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51st Congress (1889–1891)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

332 Representatives
9 Delegates

Party Divisions:^*

152 Democrats
179 Republicans
1 Labor

^*Party division totals are based on election day results.

/tiles/non-collection/s/speaker_reed_2005_016_032.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object A three-term Speaker from Maine, Thomas Brackett Reed revised the rules of the House.

Congress Overview

Gilded Age political deadlock ended with the 51st Congress (1889–1891). Republicans won control of both houses of Congress and the presidency after the 1888 election, breaking a remarkable period of divided-party government. Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine streamlined House rules and prevented the minority party from obstructing the legislative process. The rules changes and unified government produced the “Billion Dollar Congress,” as the new majority passed generous military pensions and approved long-stalled naval expansion. New economic pressures also resulted in the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Member Information

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 51st Congress. [PDF]
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Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:: Thomas B. Reed (R–Maine)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:: William S. Holman (D–Indiana)
Republican Conference Chairman:: Thomas J. Henderson (R–Illinois)
Clerk of the House:: Edward McPherson
Sergeant at Arms:: John P. Leedom
Chaplain of the House:: William Henry Milburn – Methodist
Doorkeeper:: Charles W. Adams
Postmaster:: James L. Wheat
Clerk at the Speaker's Table:: Nathaniel T. Crutchfield
Edward Forrest Goodwin