The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-10-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsHs.GToN, b. C.,1
October 2lnd. 1877. Z

| ganized promptly on Monday with
Randall for Speaker. Randall was
Objectionable to some conservatives
for various causes, but a decided ma
jority favored him, and on the whole
his election is probably the best that
could have been expected. His nat
ural adaptation to the place, his ex-
perience and his services to his par
ty in more trying political times,
made his candidacy from the first al
most equivalent to an election. He
says that as far as he can influence
it this shall be a business Congress !;
that economy shall be insisted on in
all branches Of the government, and
and that measures shall be taken to
prevent repetition of the frauds that
deprived Mr.. Tilden of the Presiden-
cy.
No business, beyond organizing,
has been transacted, and no commit
tees have been appointed. 1t is sup
posed the Committee on appropria-
tons will be appointed to-day, as Mr..
Hayes message recommended appro-
priations for the army, for certain de-
ficiency in various Departments and
for money to enable us to be repre-
sented at the French international
Exposition in 1878. Mr.. Hayes asks
for the necessary appropriation for
the Army as it is, the question of an
increase or decrease TO be referred to
a later day in the session, The dis
cussion of any measures, however,
concerning the army, whether of pay
or anything else will be long and it is
not unlikely that it may last till after
the beginning of the regular session
in December. There is little pros
pect of an adjournment until the holt
days, though the intervening time
may be filled up with the discussion
of various subjects.
In regard to seating various mem
bers with questionable credentials
notably those from South Carolina,
the Democats have exhibited great,
liberality. An amusing mistake was
made by young Mr.. Hale from Mains,
Speaker Blaine's 'sLittle Bub') bas-
ed on his own partisan littleness.-
Anticipating that Clerk Adams
would place Patterson, Democrat,
of Colorado, on the roll of members,
Mr.. Hale prepared in advance and
presented while the roll was baing
read, resolution instructng the
Clerk to remove Patterson's name
1t turned out that the name was not
on the roll, and Mr.. Hale was the in
nocent cause of the first laugh in the
new House. The resolution, no yeyer,
served to show what Mr.. Hale would
have done had he been Clerk of the;
House.
The session opens with better feel
ing on both sides than has been the
case in long time. The Republi-
cans voted for Garfield for Speaker.
Curiously enough on the morning be-
fore there was published the letter
written by Hayes last spring to Gar
field, asking him to withdraw from
the Senatorial contest in Ohio, and
permit Stanley Matthews to be elect
ed, promising him (Garfeld) the ex-
ecutive influence to make him Speak
err. 1t will be remembered that Gar
field denied the authenticity of the
letter published last summer, but
this is in substance the same. and
Garfield must have had twinges of
conscience in making the denial
His prevarication, however, did not
prevent any Republicans from voting
for him on Monday. This letter,
coming from the first person occupy
ing the Presidential Chair who has
made speciality of civil service re-
form, is curiosity. First it shows
an interference by Hayes with the
people of Ohio in the selection of
their Senator, and next it promises
an attempt on his part to debauch
enough Democrats to make Garfield.
a Republican, Speaker The previous
records of the Governments NAV be
searched in vain for anything like
this.
The attitude of Speaker Blaine is
not, from what gossip is now current,
doubtful. 1t has been said among
his friends that he would do this and
that, but the latest apparently au
thenticated reports are to the effect
that Senator Blaine, beyond keeping
up appearances by presenting one or
two Constitutional amendments. will