Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-03-19
The Goth Congress.

It's Organization aud Opening Proceed
ings on Monday speaker Reeds
Speech---the New TRriR Bill Intro
duced.
The new Congress convened in special
session on Monday in accordance with the
call of President Mckinley The Senate
having already been in session but little in
terest was taken in its proceedings. The
House was speedily organized and the
wheels of business set in motion. ajor
Mcdowell, the clerk of the last House, rap
ped for order promptly at II O'Clock, and
Rev. Mr.. Couden of Michigan, the blind
chaplain, offered prayer. The Presidents
proclamation convening Congress was read,
the roll-call of members followed, and then
the clerk announced that the next business
in order was the election of Speaker.
Thomas b. Reed received the solid vote of
his party, 100, and was elected. John w.
Bailey OF Texas, the Democratic nominee,
had ia; John G. Bell of Colorado, Popu-
list, II, and Mr.. Newlands, Silverite, of
Nevada, l.
The appearance OF Mr.. Reed, accom-
panied by the committee appointed to in
form him Of his election, was the signal
for a great outburst of applause which
swept from the floor to the galleries. The
applause continued as the Speaker and his
attendants marched down to the rostrum,
and reached its climax as he mounted to
his place and faced the members and crowd
ed galleries. This was Mr.. Reeds speech:
"Gentlemen Of the House of Represen-
tatives: II has been the custom for a hun
dred years for speakers-elect to so fully eX-
press their gratitude and their sense of
honor conferred that the language in which
thanks are conveyed has been long ago eX-
hausted. viii you pardon me if | confess
that on all the occasions when | have stood
here | have been more oppressed by a
sense Of responsibility than cheered by the
sentiment Of thankfuness. Yet ! appre-
ciate-nO man more-the high honor Of
your vote and the confidence which dictat-
ed it. But high as the honor is, it will
surely fade unless your favor is permanent.
| cannot, having had experience, expect to
please all of you always, but | do hope,
with your assistance and your kind for
bearance. to administer Justice to each
member and to both sides of the chamber
under the rules established by the House of
representatives., without fear favor, or the
hope of reward
After Mr.. Reed had taken the oath and
assumed the gavel the members were sworn
in and organization completed by election
Of the Republican nominees as follows:
Clerk of the House-Alex Mcdowell of
Pennsylvania.
Sergeant-at-Arms- Benz F. Russell OF
Missouri.
Doorkeeper j. Glenn of New
York.
Postmaster-J. c. McElroy of Ohio.
Chaplain Henry y. Couden.
Objection to the Reed rules" cropped
out when Mr.. Henderson of Iowa offered
the usual resolution for adoption, tempora-
rily, of the rules of the last House. Mr..
Hepburn (Rep.) of Iowa objected, offering
an amendment limiting the time in which
the House should operate under the old
rules to 80 days, but Mr. Henderson re-
fused to yield and demanded the previous
question After considerable discussion
the roll was called and Mr.. Henderson's S
motion was adopted, lj1 to 1873.
The drawing of seats was then proceed
ed with, preference being given on account
of long service to Mr.. Grow, Republican,
of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Holman, Democrat,
of Indiana and Mr. Harmer, Republican,
of Pennsylvania. The members having all
| retired behind the rails, $50 small ivory
cubes, having the general appearance of
dice, each bearing number, were placed
in box on the clerks desk and were
| shaken up, and one Of the pages blindfold-
ed stood by the box and drew out these
dice one by one, handing each to a clerk by
his side, who theTeupOn called out the
name of the member corresponding to the
number. The New England members
Jared well in the drawing on the whole,
| though the Vermont representatives were
not in the lucky list. Mr.. Powers is well
back on the Republican side, and Mr..
Grout was obliged to take a seat in the
Cherokee strip" as it is called, a little
triangle for Republican members on the
Democratic side.
While the drawing of seats was proceed
ing, the committee appointed to wait upon
the President reported that the President
had "sent his kindly greeting to Congress
and said that he would communicate i'm
mediatey in writing The report was
followed instantly by the delivery of the
Presidents message, but its reading was
| withheld until the seating of members was
| completed.
When the seats had all been drawn the
| Presidents message was read and referred
on motion of Mr.. Dingley to the commit
tee on ways and means.
Mr.. Dingley then introduced his tariff
! bill, which was also referred to the com
mittee on ways and means.
The speaker announced the appoint
ment of the committee on rules,
on ways and means, and on mile
age, Mr.. Dingley of Maine retains his
place as chairman of the committee on
ways and means as a matter of course.
Permission was given to this committee to
sit during the session of the House, and
then, at p, NJ, the House adjourned till
| Thursday.