Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-11-07
WASHINGTON. d. c. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER T. two
About n Democratic House.

General B0ynt0n, the veteran Washington
correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, wrote,
prior 10 the November elections, the following
speculatiOns about the democratic organization
OF the House in case of their success
Mr.. Blaine would descend to the door, aud be-
come one OF the leaders, If not the leader, of the
opposition. He would be assigned probably {
the Committee of Ways and Means, and occapv
place next below the lowest democrat. Ltke-
wise the present weil-kno~n chairmen OF rne
committeeswOuid change from hesi to foo ~
the committees they now hold place apOn.
AS TO patronage, the small field Of the HOIss
officers and employees would be the only graz
ing ground in Washington for the hungry hosts
OF the long fasting democracy.
The Clerk of the House has forty seven per
sons on his rolls; the Sergeant alarms three;
DOOrkeeper twenty-six, and the Postmaster
ten there are twenty-eight committee clerks;
total, one hundred and fourteen, which viii
then represent the Congressional patronage %
the great democratic patty. Under the tre-
menoo1s pressure which members will expert
ence, they may increase the rolls 20 two hun
dFed, possibly to three hundred; but even a.
twice or thrice the present force, the whole
thing would be but a crumb with which u feed
6n army. few friends might be Emuggled
INTO the departments, or into minor positions in
the country, in exchange for help for putting
needed appropriations through; but il will nos
40 for the hungry democratic seekers after
sustenance 10 cOunt largely upon food from
those quarters. Ii democrats refuse necess ary
appropriations TO carry on the government, lis
return TO full power will be long postponed.
Investigations will surely be a fe sture Of the
torty-fOurth Congress, IL II is democratic; for
while II IL a party which never exposes itself IL
will take that occasion 10 appear yirtueus, when
IL has not been long enough in power to have
lts own members compromised in any great de-
gree. The duty OF the minority will then be 10
show that Congressional corruption is not a
thing CT party, by bringing to light the demo-
Gratis who have in the past dgured in everything
WEieh can form the subject of inquiry.
AS the House has the power OF impeachment
IL Is much more than likely that the Senate
would be called HpOn 70 try a number of fede-
raj Ofhcials But this fear Of impeachment
might not be an unwhOlesome dread when i'm
port ant offices were to be filed.
Each House would kill the purely partisan
any event must remain republican till 1S-7
would allow no measure of this kind 70 pass into
law, and the House would in the same manner
curb the Senate
There would doubtless be many bills passed in
each body, and sent to the other with the desire
10 have them rejected, as part OF the play to
OBTAIN the favor of the people. The legisJ alton
which did pass and secure the approval OF the
President would probably be of character
scarcely any thing else would stand a chance Of
passing.
All in all, it would be the liveliest session o.
congress Which the country has witnessed for
many years. The House would become the
greater for sharp and continued fighting, opened
and maintained by the men who for wears bave
controlled the body, and whose only ch ancs To-
gaming power would be through a bold an1
decisive battle. The Presidency will be IN.
tigues, and the open battles to secure il viii fx
the attention of the country till the dsv wher.
'he ballots OF the people pass Judgment on the
work, and decide the issue. H.VB