The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-12
MEN AND MEAST7- ,r, rw.S,,vorov
s'V"' OtVn Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1868.
The Congregational Recess
nom or

week Very little practical Legislation was Ac-
complished, but enough work to consume
much of the session was mapped out have
already indicated In this correspondence what
will, In all probability, constitute the leading
features OF the action of Congress during the
present session. In addition to these there VIII,
OF course be the usual number of private bills
and schemes, whose success depends, to great
extent upon the manipulation and perseve-
rance of the lobby. Very little, however, will
be done until after the holiday recess. This
you will perceive is unusually long, consider
ing the shoTtness of the session.
The Leadership Of the House.
The death Of the Honorable Thaddeus Ste
vens, who was confessedly the leader OF the
House up to the adjournment last July, has
given rise to considerable rivalry in quietway
for the honors of that position. While the
''old man" lived, and especially during the
last two sessions of Congress, two or three mem
bers attempted TO wrest the sceptre from his
hands But so powerful was his influence that
This opposition never assumed a more danger
GUS shape than personal Jealousy. Now, how
ever, thai he is gone the way is comparatively
clear, and the asplrants are left to contend
with each other for the mastery. While Mr..
Stevens lived the man who was most ambitious
TO fill his place was John A. Bingham, of Ohio
Even in his feeblest days the member from
the Lancaster district handled Bingham
a child. 1t was so with all
the other members that attempted to measure
swords with the Great Commoner. The Chair
man Of the Ways and Means Committee should
be the leader OF the House. But IL depends very
much upon the character of the man whether
he is able to assume the position given him by
custom and parliamentary usage. When the
late Mr.. Stevens was placed at the head of that
committed soon after the beginning Of the war,
In If q
Afterwards, when the Ways and Means Com
unittee was divided and the Committee on Ap.
propristions was carved out of 1t, Mr. Stevens
as chairman of the latter committee, was as
much the leader of the House he was when
at the head OF the Ways and Means. His sue
lessor, General Schenck, of Ohio, although
man of conceded ability. can hardly
be said practically to be the leader
of the House. He lacks those rare qualities so
essential to such position. Though hard
worker a good debater, and eminently practi-
cal, he has none of the management, the adroit'
ness and, above all, the sarcasm and quiet good
humor of MIR. Stevens. He can stir up all the
elements of opposition. but he does not seem TO
understand the secret of quieting them at plea
sure and making them subserve the success of
his own plans Judge Bingham would like to
be leader, but, like Schenck. he lacks the quail
fcations, Though good speaker and ready
debater, he loses his temper too easily, and
instead of conciliatlng those whom he can
neither win nor destroy, he only stimulates
them to more determined hostility. The House,
indeed, may be said to be without any leader at
present.
It may seem somewhat strange that yod
should receive intelligence on this subject from
Washington. Just now, however, the cam.
paign seems to be transferred here. The Hon.
Ca usha A. Grow, who contends that he has
the inside track, has been here for some days
earnestly at work with the Pennsylvania dele
CATION. Whatever other qualities he may pos
sess, he certainly deserves the credit of being
shrewd politician. Like everybody else, he dis
trusts the promises and professions of the
Pennsylvani& Legislature made in advance of
their caucus for the nomination OF Senator.
Recognizing the fact that the members of Con-
gress from the several districts of the State
have more or less influence over the members
of the Legislature from their districts, he is
quietly at work trying to get the superior
power to move the inferior in his behalf
Not being in his confidence, cannot say with
what success he has met. 1t is safe to assume
however, that 1t is hardly so great as he de-
sires from the fact that the delegation is pretty
well divided among the several factions of the
State. None of the other candidates have made
their appearance here, at least upon the
same errand as Grow. General Camerons son,
showed no disposition to work among mem.
bers for the Senatorship Indeed the peculiar
relations of his father render such an effort
hopelessly futile.
PennsyIVaMia in the Cabinet!
Ever since the election of General Grant
quiet contest has been going on between the
different aspirants and their friends for place
in the Cabinet to be awarded Pennsylvania
There is no scarcity of candidates. Not less
than half dozen have managed to get their
names mentioned in connection with the posi-
fion. Two or three, however, have been Sc
riousy spoken Of Among these may mention
Ex-Governor Curtin, Governor Geary, and
Colonel John w. Forney. Curtin is backed
wholly by State influence, his chief fugleman
being A. X. Mcclure. The latter has bsen
here for some days trying the strength of his
friend. not only with the Pennsylvania delega-
JiUn in Congress, but with the prominent men
outside lne SIate. He mas alsGoyered, ,wnat
most men OF ordinary intelligence knew
before that Curtins reputation is strictly local,
and that even at home he is by no means as
stron as his friends suppose. Besides, he has
q powerful and determined opponent in Senas
tor Cameron, who will exercise whatever
power he may posses TO keep Curtin
out OF the Cabinet as We'll as out
of the Senate. There Rre few who
believe that Governor Geary will be invited TO
n seat in the Cabinet. and fewer still who think
In II he would accept IL. 1t Is quietly whispered
IA usually well.informed circles, too that Col.
Forney's chances are better than any Of the
others. Forney Is personally intimate with
General Grant He was among the first jour
naliss in the Republican party to hoist the
eacy of the Generals election, both on
the stump end in his newspapers, has
been unremitting. Unlike either Cur
tin or Geary, Forney has q national reputa-
strongly nTna6 n "a