The New York herald., 1869-01-04
WASHING cTON.

w ASnINO On.
WASHINGTON, Jan. g. 1869.
The Orsnnizatlen Of the Next House-Contests
for Speaker, Cicrk and the Sabor dinate
Omces.
Plans are already being laid for the organization
OF the next House OF Representatives by those who
are interested therein. 1t is said that clean sweep
VIII be made OF the present officials, from the Clerk
down. The contest for the SpeaKership unques-
tionably lies between Blaine and Dawes, both
from New england. Had Pomeroy, OF New
York, been reelected ne would have been
the most formidable candidate, because he would
probably have received the united support OF the
New York delegation. 1t Is said he now advises his
friends to vote for Dawes. II they should conclude
TO follow his advice this will materially enhance the
prospects or Mr.. Dawes and correspondibgly lessen
those OF Mr.. Blaine. The latter. however, Is very
popular and will make good run. Thus far two
candidates for the cerkshp In opposition to McPher
son have made their appearance These are Ephraim
r. Eckley, Of Ohio, and w. D. washburn, OF Indiana.
Both are members OF the present House, but they
were not reelected and their terms expire on tho
4th Of March, Edward McPherst H. the present Clerk,
is also . candidate, with many powerful friends
to back him. lie has held the position during
three successive Congresses, during which he made
office since 1859. with the exception OF single Con-
gress when Emerson Etheridge, OF Tennessee, was
Clerk. 1t is now claimed by the West inasmuch as
the Speakership will probably go 10 New England.
The position OF Sergeant-atArms will also go to the
West, probably to the Pacific slope; but whichever
OF the two candidates first mentioned defeated for
the Cerkship win make fight for Sergeant-at-
Arms. Ordway, the present incumbent, like Nc
Pherson, has had good thing Of 1t and can afford
to give some other person a.chance. The Door
keeper, a position with large patronage and
good deal Of profit, VIII be given to New
York. The candidates thus far are the
present incumbent, Otis s. Buxton, and
captain oodnow, who was Doorkeeper O. the Thir-
ty-ninth Congress. Both OF them hail from New
York, and the delegation from that State will be
divided on them. Between this and the 4th OF
March there will be good deal OF scientific WIRE
pulling done about the Capitol to obtain these places
The Missouri Scnatorship.
TIL latest intelligence OF the Senatorial contest
now being waged with so much bitterness In Mis-
sour was brought by Mr.. Pearson, who reached here
on Saturday from St. Louis bearer Of the electoral
vote or that State. He represents that the friends OF
Senator Henderson generally admit the impossibity
of his being elected by tho present Legislature.
They are determined, however, 10 defeat his most
formidable rival, Carl Schurz, II possible. and viii do
all they can to accomplish It. They have formed q
combination with the friends OF Ben Loan, who Is
considered the next strongest candidate to Schurz,
and they propose uniting oil the opposition
TO Schurz In both parties upon Loan n elect
the latter to the Senate. There seems to be special
antipathy upon the part OF Henderson's friends
against Schurz, who represents the most ultra wing
OF the Missouri radicals, aud Is personally well
politically obnoxious to the conservatives ana a
large portion OF the republicans His friends how
rI,t.a
The Maine Senatorship.
1t Is stated here, on what is considered good au-
thority, that Senator Morrill,, OF Maine, will have
new opponent for the senatorship, In addition TO
Hannibal Hamln In the person OF James q. Blaine.
Should there be two candidates against Morrill, IL Is
probable that he win man4ee to slip through us the
middle men.
The Tenure or Onice Act.
The despatch to an evening paper In New York
stating that Senator Sherman was preparing q bill
to present TO Congress, as soon as II assembled,
amending the Tenure OF Onlce act, Is, according
the senator himself entirely without foundation.
He has been engaged In nothing OF tho kind but feels
every disposition to support any measure which viii
give the President elect ample power TO deal with
the corrupt officials that infest various departments
OF the government aud enable him TO compel an
honest and efficient administration OF our internal
that the bills introduced to repeal the Civil Tenure
act will be the OF much pickering and dlssen.
sion among republican Senators and members. so
much talk Is had upon the subject showing lkeli-
hood OF demoralizing debate In open session. that
some cool-hcaded members, foreseeing the disas-
trous results of public erpose OF family disputes,
advocate consideration OF the question In caucus.
In this way, 1t Is thought Senators and members
may indulge their disputatious pencham and let or
their superabundant steam without danger TO tho
party or cause. We shall see.
What Congress Costs the Country and What
Little Work II Performs.
Congress very expensive institution ofthe gov
crnment, and not alone expensive but lazy and In
enicient to great degree. The representatives OF
which II Is composed are sent here by the people to
10 perform the business OF national lcgisla-
ton The manner In which 1t is performed Is one
thing ana the amount OF work done another II any
large private business firms employed number Of
men to 20 TO . certain city and hold q conven-
tion for the transaction Of mercantile matters and
discovered that their representatives had been sew
cral weeks together without touching upon single
subject In which these firms were Interested 1t
would be very strange n they failed to discharge tho
entire crowd and engage the services OF others who
would give more OF their time and attention to the
business on hand. Tie people cannot so readily
dispense with their servants, but they have just as
much right to demand that the men they employ
and send here shall do the business OF making laws
for the convenience and welfare OF the country.
Besides. these public servants are well paid for
their time and comfortably provided for ut
the capital. Thus lar In this the third ses-
sion Of the Forteth Congress, which In the
meanwhile has cost the country about 100000
In salaries and other forms OF expense, really
nothing In the way OF business has been transacted.
Ten bills have passed both houses OF Congress, five
OF which are for removing political disabilities from
some loyal adherents Of the radical party In tho
south several are for pensions to some newly dis
covered heroes ofthc OF 1872 In reference TO
the tax on tobacco and another repeating the pr ohi
bition against the organization Of militia In the re-
constructed States The latter Is the only OF any