The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-04
THE LEGISLATURE.
The Political 0n-Sights and
Sounds at Harrisburg-HOw
Speakers and Senators
are Made-A Glance
Behind the
Scenes.
.nn, DIR Dunn norrespondent.

for the annual session of the Legislature Is
about to commence The body organizes at
noon on Tuesday next, and after eleHs-
,ug its presiding officer aud t1ansacting other
routine business, adjourns until the folio wing
week.
TIE PENDIN QUESTIONS.
There are three questions which are now
asitating the legislative mind, or rather two
questions, for the election of a Speaker OF the
House. which was the first, may be regarded rs
disposed of. The remaining ones are the choice
of q United States Senator in place Of Mr..
Buckalew, and of a State Treasurer. OF these
topics more hereafter.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.
The Senate organizes oy the election OF Hon.
Wilmer Worthington as Speaker an uuexcep-
tionable man IN every respect, who commands
the respec' even of his political opponents. He
is from Chester county. The remaining officers
OF the Senate will be George Hamersly' OF
Philadelphia, as Chief Clerk, and Lucius d.
Rogers, of Mexican county, as Assistant Clerk.
Another assistant, +. II. Braggins, one of the
leading men of Mercer county, will also be
chosen. Mr.. Hamersly has been more or less
in legislative life for the last thirty years. AMI
knows all that Is worth moving. Mr.. Rogers
is jovial individual, who combines the quail.
Rcations of farmer, editor, orator, and clerk.
ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE.
The House will organize by the choice ofJobn
CLARK, OF Philadelphia, as Speaker, and General
James L. Seliridge, of Easton, for Chief Clerk.
John Smull, of Dsuphin, remains as Resident
Clerk, and one additional assistant will be
chosen, probably Mr.. Lee, Of Fraukford.
Speaker Clark represents the Homesburg dis
triot, has made q large fortune by contracts in
legitimate business, aud strange as 1t may
appear, is the most modest aud retiring man in
the Legislature. He has kept almost entirely
out Of the caucus, and has never personally
asked any one for vote. II he lacks the
knock do oWn bluntness OF Speaker Davis, of last
wear, he Will perhaps more than atone for 1t by
an easy but firm style of governing the House.
General Selfrdge is q soldier, who had no oppo-
sition in his renomiuatioD. He is fatherly
looking, quiet gentlem an, with a pleasant smile
for his friends. Mr.. Smull Is a part of the
Capitol structure, and has been on duty since he
was three feet in height. He is conceded to be
best able to attend 10 the general utility" de-
partment of the House.
HOW THE SPEAKER WAS CHOSEN.
The contest tor Speaker Of the House was ex-
citing. The friends of the two candidates were
powerful, and the entertainment commenced
early in the autumn OF 1853. B. B. Strang, of
Tioga county, was the competitor of Mr. Clark.
A meeting of western members was held at Pitts
burg, and it was generally agreed TO support
Mr. Strang. 1t is said that few OF the eastern
members also atten led the conference, aud gave
in their adhesion to Strang. As time progressed,
the friends of the contestants became still more
active, and second informal gathering OF
members took place at Harrisburg on the occa-
sion of the counting of the votes of the Electoral
College. At the Harrisburg meeting Clark was
ahead. His friends seemed to assign reasons
shat carried weight with them. From that date
until the nomination the chances Of Clark
seemed to be IN the ascendant.
MADAME RUMoR.
Rumor was not idle. At three political GEN.
tres Philadelphia, PIttsburg, and Washington,
the question of the Speakership was coupled
with the election Of a United States Senator.
People said that the choice OF presiding officer
by the House would indicate the manner In
which 1t would vote for q national Senator.
Forthwith two parties spraug up-one said,
"ClaIk is the representative OF an unpopular in
terest, and his election will indicate that the in
huence Of Simon Cameron in the Republican
party and the Legislature will be successfully
welded to elect one OF his own friends to Con-
gress-some man whom he can control, who
will acquiesce In all his schemes aud measures
The other party sald-"ClaIk is a quiet, unas.
suming and honest man, who, if elected, will be
chosen for his merits only, and his elevation
will have no possible bearing upon the Senate
rial question for the Legislature will not at this
stage commit itself to any particular candi-
date"
BEHIND THr SCENES.
II is useless to deny the fact that the name of
Simon Cameron figured very largely at the
political centres as having an influence if he
chose to exert 1t, in assisting any candidate for
Speaker he might select. 1t is not for this
writer to say whether the assumption was or
was not correct. This brings us to the Senatorial
question, and here is where the real interest
centres,
HOW GREAT MEN ARE MADE.
Have thesoyereign people any exact idea OF the
means OF manufacturing great man" to fill q
seat in the Washington Senate? Tue process is
so curious that out OF kindness to PENNSYLVANIA
voters it ought to be placed before them. The
quantity of raw material that is on haud read
to be manufactured is immense. There is one
office to be filed, and there are about a score Of
applicants to fill it. Did we say applicants ?r
How absurd There is not a single candidate
who really cares for the position. 1t is "theil
friends" who are urging them. So say they all
and the fact is recorded to show an admirine
world that pure and disinterested friendship doe,
exist in the nineteenth century and In the
atmosphere Of Harrisburg. Damon and Pythias
still live. IN. B.-This 10 Sarcasm.) Naturally