Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-02-23
Washington Correspondence
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 90.

lieved will resign his position as Speak
er of the House Immediately after the
reading of the Jour.al on the 3rd of
March. A Speak er will then be appoint
ed pro tenn The choice will probably
fall on Theodore NJ. Pomeroy, repre-
senting the Twent y-Fourth Congress
sional District of New York, who will
be called upon to preside over the House
during the contest for the Spcakership,
which promises to be exciting if not
prolonged.
BLAINE AND DAVIS
are still the principal contestants for the
Speakers gavel. The former is several
lengths ahead of his competitor in the
race, and in all probability will be cleo
ted. The selection of Blaine will be a
most excellent one, and will doubtless
give pretty general satisfaction. Mr..
Blaine lacks about six months of being
40 years of age. He is thorough par
Humanitarian, has an oft-hand manner
that pleases the majority, is quick and
discriminating, and with n few weeks
practice will make July as good n pre-
siding genius of the House as Schuyler
Colfax, whose ability rs Speaker is
universally conceded
1t is a somewhat gratifying fact that
the probable successo: of eX-jOurnalist
Colfax is also grad iate in the school OF
newspaper journalism.
1t may be fact worth knowing that
Mr.. Blaine and Gen. Butler are not on
the best of terms, an that any attempt
of the latter to violate parliamentary
usages will be met promptly ty the new
Speaker.
TIE SENATE AND IT'S PRESIDING
OFFICER.
One is struck, on visiting the north
wing of the Capitol building, with the
great difference between the Senate aad
the House, both as regards numbers and
the manner in which business is con-
Quoted. The hall of the House is prob
ably twice as large as the Senate
Chamber, and at present has about 22j
occupants, while there are but sixty-siX
Senator's.
In the House there is daily 81 large
number Of spectators in the galleries
while the Senate, being Il much smaller
AMI q much less de monstrative body, is
generally favored wi tn but few visitors
The scene in he House is Always AM.
mated, and frequently exciting.
A stranger is always struck with as
constituent on looking down upon the
House from the galleries for the frs
time. The confused hum Of voices !; the
running of pages hither and thithor, as
members clap their hands, stamp their
feet, or whistle to secure their attention;
TIE sound of the Speakers gavel; the
loud talking of the m, mber to one an.
other, added to the cotillon-like move
ments OF score or more of uneasy rep
resentatives who continually wander VI
and down the nall apparently seeking
rest but finding none-all go to make W
scene which will be mentally pro-
nounced by stranger disgraceful to the
nation. And yet it is nothing but cor.
derby confusion" after all that is mis-
taken for chaos.
Business is transacted, notwithstand
ing the noise in the hall, and intelli
gently too, as the published debate:
show. The fact is, the members have
become accustomed to the din, and lay
but little attention to it. am not sure
however, if il would not be good plan
to invest the presiding officer with the
awful prerogatives of country peda-
gogue and allow him to inflict corporal
punishment whenever occasion requir.
ed, which would be very often. Won.
der if Butler (of Mass would vote fol
such rule for the Government of the
House
The S nate, being composed of but &C
members. is more dignitied body than
the House, but nevertheless it is much
more sybaritic, AMI transacts tut little
business comparatively. This is practi
cally accounted for from the fact thai
"Uncle Ben," the presiding officer, i.
never disposed to be in anything like 6
hurry; and, truth to tell, notwitb stand
ing his Ing experience, is sadly def
Gent in parliamentary tacrics. He
might have been eminently proficient
but "Uncle Ben" is an easy old soul
loves joke, and is never disposed te
hurry "his boys" as re calls the grave
and reverend Senators. They really
like the old man for his winning frank.
ness and good nature, and are generally
ready to excuse his shortcomings, and
laugh at his provoking remarks.
"All in favor of the bill will say aye, u
said Uncle Ben, rising lazily from his