Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-14
REED, UNANIMOUS CHOICE
Of the Republican House Caucus
for Speaker.
THE CHOICE OF THE PARTY
And Nominated When this House Was Elected,
Said Payne, of Hew York-0ther
officers Reelected.

Washington, March 13.-Speaker Reed
was unanimously nominated for Speaker
of the house at tonight's republican eau
Gus. The attendance of members was
unusually large, 1872 of the 20S republic
cans being present. The new members
were conspicuously numerous. Mr.. Payne,
of New York, was selected to place Mr..
Reed in nomination. He referred in fiat
teffng terms to Mr.. Greed popularity in
the house. He said that Mr.. Reed was
nominated when this congress was cleo
ted; that he was the choice of the repub-
ican party, and that it was the business
of the caucus to respond to this popular
demand. When Mr.. Payne had taken his
seat, Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, who occu-
pied the chair put the motion, and it was
adopted without a dissenting vote. Mr..
Payne, of New York, and Mr.. Cannon,
of Illinois, two of the veteran members
of the house, were designated to escort
the speaker, who was quietly seated in
his private office, to the floor. AS he en-
tered. all the members rose to their feet
and greeted him with a hearty burst of
applause. MIR. Reed bowed his acknowl-
Judgements, and standing in the area be-
fore the speakers desk said
"Gentlemen:-I am very greatly graf
flied by your kind action tonight and will
try to serve your wishes with whatever
ability I have.
I'VE have again, as in the last con-
gress politically divided legislative
power. The house OF representatives will
be republican by q considerable majority
and fresh from the people, and Will en-
deavor to carry out their wishes. | do
not doubt your determinati ton to do oil
in your power to bring this session of
congress to speedy close. Our duty is
civ r1a 10 70
form it at once, and then leave to them
the recovery of the country from the
stagnation and depression of business
which have so sorely tried the patience
of vigorous and growing people.
what others may see fit to do, we do
not know, bu. we have strong hopes that
all branches of the government will be
in accord as to the policy of giving to the
people Immediately whatever relief their
wisdom may devise"
Mr.. Dingley, of Maine, chairman of the
committee on ways and means next took
the floor and briefly addressed the eau
Gus on the work of his committee. He
pointed out the necessity of speedy ac-
ton on the tariff BILL and explained that
it would be promptly reported on the re-
assembling of congress. .
He created some enthusiasm in con-
Guiding by his declaration that the tariff
should be so adjusted as to raise what
ever revenue was needed, without addi-
tional sales of bonds.
Mr.. Walker, of Massachusetts,, offered
a resolution providing for a commit
tee of seven members to revise the rules.
w. A. Stone, of Pennsylvania, made a
motion to adjourn This, amid some con-
fusion was voted down and Mr.. Wal
ker was permitted to proceed with his
remarks. He criticised the rules and
main tanned that an impression existed
that they did not permit that freedom OF
debate which the house desired.
Mr.. Mahany, of New York, followed in
a few remarks in which he asserted that
the gag law which was Sc prominent in
the Fifty-fourth congress did not die
in that congress, but had been re-enact-
ed here. That 1t was the usual trick of
self constituted leaders temporarily to
move the adoption of the rules of the
preceding congress, but that it was east
er to move Mount Aetna" than to Sc
cure their amendment after this was
done.
The Walker resolution was tabled A
resolution was adopted which requires
the chairman of the caucus to call a
caucus when requested by twenty-five
members in writing.
All the present house officers were then
re-nominated.
They are as follows:
Henry N. Coudon, of Michigan, chap
lain; Alexander Mcdowell, of Pennsy1-
vania, clerk; Benjamin A. Russell, of
Missouri, sergeant alarms; w. J. Glenn,
of New York, doorkeeper.
At $50 the caucus adjourned.