Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1889 — NATIONAL CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL CONGRESS

The Fifty-first session of the Congress of the United States assembled at Washington, December 8.- —- ——. In the Senate four Senators from the new States were sworn in. The daily hour of meeting was fixed at noon. The special committee on the transportation and sale of meat products was continued, j A committee to inform the President of the meeting of the Senate was appointed. □ The House was called to order at noon i by Clerk Clark. The roll call disclosed 1 the absence of O’Neal (Ind.), Randall : (Pa.), and Whitthorne (Tenn.) The Republican candidates for the offices were elected by a vote of 166 for the Republican • and 154 for the Democratic nominees—the officers elected being: Reed, of Maine, Speaker; Ed. McPherson (Pa.), clerk; ! A. J, Holmes (Iowa) Sergeant at Arms; J. j D. Wheat Postmaster and W. H. Milburn Chaplain. The last named was the Chap- ! lpin of che last House and was elected over | the Republican caucus nominee by Cheadle (Ind.), Lehibachand Moore (N. H.) voting with the Democrats. Mr. Reed was sworn in, and he then administered the oath to the members of the House. The Senate was informed by committee of the organization of the House. The drawing of seats was the very interesting ceremony .that followed. A resolution authorizing the appointment of certain committees was adopted. The Senate, Tuesday, hoard the reading of the message and adjourned. The House did likewise and then adjourned until Thursday. In the Sehate, Wednesday, Messrs. Pierce and Casey were sworn in as the Senators from North Dakota. The terms of the Senators from the new States were fixed. Various executive reports and communications were presented and referred to appropriate committees. Several petitions were also presented and referred. Many bills were introduced, among them the following: to declare trusts and com- | binations unlawful; for the free coinage of ! silver; extending the pension laws; for woman suffrage; for prohibition; to repeal the civil service law; for 1-cent postage. There_were 505 bills introduced. In the Seriate, Thursday, numerous m mortals, petitions and bills were present-, j ed. Reagan spoke in favor of his bill for j the repeal of a of the act of 1875 for ■ the sale of bonds. The House appointed a committee to investigate the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms. The Speaker announced committees on rules, accounts and enrolled bills. Both houses adjourned until Monday.