The Republican journal., 1873-03-13
Correspondence of the N Y. Herald.
Closing Scenes in the House.
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1877;


Closing Scenes in the House.
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1873
The Forty-second Congress has expired
after titful struggle, and its transactions
are now only a matter of history. Its last
session has not been fruitful of great
results to the country at large. A shrewd
observer remarked that in the last session
only two notable things were accomplish
ed-first, the whitewashing of its exposed
corruptionists, and, second, the increase
OF the pay of its members, putting a snug
balance into the pocket of each to carry
home with him. Be this as il may, il is to
be hoped that the coming Congress will
profit by the sins of omission and COM
mission of the last. The House assem-
bled early this morning, but had COM
paratlvely uninteresting session; the gal
leries We're almost deserted, as the outside
attractions were of snch a nature as to
carry sightseers in that direction Com
paratiWely few of the members were
absent. During the early part of the
forenoon routine business of no earthly
interest to spectators was transacted with
the usual skirmishing among opposition
members, who carried their fighting up 20
the last. Judge Poland, the hero of the
Credit Mobilier investigation, appeared in
a new blue coat to- day it was made by a
veteran tailor, one OF the last survivors
of 1912; his style OF coat is Poland's
strongest feature. Without blue swal-
low tail, festooned with cleaning brass
buttons, he would cease to be Judge Po-
land The venerable patriarch, who has
engineered so many investigating COM
mittees in his Congressional lifetime,
moved about this morning. in an extra
dlgnihed manner, superinduced by his
glossy new coat and a rutfied shirt bosom
especially starched for the occasion. Sar-
gent startled his intimates by appearing
not in his usual shabby suit of gray, but
in full black. However, he was not so
thoroughly disguised as to be unrecogniz-
able, for he hoped about in his usual un-
dignitied manner during the forenoon
Sargent retires from the House only for
promotion to the Senate, where his Pacific
Railroad schemes will have better field.
Maynard, the Narragansett Indian from
Tennessee, who longs, however, hope
lessly, to be the Speaker of the next
House, was more ghost-like than ever to-
day; his lon9 hair tloated wildly down
his back as he walked about in his stealthy
way, pointing before him his long bony
finger, after the fashion of the witch in
Macbeth. as he punctured his objections
in mid air.
Sam Hooper, the block of pious respec-
liability, walked about with his hands in
his pockets. aud did as much as he ever
does above board Merrick was grave,
almost stern, to-day; he sat at his desk in
4 thoughtful attitude with bis glasses
pushed high upon his forehead. He has
gone out with the Congress that expired
at twelve o'clock to-day. AS an able legis-
lator and a pure man in politics his pres
ence can i'll be spared. He was sacrificed
to that anti Greeley tidal wave which
carried off 50 many last fall Samuel j
Randall was not, as usual, to-day at his
desk five minutes at q time. He fdgeted
about with his hands in his pockets, leer-
ing at everything that showed IN objer-
tive point, His manner sfvoreh Of az
gressivcness, and, like a true soldier, he
was vlgllant to the last. Among one of
the groups OF members in earnest CONVEX
sation to-day was William r. Roberts. of
New ork, who never voted for u corrupt
Scheint in his lie, who in this session de-
teated the Goat Island bill and saved the
BROOKLYN Navy Yard. He was talking
with Claggett, of Montana. who made
that remarkable speech on Utah the other
day. Throughout the hall little knots
gathered here and there to have the little
good-by talks incidental to the last day of
the session visitor, in the neighbour
hood Of ten o'clock, who was familiar
with the Congressional faces and their
histories, would have found much food for
contemplation in looking over this band
OF congressman and noting the ''inS'' and
"outs."
There was the Jolly Peters, of Maine,
who belongs to the latter category be-
cause he refused re election. Peters was
one OF the handsomest of the gray haired
men in the House. and of such youthful
temperament as to suggest the application
of sold Boy Such men as he will be
always missed when they depart from any
circle. Eugene Hale, of the same State,
one OF the finest men in the House, was
at his desk to-day, and took but little part
in the incidents of the forenoon He could
be observed tor II few minutes in conver-
sation with the ponderous Admiral Colds
borough who dropped into the House this
forenoon. Hale is Senator Chambers
son-in-law, tavorite of Speaker Blaine,
and 4 handsome, youthfnl-looking man to
boot. With these advantages he combines
the qualities of an able debater, a con-
scicntions legislator and a hard worker
qualities calculated to make him valll-
able addition to the next Congress Dawes
smlrked ms nsnal number of self-satisiied
smiles to-day. He seemed to have made
up his mind for a failure in the Massachu-
settes Sen torship. His prospects have
been considerably clonded by the c. Nj
expose. Dickey and Haldeman, two as
Indifferent members as Pennsylvania ever
sent to Washington, are among the outs
This will be nothing but gain to the COM
ing Congress. Grandpa Shellabarger
was, AS usual, by the side of Judge Hoar
to-day. Both were exceedingly calm anC
cheerful, having no political troubles or
their minds to harass them.
Ben Butler did not come in to-day until
half past nine. He wore dress SUIT and
was quite respectable in appearance for a
man whose paternity is disavowed botl
by gods and newspaper men. He sale
nothing to-day, being content with his
past efforts in relation to the c. NJ de-
fence of Oakes Ames. The elephantine
Hoax himself was absent, gone probably
where the shovels dig, and, alas for in
coming impecunious patriots these mar
bic halls where he trafficked in G. Ms
and NJ C.'s will know him now no more
Holman, of Indiana, objected to the last.
Beck, one of the democratic leaders, for
tnnately comes into the next Congress
The liberal reformer from Illinois did not
come to-day until late. Farnsworth is one
OF the outgoing leaders. His grizzly
bearded face. like an Eastern patriach
will rise up no more in opposition te
everything in which he (Farnsworth) Il
not interested. This politician, under the
gulse of reform has always been on thu
crusade against nearly every bill that ap
propriated money. but he has been fount
with members who were after their little
''rake." Thus in time he has lost thu
reputation Of retormer and won only q
reputation for inconsistency. He was one
OF the readiest debaters In the House anC
a perfect master OF the art of filibuster-
ing. Many members will miss him with
pleasure. Banks will be real loss to thu
House. An easy, dlgnifed gentleman, 0
rare ability, his absence will be more fel
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