The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-22
CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON,
Dec. 10, 1851

| Dec. ~, 1901
EDITOR DEMOCRAT
The galleries Of both Houses on
opening day," and each day since,
were and have been literally jammed,
Notwithstanding it was rainy wealth
er. Office seekers are counted by the
hundreds.
THE House
merely organized Monday. All the
Louisiana delegates were seated, in
Guiding Morey, who only held Kel-
logg's certificate, while all the others
had also Governor McEnery's certifi-
cate. The custom is established by
precedent for the contestant to make
no opposition to the mere seating of
his rival, but to contest his seat after
it is taken-thus bringing the facts
of the case in due form before that
body; and this is the view the House
took of the case, and allowed Morey
to be sworn in. Spencer will un-
doubtedly onst him. Tuesday was
mainly devoted to drawing seats and
reading the Presidents Message, dur
ing which latter about 200 of the 292
members silently stole out into the
ante-rooms. Those who remained
were engaged in writing letters to
their constituents, swapping jokes
with the pages, and thinking over
f'matters in general" while a few
went to the land of Nod. When seats
are drawn every member retires to
the auditorium; a blind-folded page
takes slip of paper from the box in
which the names Of all members are
placed, and as the Clerk calls the
members name, he steps forward and
selects his seat. Before the drawing
Hon. A. H. Stephens, of Georgia, was
allowed to select his seat, from con-
sideration Of his bad health. A SIM
liar courtesy was extended "Pig
Iron" Kelley, Of Pennsylvania, as
"Father of the House" ~ he being
the oldest member in continuous
service.
THE LOUISIANA DEMOCRATS.
Colonel Levy has seat in the fifth
row from the front, right oblique
from the Speaker. Immediately in
his rear are Ex-Governor Walker, of
Virginia, and Hon. Chas. j. Faulk-
ner, Of West Virginia. Gibson and
Ellis are to the left of the Speaker,
and also have prominent and COM
handing seats.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The Committees will not be an
nounced until Monday, the 18th inst.
It is thought r. L. Gibson, of the
First Louisiana District, will be APP
pointed Chairman of the Committee
on Mississippi levees. Colonel La
mar, of Mississippi, will probably be
Chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee. Next week will be main
ly devoted to mapping out the order
of business for the session, getting
better acquainted, exchanging cour-
tesies, etc.; and about the Goth the
House will adjourn until after the
holidays. A large number will go
over to New York. After their re.
turn the business Of the session will
begin in earnest. About the first
thing in order will be the contested
election cases, and they will be dis
posed Of in short order. OF the
eighteen contestants fourteen are
Democrats.
THE SENATE
will also adjourn over about the Goth. !
Efforts will be made to GUST the black
and-tan Bruce, Of Mississippi, the
carpet-bagger Spencer, Of Alabama,
and the scallawag West, of Louisi-
ana. It is said it can be proven that
the mahogany colored Bruce paid
$4,000 to his dark brethren Of tile
Mississippi Legislature for their
votes, and if this fact is proven, the
Republican Senate must take cogni.
zance Of it. Similar charges will be
made against West. And, by the
way, your correspondent would rise
to q question of privileged informa-
ton as to that certain stylishiy-dres-
sed lady Of an uncertain age, who acts
as his Secretary and lobbyist. She
is not his wife, or a relative. only
mention the matter as an evidence Of
his generosity to widows. Spencer
is guilty of every crime in the moral
and legal calendar, and the Republi-
can and Democratic Senators, in res
pect to their own decency as men
should turn this fellow out.
pINcHBAcK TO THE FRONT.
One evening last week Pinch mus