The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-15
EXTRA SESSION.
Congress COnveneS at Call
of President.
Reed Of Maine IS Reelected
Speaker of the House.
Other Officers Chosen In That Body.
The Day In the Senate.

Washington, March l5.-There were
abundance Of flowers on the desks of Sen
ators today, when promptly at IL o'clock
Mr.. Hobart assembled to the presiding
officers desk and called the Senate to
rier. The public galleries were packed
md the reserved galleries were well filed
The chaplain's opening prayer invoked
divine grace and blessing on the Senators
ana members now about To take up the
work of the extraordinary session and on
the vice president. A roll call disclosed
the presence of 6S Senators. The creden-
tials of the new Senator from Kansas,
w. A. Harris were presented by the
senior Senator from that state, Mr.. Baker
and together they proceeded to the pre-
siding officers desk where Mr.. Harris
took the oath of Office.
I Mr.. Mcbride of Oregon, presented the
credentials of Henry w. Corbett, ap-
pointed by the Governor of Oregon TO fiji
the vacancy caused by the failure to
elect successor to Mr.. Mitchell of Oregon.
The Governors certificate was read and
Mr. Mcbride requested that the new
Senator be sworn in II there be DO objec-
tion.
Mr.. Grey, (Dem., Del. }, promptly inter I.
posed the suggestion that some unusual
circumstances attended the appointment
and that the credentials should be scru-
tinized. He moved therefore that the Gre
dentials be referred to the committee on
privileges and elections. The motion pre-
vailed by unanimous vote.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar the vice -presi-
dent named Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Cockrell as
the usual committee to join with com
mittce of the House Of Representatives to
wait on the President and inform him
III It Congress was i'm session and ~~ady TO
receive any communication n III him.
The main interest in the assembling of
the Doth Congress in extra session today
under President Mckinley's call conferred
at the house end of rh eCapitol where the
organization of the new house attracted
10 the galleries large crowds, hours before
noon. But the general public has small
opportunity 10 view the proceedings. The
section opposite the speakers rostrum,
commonly known as the BLACK belt'
which has seating capacity of about
oOJ 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. Familiar figures conspicu-
Gus IN the shock of many "A parliamentary
battle had disappeare1 and in the lists
were lew and untricd knights
As the hands pointed 20 IL O'Clock Mr.
Mcdowell raped tho House To order Rev.
Couden of Michigan the blind chaplain of
the House, delivered the invocation ap-
pealing TO the Throne for Gods blessing
on the work Il the new Congress and the
new administration.
The clerk of the House read the Presi-
dent S proclamation converting Congress
after the roll of members was called At
Its conclusion Mr.. Mcdowell announced
the presence of 337 members After adj
monishing members and the galleries to
preserve order, he announced that the
next business in order would be the cleo
tion of a speaker. There was no nominat-
ing speeches.
Mr. Grosyenor, Republican, Ohio.
placed in nomination Thomas b. Reed
of Maine. His name was greeted with n
round of vigorous applause and hand clap
ping from the Republican members, in
which the galleries joined.
MIR Richardson (Dem., Tenn. J, placed
in nomination Joseph W. Bailey of Texas,
whereat the Democrats applauded, and |
MIR. Simpson (Pop., Kas. }, named John |
{. Bell of Colorado. The scattering ap- |
plause ~ the Populists which followed the |
of Mr.. Bell raised laugh |
The vote resulted as follows: Reed, 100: |
Bailey, ia; Bell, 81, and Newlands (Sil- |
verite New J. 1.
After Reeds election the members were |
sworn in and organization completed by |
election of the Republican slate. as fol- |
lows: Clerk of House, Alexander Nc |
Dowell Of Pennsylvania: sergeant-at-
arms, Benjamin Il. Russell of Missouri: |
doorkeepcr, William j. Glenn of New
York; postmaster, j. G. McElroy of Ohio.
and chaplain, Henry y. Couden.