51st United States Congress

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox United States Congress The 51st United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1891, during the first two years of Benjamin Harrison's presidency.

The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1880 United States census.

The Republicans maintained their majority in the Senate, and won the majority in the House. With Benjamin Harrison being sworn in as president on March 4, 1889, this gave the Republicans an overall federal government trifecta for the first time since the 43rd Congress in 1873–1875.

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Major events

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Major legislation

File:Billion dollar Congress.jpg
Benjamin Harrison and the Congress are portrayed as a "Billion-Dollar Congress," wasting the surplus in this cartoon from Puck.

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". It was responsible for a number of pieces of landmark legislation, many of which asserted the authority of the federal government.

Emboldened by their success in the elections of 1888, the Republicans enacted virtually their entire platform during their first 303-day session, including a measure that provided American Civil War veterans with generous pensions and expanded the list of eligible recipients to include noncombatants and the children of veterans. Grover Cleveland had vetoed a similar bill in 1887. It was criticized as the "Billion Dollar Congress'" for its lavish spending and, for this reason it incited drastic reversals in public support that led to Cleveland's reelection in 1892.

Other important legislation passed into law by the Congress included the McKinley tariff, authored by Representative, and future President, William McKinley; the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prohibited business combinations that restricted trade; and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which required the U.S. government to mint silver. The last two were concessions to Western farmer interests in exchange for support of the tariff and would become central tenets of the Populist Party later in the decade. They were authored by Senator John Sherman.

The Fifty-first Congress was also responsible for passing the Land Revision Act of 1891, which created the national forests. Harrison authorized America's first forest reserve in Yellowstone, Wyoming, the same year.

Other bills were discussed but failed to pass, including two significant pieces of legislation focused on ensuring African Americans the right to vote. Henry Cabot Lodge sponsored a so-called Lodge Bill that would have established federal supervision of Congressional elections so as to prevent the disfranchisement of southern blacks. Henry W. Blair sponsored the Blair Education Bill, which advocated the use of federal aid for education in order to frustrate southern whites employing literacy tests to prevent blacks from registering to vote.

States admitted and territories organized

  • November 2, 1889: North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted as the 39th and 40th states.
  • November 8, 1889: Montana was admitted as the 41st state.
  • November 11, 1889: Washington was admitted as the 42nd state.
  • May 2, 1890: Oklahoma Territory was organized.
  • July 3, 1890: Idaho was admitted as the 43rd state.
  • July 10, 1890: Wyoming was admitted as the 44th state.

Party summary

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of this Congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Six new states were admitted during this Congress, and their senators and representatives were elected throughout the Congress.

Senate

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House of Representatives

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Leadership

File:Levi Morton - Brady-Handy portrait - standard crop.jpg
President of the Senate
Levi P. Morton

Senate

House of Representatives

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives are listed by district.

Skip to House of Representatives, below

Senate

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1892; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1894; and Class 3 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1890.

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House of Representatives

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Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate

  • Replacements: 3
  • Deaths: 3
  • Resignations: 2
  • Interim appointments: 1
  • Seats of newly admitted states: 12
  • Total seats with changes: 17
State
(class)
Vacated by Reason for vacancy Subsequent Date of successor's installation
Rhode Island
(2)
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Jonathan Chace (R) Resigned April 9, 1889.
Successor was elected.
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Nathan F. Dixon III (R) April 10, 1889
New Hampshire
(2)
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Gilman Marston (R) Successor was elected June 18, 1889. style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | William E. Chandler (R) June 18, 1889
South Dakota
(2)
New seats South Dakota achieved statehood November 2, 1889.
First senators were elected October 16, 1889.[1]
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Richard F. Pettigrew (R) November 2, 1889
South Dakota
(3)
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Gideon C. Moody (R)
Montana
(1)
New seats Montana achieved statehood November 8, 1889.
First Senator was elected January 1, 1890.[2]
His election was challenged based on the legitimacy of the nascent state legislature.
The Senate resolved the dispute in his favor April 16, 1890 and he was seated that day.[3]
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Wilbur F. Sanders (R) April 16, 1890
Montana
(2)
Montana achieved statehood November 8, 1889.
First Senator was elected January 2, 1890.[2]
His election was challenged based on the legitimacy of the nascent state legislature.
The Senate resolved the dispute in his favor April 16, 1890 and he was seated that day.[3]
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Thomas C. Power (R) April 16, 1890
Washington
(1)
New seats Washington achieved statehood November 11, 1889. nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | John B. Allen (R) November 20, 1889
Washington
(3)
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Watson C. Squire (R)
Kentucky
(2)
style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James B. Beck (D) Died May 3, 1890.
Successor was elected.
style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | John G. Carlisle (D) May 26, 1890
North Dakota
(3)
New seats North Dakota achieved statehood November 2, 1889.
First senators were elected November 25, 1889.
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Gilbert A. Pierce (R) November 21, 1889
North Dakota
(1)
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Lyman R. Casey (R) November 25, 1889
Idaho
(2)
New seats Idaho achieved statehood July 3, 1890. nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | George L. Shoup (R) December 18, 1890
Idaho
(3)
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | William J. McConnell (R)
Wyoming
(2)
New seats Wyoming achieved statehood July 10, 1890.
New Senator was elected November 15, 1890.
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Joseph M. Carey (R) November 15, 1890
Wyoming
(1)
Wyoming achieved statehood July 10, 1890.
New Senator was elected November 18, 1890.
nowrap style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Francis E. Warren (R) November 24, 1890
Maryland
(3)
style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Ephraim K. Wilson (D) Died February 24, 1891, having already been re-elected to the next term. Vacant until next Congress
California
(1)
style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | George Hearst (D) Died February 28, 1891. Vacant until next Congress

House of Representatives

  • Replacements: 16
  • Deaths: 11
  • Resignations: 6
  • Contested election:8
  • Seats of newly admitted states: 7
  • Total seats with changes: 33
District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successor seated
Template:Ushr Vacant Elected to finish Rep. James N. Burnes who was re-elected to this Congress, but died during previous one. In addition, Rep. Charles F. Booher was elected to finish Burnes's term in previous Congress but chose not to run for re-election for this Congress. style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Robert P. C. Wilson (D) December 2, 1889
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Richard W. Townshend (D) Died March 9, 1889 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | James R. Williams (D) December 2, 1889
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Thomas Ryan (R) Resigned April 4, 1889 after being appointed U.S. Minister to Mexico style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Harrison Kelley (R) December 2, 1889
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Edward J. Gay (D) Died May 30, 1889 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Andrew Price (D) December 2, 1889
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | James Laird (R) Died August 17, 1889 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Gilbert L. Laws (R) December 2, 1889
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Samuel S. Cox (D) Died September 10, 1889 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Amos J. Cummings (D) November 5, 1889
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Newton W. Nutting (R) Died October 15, 1889 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Sereno E. Payne (R) December 2, 1889
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | George A. Mathews (R) Territory achieved statehood. Remained in seat until November 2, 1889 Territory achieved statehood
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Henry C. Hansbrough (R) Territory achieved statehood. Took seat November 2, 1889 New seat
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Oscar S. Gifford (R) Territory achieved statehood. Took seats November 2, 1889 New seats
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | John Pickler (R)
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Thomas H. Carter (R) Territory achieved statehood. Remained in seat until November 7, 1889 Territory achieved statehood
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Frank T. Fitzgerald (D) Resigned November 4, 1889 after being elected Register of New York County style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Charles H. Turner (D) December 9, 1889
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | John B. Allen (R) Territory achieved statehood. Remained in seat until November 11, 1889 Territory achieved statehood
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | William D. Kelley (R) Died January 9, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John E. Reyburn (R) February 18, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | James M. Jackson (D) Election was successfully challenged on February 3, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Charles B. Smith (R) February 3, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John O. Pendleton (D) Election was successfully challenged on February 26, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | George W. Atkinson (R) February 26, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | William H. Cate (D) Election was successfully challenged on March 5, 1890 Template:Party shading/Labor nowrap | Lewis P. Featherstone (L) March 5, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Barnes Compton (D) Election was successfully challenged on March 20, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Sydney E. Mudd (R) March 20, 1890
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | David Wilber (R) Died April 1, 1890 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John S. Pindar (D) November 4, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | George D. Wise (D) Election was successfully challenged on April 10, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Edmund Waddill Jr. (R) April 12, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Samuel J. Randall (D) Died April 13, 1890 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Richard Vaux (D) May 20, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John G. Carlisle (D) Resigned May 26, 1890, after being elected to the U.S. Senate style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | William W. Dickerson (D) June 21, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Louis W. Turpin (D) Election was successfully challenged on June 4, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John V. McDuffie (R) June 4, 1890
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Fred Dubois (R) Territory achieved statehood. Remained in seat until July 3, 1890 Territory achieved statehood
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Joseph M. Carey (R) Territory achieved statehood. Remained in seat until July 10, 1889 Territory achieved statehood
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Thomas H. Carter (R) Territory achieved statehood. Took seat November 8, 1889 New seat
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | John L. Wilson (R) Territory achieved statehood. Took seat November 20, 1889 New seat
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | James P. Walker (D) Died July 19, 1890 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Robert H. Whitelaw (D) November 4, 1890
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Lewis F. Watson (R) Died August 25, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Charles W. Stone (R) November 4, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Clifton R. Breckinridge (D) Election was successfully challenged on September 5, 1890, however Rep-elect John M. Clayton died during election challenge, so seat was declared vacant. Breckinridge was elected to open seat. style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Clifton R. Breckinridge (D) November 4, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | William Elliott (D) Election was successfully challenged on September 23, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Thomas E. Miller (R) September 24, 1890
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Edward C. Venable (D) Election was successfully challenged on September 23, 1890 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John M. Langston (R) September 23, 1890
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | John J. De Haven (R) Resigned October 1, 1890 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Thomas J. Geary (D) December 9, 1890
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Willis Sweet (R) Territory achieved statehood. Took seat October 1, 1890 New seat
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Edwin H. Conger (R) Resigned October 3, 1890, after being appointed U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Brazil style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" nowrap | Edward R. Hays (R) November 4, 1890
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | David A. Harvey (R) Territory organized from Indian Territory. Took seat November 4, 1890 New seat
Template:Ushr style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Clarence D. Clark (R) Territory achieved statehood. Took seat December 1, 1890 New seat
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | John H. McCarthy (D) Resigned January 14, 1891, after being appointed justice of the City Court of New York Vacant until next Congress
Template:Ushr style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James Phelan Jr. (D) Died January 30, 1891 Vacant until next Congress

Committees

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Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Employees

Legislative branch agency directors

Senate

House of Representatives

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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  1. Journal of the House of Representatives..., p. 21
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External links

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