Evening star., 1942-04-19
Capital SideIights
BIZ win P. Kennedy.

One OF the best books OF reference
ever printed by the Government, work
consulted daily by statesmen, historians
and students all over the world-the
monumental Biographical Directory OF
the American Congress, compiled by the
veteran clerk of the Joint Committee on
Printing, recently eulogized in both Sen
ate and House on the completion OF 40
years OF service-contains q glaring
error. 1t is affirmed in the text
that George Washington, was nnani-
mously elected first President of the
United States. and inaugurated April
3, 1789, in New York City. AS a
matter of historical fact, Congress
met on March 4. 1889, but the Senate
did not muster a quorum until April 6,
on which date the electoral vote was
counted and Washington declared duly
elected, but he was not inaugurated un-
til April 30. This is shown by the Jour-
nal of the House Of Representatives, the
official record, which also discloses an
other amazing fact, known to few per-
sons-namely. that three OF the "13
original States" did not vote for
Washington for President, although he
was unanimously elected New York
did not have electors, due to a scrap be-
tween the two branches of the State Leg
islature, and North Carolina and Rhode
Island could not participate because
they had not ratified the Constitution
of Government of the United States,
proposed by the Federal Convention,
held on September IT, 1787." North Caro-
lima and Rhode Island did not ratify
until after the first ten amendments were
proposed TO the State Legislatures by
the First Congress on September Is.
178s The five North Carolina Repre-
sentatives took their seats for the first
time in the House between March l9
and June l6, 1870. Rhode Island rati-
fed on May 20. 1870. and her Repre-
sentative took his seat on December n,
1890
In the first session of Congress ever
held. March 4. 1889, only five States were
represented and only 13 members of
the House we're in observation-disclosures
chusetts and Pennsylvania, four men,
bers each; Connecticut three, and one
each from Virginia and South Carolina.
1t was not until April 1 that the House
had a quorum and not until April
that the Senate mustered a quorum.
While George Washington was the
unanimous choice for President, re-
ceiving SO votes-there were IL other
candidates. In those days each elector
cast two votes and whoever received the
largest number was President and who
ever received the second largest number
Vice President. John Adams received
the second largest number. "a; then John
Jay, 8; Robert H. Harrison and John
Rutledge, each; John Hancock, 4;
George Clinton 3; Samuel Huntington
and John Milton, 2 each, and James
Armstrong, Edward Telfair and Benja-
min Lincoln, each.
In the vote OF the electoral college 1t
is interesting to note that the two States
which naturally would be expected to
cast their full vote for Washington did
not do so-Maryland and Virginia.
Maryland was entitled to votes and
cast 6, while Virginia was entitled to IL
and cast 10.
Membership in the First Congress was
set by arbitrary constitutional appoint
ment at IS House members. The First
Congress was in session from March 4, q
1889, to March g. 1871. The first census
was taken in 1870, and the House men,
bership was increased to 106 with Ten
nessee, Kentucky and Vermont joining
the original 49,
This is printed not in criticism Of the
truly valuable compilation of Ansel
wold-like which nothing ever be-
fore was published-but to emphasize an
historical fact and to illustrate how I'M
portant it is that this monumental work,
published IA years ago, should be cor
rected, brought up-to-date and distrib-
uted to libraries and schools throughout
the country. There are In the Senate
today only Is Senators whose biog-
raphies are contained In the book. In