries hours before
noon. The section opposite the speak
er's rostrum commonly known as the
BLACK belt" which has seating capac-
ity of about 300, was given up to the
public. The other galleries were
strictly reserved for ticket holders.
The most striking feature of the
scene on the floor was the number OF
new faces. Ola familiar figures con-
spicuous in the shock of many parlia-
mentary battles had disappeared and
in the new lists were new and untried
knights. The change in the personnel
was very great. By IL o'clock the re-
served galleries with the exception of
those for the diplomatic corps and the
executive were walled in tier on tier.
The bright costumes of the ladies gave
lighter color to the animated scene.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
IL, Maj. Mcdowell, the clerk of the
house, raped the house to order. The
Rev. Couden, the blind chaplain of the
house, then delivered the invocation.
The clerk of the house then read the
presidents proclamation, after which
the roll was called.
Thomas B. Reed of Maine was re-
elected speaker of the house, the vote
standing: Reed, 1879; Bailey dem,
Tex, ia; Bell pop, Cali, q, and
Newlands (silverite, New, /. After
Reeds election the members were
sworn in and organization completed
by the election of the republican slate
as follows:
Clerk of the house-Alexander Nc
Dowell of Pennsylvania.
Sergeant-at-arms- Benjamin F. Rus
sell of Missouri.
Doorkeeper-WiIliam j. Glenn of
New York.
Postmaster. C. McElroy of Ohio.
Chaplain-Henry NJ. Couden.
In the drawing for seats Stewart was
the first Wisconsin man and among the
Speaker Reeds old seat. Barney was
called a little later and took the seat
in front of Stewart. Both seats are
excellent. Cooper d little later took
the second seat from Barney in the
same row Griffin took his old seat.
Sauerhering got a seat nearby Griffin.
Jenkins got the last seat on the main
aisle Minor got the seat in the last
row of the second section. Often was
one of the last and had to take a seat
in the Cherokee strip, last section dem
ocratic. Mr.. Davidson, Cooks sue
side of Mr.. Griffin.
The presidents message was applaud
ed vigorously, as was Mr.. Dingley
when he introduced the new tariff
bill The speaker appointed the fol-
lowing ways and means committee;
MessrB. Dingley of Maine; Paine of
New York; DalZell of Pennsylvania,
Hopkins of Illinois, Grosyenor of Ohio;
Russell of Connecticut, Dolliver of
Iowa, Steel of Indiana, Johnson of
North Dakota, Evans of Kentucky,
Tawney Of Minnesota, all republicans
Wheeler of Alabama, McLaurin of
South Carolina, Robertson Of Louisiana
and Swanson of Virginia, all demo-
Gratis. The committee on rules in
cludes Speaker Reed, Messrs. Hender-
son Of Iowa, Dalzell of Pennsylvania,
Hoo Roll IF nd
Millin of Tennessee, democrats.
President MeKinley's message to
congress was devoted to the necessity
of more revenue for the conduct of the
business of the government. He said
for the past three years there has been
deficit of s137, 900. For the
month of January last the deficit was
$685. 900, and for February, S4395 600.
Not only" he said, are we without
surplus in the treasury but we have in
creased the national debt with decreas-
ing receipts. The message follows:
ITO the congress Of the United States:
Regretting the necessity which has re-
quired me to call you together, feel
that your assembling in extraordinary
session is Indispensable because of the
condition in which we find the reve-
nueS Of the government. 1t is conced-
ed that its current expenditures are
greater than its receipts and that such
condition has existed for now more
shan three years. With unlimited
means at your command, We are pre-
Senting the remarkable spectacle of
increasing our public debt, by borrow
ing money to meet the ordinary out
lays incident upon even an economical
and prudent administration Of the gov
eminent. An examination of the sub
ject discloses this fact in every detail
and leads inevitably to the conclusion
that the condition of the revenue which
allows it is unjustifable and should be
corrected. We find by the reports of
the secretary of the treasury that the
revenues for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1892, from all sources, were
$425, SOS, 260 %, and the expenditures
for all purposes were S415 953 SOC S.
leaving an excess of receipts over en-
penditures of 1894, 1886 During that
fiscal year S40,570, 1878 was paid upon
the public debt, which has been reduced
since March 1, 1889. $3.50, 076, 800, and
the annual interest charge decreas ed
S11 ,6S4 SIS 60. The receipts of the
government from all sources during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1898,