The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-11-29
.ll8 YEARS OF
NATIONAL CONGRESS.
Interesting Figures Showing
Some Of the Things That
Have Occurred.

Since the first Congress met in 1889
118 years ago, there have been 134 ses-
sions of the national body of lawma-
kers. There have been 119 regular an
fifteen extra sessions; thirty-nine diff
ferent Speakers and Speakers pro tenn
pore and twenty-five clerks. The lon
gest regular sitting was the first ses-
sion of the Fiftieth Congress which
met December 5, 1887, and adjourned
October 20, 1888, period of 321 days.
Other long sessions were the first Of
the Fifty-first Congress, 304 days, and
the first of the Thirty-first, 3O2 days
The second regular session of each
Congress are laways short, both houses
assembling according to law on the
first Monday In December and adjourn
ing by Limitation on the 4th of the fol-
lowing March. These sessions lasted
from ninety to ninety-five days. Asid
from these the shortest ever held was
the first session of the Thirteenth Con
gress which covered 134 days,a came
Immediately after an extra session.
Other notable short sessions were dur
ing the Fifteenth Congress 141 days;
the Fifty-eighth, IA days; the Four
teenth, 14S days; the Eleventh, 156 das
and the Fifty-fifth 1874 days.
Extra sessions are as old as Congress
itself, the first having been called to-
gether January 5, 1890 a little over
three months after the first session
ever held came TO close. Next came
the extra session of the Fifth Congress
then others during the Eleventh and
Thirteenth after which there was a
lapse of twenty-four years before il
was deemed necessary TO meet more
than twice in two years. The next
extra session came with the Thirty
fourth Congress, nearly fifteen years
later.
Others were during the Thirty-seven
Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty-fifth, Forty
eighth Congresses.
The longest extra session was durin
the First Congress and continued 221
days. The next was a part of the
Fifty-fifth Congress and lasted 142
days. The shortest was of ten days
duration, during the life of the
Thirty-fourth Congress. Altogether
Congress has, since its BEGINNING, been
in extra session 1855 days, or about |
three years.
Only seventeen States have furnish |
ed Speakers of the House of Repre-
Pennsylvania leads with
five; Massachusetts, Virginia and Ken
lucky coming next with four each. |
Other States have been represented as
follows: New York, three Indiana, |
three Tennessee, two New Jersey, two |
Georgia two; Maine, two; South Caro-
lima two; and CONNECTICUT, Maryland,
North Carolina, Ohio Iowa and ILL
nois have each a man to the Speak
er's chair.
Jas. G. Blaine, of Maine was Speak
er for eight sessions-lOnger than any |
other man ever presided over the de-
iberations of the House. Schuyler
Colfax and Samuel j. Randall each oc-
;upied the Speakers chair for seven
sessions, John Bell, Of Tennessee was
Speaker for ninety-three days, hav-
ing been elected TO fill the unex-
Dired term of Andrew Stevenson, of |
Virginia. Mr.. Bells term is the short
EST on record.
Only two Speakers resigned-Hen-
ry Clay and Andrew Stevenson. Mr..
Clay sent in his resignation by mail
was succeeded by John w. Taylor, OF
New York. Mr. Stevenson resigned
June 2, 1894, and was succeeded by
John Bell.-Brooklyn Eagle.