The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-12-08
HOUSE OFFICERS SELECTED
Democrats Name Richardson; Republicans
Ratify Henderson's Candidacy.

cans, which was held in the hall Of
the house Of representatives Saturday
night, was both interesting and inn
portant The selection Of the caudi-
date for speak er and other house Off
bers was a cut and dried affair. Be-
fore the adiournmeus Of the caucus,
after a discussion lasting almost two
hours, the Republican members, with
out a dissenting vote, decided to re-
enact the Reed rules.
The selection of a candidate for
speaker by the party in power is
usually a very animated affair, but
months ago all the other candidates
who entered the field upon retirement
of Speaker Reed abandoned the con-
test, leaving General David b. Hen
derson, of Iowa, the unopposed can
didate. His nomination was, there
fore, foregone conclusion, and he
was nominated by reclamation.
The officers of the last house, except
Colonel Russell, the sergeant.at.arms,
were renominated without opposition,
as follows:
Clerk-Alex Mcdowell, of Pennsyl-
vania.
Doorkeeper-W. J. Glenn, of New
York.
Postmaster. G. McElroy, of Ohio.
Chaplain-Rev Henry Couden, Of
Michigan.
Colonel Russell was not a candidate
for reelection aud Colonel Henry A.
Casson, of Wisconsin, was nominated
in his stead.
General Grosvenor, of Ohio, was
reelected chairman of the caucus, and
Mr.. Loudenslager, of New Jersey,
secretary. After the house officers
had been reelected, General Hender-
son was escorted to the rostrum. He
was greeted with cheers and in re-
spouse addressed the caucus, warmly
expressing his thanks for the honor.
He continued:
"We have great responsibilities rest
ing upon us in this congress, and
greater responsibilities in the coming
years; and upon our wise action much
depends for the prosperity of the
country that we all love. May ] i'm
press upon your minds the absolute
necessity for devotion to the republic
! in more than one particular. Econo-
, my must be our watchword; care in
, the expenditure of the peoples money.
5 ''We are going to be met by a well
Q organized and able minority, led by
accomplished leaders. This involves
the necessity for the Republicans
| touching elbows in the great work be
= fore us. We have got to realize thai
e in this congress, with our small ma
r jority, every man, like true soldier
e must be constantly at his post o.
a duty (applause), and urge with grea
4, earnestness that this will be the deter
mination of each and all. Accepting
Z this generous nomination as l do,
Q have no fears but that the united wis
. dom and work of this great body will
e increase the confidence and happines
s of the republic. Profoundly and great
# ly thank you.
d Mr.. Payne, Of New York, called al
= tention to the narrow majority in til
/ house and the necessity of having al
l. the Republicans present Throughout
the session. He offered resolutio
70 which was adopted that no leaves {
absence should be granted except fc
r urgent reason and that one membe
e should be appointed to look after pairs
r, Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, who VIZ
t. member Of the committee on rules j
r the last congress, offered q resolutio
lie declaring it to be the sense of I'll
II caucus that the rules of the fit,
y fourth and ffty-ifth congresses I'll
9, Reed rules) should be adopted by I'll
al incoming house. These were the on
s. rules, he said, under which the hou
7e had been able to do business.
B. Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, who fougl
e, the rules in the last congress, attacl
ed the resolution vigorously. He il
IN sisted that the rules should be modii
lg ed He laid particular stress upC
er the question of recognition, which |
o. claimed should go to the first memb
it. who addressed the chair. This hi
ty been one of Mr.. Hepburn's causes
n complaint in preceding congresse
r. After considerable debate Mr.. He
r. burn withdrew his amendment and Il
or Dalzell resolution favoring the Re
rules was adopted unanimously.