Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP,

The Tender take it for granted that
the ID -mOcrats will to-day meet the tender of
the opposition made yesterday afternoon
through Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, to place Hon.
Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, temporarily in the
chair, with the authority Of Speaker over
the proceedings of the House, until a perma-
nent presiding officer shall be elected 1t has
already been demonstrated that though the
Clerk has discharged the delicate and respon-
slble duties of his present position with ability
and fairness that has won for him all praise
from the members, he is from the lack of au-
thorisy incident to his position, utterly with
out power to expedite their proceedings; and
1t is equally we'll known that with such a gen.
tleman as Mr.. Orr in the chair. more progress
IN the business before them will be made in
an hour than at present in a day We pre-
sumo the resolution Of Mr. Campbell, of Ohio,
will have been adopted by the time we 20 to
press to-day, as the Democracy have far too
much good sense we apprehend, to stand be-
fore the country in the attitude of a great
party refusing to expedite the organization of
the House by placing its government tempo
rsrily in the hands of one of their own abIest,
most national and most trusted public men.
on the invitation of the opposition so to do,
extended with proclamation that the offer
was made in good faith to bring the present
condition of Congressional anarchy to a close.
The Action Of the Naval Reform Board -
While we are among those who arc advocates
tor action On the part of Congress that will
afford pecuniary relief to those naval officers
retired" by the President in pursuance of
the Recommendation of the late Naval Reform
Board, who may stand in need of it, we have
not the slightest idea that the National Leris
lature will undo what it has done in connec
tion with the navy by the enactment of the
law under which those gentlemen were I" re-
ured.' That work was, emphaticaIly, the
work Of Congress itself-resolyed on by them
only after long and earnest deliberation upon
what was best for the future of the navy of
the United States, and what also was due to
the public interest in legislating on that
branch Of the public service When the
Board was selected, there went up from all
connected with the service but those who
apprehended that their names would be found
on the retired list, almost shout Of appro-
baton Of the aggregated selection the Secre-
taTy had made for the discharge of the deli
cate and responsible trust confided to those
gentlemen, than whom the navy embraces no
men Of fairer Oh
distinguished professional regulations Had
Inc Board consisted of any other officers, they
would Lave been sSsailed for their recommen-
datIons precisely as these gentlemen have
been. We do not believe that eyery pentIe-
man who has been removed from active ser
vice, In pursuance of their recommend atoms,
should have been so removed; that is, that
their action was in all cases perfect, beyond
and above the possibility of successful criti-
oism As whole, however, they have GER
tainly benefited the service materially by
what they have done, and also the general
public interest; and We do not believe it pos.
slble that different board Of officers could
have more faithfully and properly discharged
the trying and dissgreeable duties assigned &c
them, of course without their own knowledge O,
solicitation direct or indirect to that end
The Progress Of the Contest.-The care
full reader of the reports Of yesterdays pro
ceedings in the House can hardly fail to com
prehend the fact that we are correct in anti
cipatipg now an early organization. Their,
evidently exists a nervous anxiety among tn,
members, each wing or party to cast upon tn,
other the popular odium likely to result from
the longer continuance Of the existing de
plorabe state Of things. The number VII,
are ready TO adopt almost any plan that seem
to promise speedy solution of their difficulty
is hourly increasing; for all are beginning {,
realize that their present dead lock is neithe
more nor less than a stigma in advance OF
their capacity properly to discharge the pub
lie duties they have been selected by thei
constituents to perform. While we admir-,
"pluck standing up manfully for one
psrty-we admit that there may be such
thing as running it, smack "into tn,
ground" If that has not yet been done By
all partios in the House in the present con
test, it strikes US that they have at leas
graxsd that achievement. Sober, second