Wilmington journal., 1875-12-31

Some of the Impressions kHe Rrings
with ERisn From WashkBEtOn-
Wr. speaker Kerr and HIS
Com I'M ittees.


, called Oh Col. Waddell on yesterday,
to gather from him some of the items
} of Washington City news that had not
: found their way to the public through
the ordinary channels. -.
We found Col. Waddell almost worn
down by the fatigues of travel, and
the duties which his Representative
position in Congress imposed upon
him, during the busy days of organic
ing the first Democratic House OF
Representatives which has assembled
since the war. We begged, neverthe-
less, to have answers to a few ques-
tions of great general interest, to which
he consented.
Reporter-Please tell ne all the
news about the organization of the
House of Representatives and the
prospects generally.
A. M. Waddell-I can give you but
little in addition to what you have al
ready seen in the papers in egard to
the election of Speaker, the appoint
ment of the House Committees and
the general prospects of the Demo
cratic parry. You know I was Ran
dali man and I certainly have no ex-
plantations or apologies to make for
my support of him for Speaker.
made mistake in that matter or not.
He now occupies the most enviable po-
ition-as Charm an of the Committee
on Appropriations-iu present Amerl-
eau politics. He will make reputa-
ton for himself if nothing untoward
should happen-which ought to satisfy
any reasonable ambition. The Com
mittee of Ways and Means has always
| heretofore been considered the great
prize, the CHARM: of that Commit
tee having been regarded as the leader
of the House. In this Congress, Cir
cumstances, aside from any considera-
ton of the Cha1rmen, make an entirely
different situation. The honors and
the responsibilities attach to the Com
mittee on Appropriations, and its
Chairman is the coming man.
R-How about the other commit
tees? Has the Speaker given general
satisfaction in arranging them?
WI would prefer not to discuss
that matter for reasons which are ap-
parent. Mr.. Kerr is very sick man.
His health, I am very sorry to say. is
almost as bad as it can be, consistent
with any actual physical efort-his
nerves are wasting-he has suppose
been worried to death by the double
duty OF providing for his friends, and
at the Same time &C ing for the best in
terest of the country. He is uuiver-
sally esteemed an honest man, who
would like to do right. But while
do not propose answering your ques-
ton fully, would be very uncandld,
if / did not say that the Speaker has,
astonished everybody in Washington
by some of his appointments to the
chairmanship of committees. Expe-
rience may justify his sagacy but, at
present, why certain men should have
been assigned to the chairmanships of
some of the important committees Is a
profound mystery, the solution OF
which is awaited with inter est. Per
haps some of them may resign when
Congress re assemblies, but this is not
probable, irasmuch as it is the firm
conviction of men generally, that they
are fully equal to any honor which may
be thrust upon them. sydney Smiths
estimate of Lord Russel was satire on
mankind generally "He would unhesi-
tatingly accept command of the chan
nel fleet. or, upon invitation, perform
an operation of stone"
OF course there must always be dis
appointments about such things, but I
apprehend that no one OF the "vic-
Tins is so small man as to allow the
real or supposed Injustice done him
to interfere, in lie least, with
his duty to his party and the conntry.
From what I have heard think exact
ly The opposite effect will be produced.
hope it will.
R.-What about the Presidential
question ?
W. Oh, that is too big subject for
me. I can only say that the chances
seem to be against Hendricks or any
Western man from his Immediate
country and equally against Tilden.
Bayard is loomitg e up think, but
doubtful things are very uncertain,
YOU know. The Northern Methodist
church seems to have organized for
Grant, and the New York Herald is
publishing sensational articles about q
secret anGi-Cathoilc organization of
which he is alleged to be the head, and
Blaine a member. [ regard this as
mere stuff, for there are thousaI ds of
men not Catholics, all over the coun-
try, who would very speedily aid in
crushing any such religious persecu-
ton. Blaine is the brightest man in
the Republican party.
R-How about the money question?
W.-That remains to be seen. The
Gem mittee on Banking and Currency,
of which Cox is Chairman, is regarded
as decidedly "hard money commit
tee, but the probability is that they
will endeavor to 'spretermit" that
question as was once before attem pied
in regard to another matter IN our pollt-
ical history. Bills have already been
introduced by several members to re-
peal the resumption act of last Janu-
AIRY. Hard money" resolutions have
also been introduced, but of course,
the House refused to take action On
eitLe-, for the present. The situation
is very interesting. and lively times
are ahead The hard times are just as
visible in Washington as they are here
and elsewhere. Now you have about
all have to S y.
Feeling that we were almost tres
passing upon good nature, We forbore
4 Al ~ IT, 49,,