The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-16
corsKER REED AGAIN SEATED.
own OF SPECTATORS WATCH
THE HOUSE OPEN.
WATCH

e5z Members 1872 Have Never
VI I'd in Congress BefOre-POIiti-
all, the Membership Consists OF
sao republicans, 122 Democrats
20 Fusion siIverites and Pop
,,.ts-The Clerk Makes an Anus
ing Mistake.
-...,inpton. March 15-The opening of
,,,f,y-ffth congress in extraordinary
pl was witnessed in the House to-
an immense crowd of spectators.
49, corridors of the capital were over
with people fully an hour before
and although police officers were
|.,od at the foot of the marble stair
20 keen back all who were not pro
- with cards of admission, there were
.,ouqb persons so provided to occupy
,srv seat in the galleries.
~ the S57 men, who constitute the mem
shin of the House, 1872 have never be-
80 ssrved in that capacity, while sixteen
-oore have served in former congresses
liking altogether las new members, and
ono VINO served in the last congress. Po-
I.rc,ny classified there are 2O6 republi-
rs ,22 democrats and twenty-nine fus-
inn siIverites and populists.
sneaker Reed did not make his appear
orca on the floor until just before the
stroke of noon.
Alex Mcdowell, clerk of the last House.
..ue5 the House to order at noon, when
~r,ver was offered by the blind chaplain,
Rev Mr. Couden.
THE clerk then read the Presidents
exclamation. converting congress, and di-
rected the roll of members to be called
nv states, alphabetically.
The clerk announced as the result of the
call that 3S7 members had answered to
their names, and at the same time sug-
gested that there should be silence on the
floor so that the galleries may take part
in the proceedings" The oddly OF this
request created laughter among the men,
bers and spectators.
THE next business in order" said the
clerk 'is the election of speaker, and nom
nations are now in order"
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio nominated Mr..
Reed of Maine; Mr.. Richardson, dem, of
tennessee. nominated Joseph w. Bailey of
Texas, and John c. Bell, pop, of Colora-
d. was put in nomination by Jere Simp
that there were six members-elect whose
names were not on the roll because their
credentials had not been received by him.
They were from the Tenth district of Iowa
Clr Dolliver), the Sixth district of Missis
sppi (NIr. Love- the Fourth and Ninth
districts of Tennessee (NIessrs McMillin
and PIERCE, the First district of Texas (Mr.
BelD, and from Utah CIr. King.
The election of speaker was then pro-
ceeded with, the result being: For Mr..
Reed, 1879; for Mr.. Bailey, ia; for Mr..
Bell, q, and for Mr.. Newlands of Ne
vada, l.
The announcement was applauded on
the floor and in the galleries.
The clerk announced that Mr.. Reed hav-
ing received a majority of all the votes
cast, was duly elected speaker; and he
appointed Messrs. Grosvenor, Bailey and
Bell to conduct the speaker-elect to the
chair.
A member appealed to the clerk to in
sist on order. and the clerk replied that if
every member would keep quiet, the
House would be in perfect order, and the
remark was duly appreciated and hailed
with laughter.
Mr.. Reed. having been conducted to the
chair, amid much applause, addressed
the House, expressing his thanks and
promising absolute impartiality in admin
istsring his office
The oath of Office was then administered
10 Mr.. Reed by MIR Harmer rep. of
Pennsylvania. the senior member in con-
secutive service.
This was followed by the ceremony of
swearing in the members. 1t was done by
calling the states in alphabetical order
the representatives. from the state called
lining themselves up in the area facing
the clerks desk and holding up their
hands while the speaker administered
the oath to them.
Four representatives whose names had
not appeared on the clerks list WERE by
unanimous consent permitted to take the
oath. They were Messrs NcMillin, dem,
Of Tennessee; Dolliver, rep, of Iowa;
Flerce dem, Of Tennessee, and Bell,
dem, of Texas.
On motion of Mr.. Grosvenor, rep, Of
Ohio the appointment of the following Of
ncers was made:
Alex Mcdowell of Pennsylvania, clerk.
Benjamin f. Russell of Missouri, SER
geant-at-arms
William ]. Glenn of New York. door
keeper
Joseph c. McElroy of Ohio, postmaster.
Henry NJ. Couden of Michigan, chap
lain.
The democratic and populist substitutes
were formally proposed and rejected with
out a division.
The officers thus elected had the cath
administered to them, which included the
declaration that they would not divulge
the secrets of the House. Resolutions to
notify the Senate and President of the
organization Of the House were passed,
and committee of three members, to
Join a like number on the part of the
Senate was appointed to wait upon the
President
The first hitch in the otherwise smooth
~ acting machinery of organization oc-
CURED when Mr.. Henderson. rep, of Iowa,
onered resolution that, until otherwise
ordered, the rules of the House in the
t1Ity-fourth congress be adopted as the
rules Of the House of the Fifty-ffth con-
Rress, and on this he moved the previous
question.
To this another republican member from
IOWA, Mr.. Hepburn proposed an amend
nent' limiting the continuance of those
rules to thirty days from this date.
Mr.. McMiilin, dem, of Tennessee. asked
MI Henderson indirectly. whether 1t was
the purpose Of the committee on rules TO
report a code OF rules and to let the House
nave an opportunity TO vote upon them.
mere Is no doubt" said Mr. Hender-
son mat that Will be done. The House
Will have the fullest oprnrfprKt,. .ae-.