The New York herald., 1877-10-22
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2l, 1877.
THE LOUISIANA SENATORIAL oUEsTIoN-INrRI-
CATE PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED.
There appears tonight TO bo possible end Of the
louisiana Senatorial contest First, the arrival OF Mr.
Pnchback will present the question OF his eligibility
TO the Senate tho second set OF credentials
furnished him. the action Of the Senate In deciding
tnat hc was not entitled TO . seat being
based upon his original credentials Next, should
the Committee Privileges and Elections decide that
he has no valid claim TO recognition, tho intormslity
OF the credentials OF Mr. Eusus will TOR con.
sideration, and the acting chairman, Mr.. Mitchell,
said TO- night that his case involved more important
points than any that had before the Senate for
many years. The law requires the Legislature OF
State to elect Senator whenever = vacancy exists.
The Louisiana Legislature Is presumed to have resolved
that Mr. Pinchback was not legally elected Senator.
and for that reason vacancy existed when Mr. Eustis
was elected The record Of the United States Senate
shows that that body celebrating upon this point
when the election Of Mr. Eusts said to have taken
place. and the questions involved are-Firs whether
1t is competent for State Legislature to dcare q
vacancy pending the application OF o contest
ant with proper CREDENTIALS second, whether
one branch OF Legislature is competent to do this,
as the election OF Mr.. Eustis effected BY the vote
OF the lower branch, the Senate OF the State Of
Louisiana resolving that vacancy dd not exist and,
third whether, tho action of the lower branch being
sufficient tho credentials Of Mr. Eustis in proper
form, being without the seal OF tho State and only
certified copies OF records Of both branches
of the Legislature ana bearing only the
seal OF the Secretary Of State for notarial
purposes. Mr. MITCHELL without expressing an opinion
as to what would be the probable action Of the com.
mittse. said that with the particular caution sxer-
csed by the Senate It would be difficult to accept such
credentials as proper in form to the record of
the proceedings OF the Legislature Of Louisiana Tho
inference plainly Is that Mr. Eustis claim will not be
iavoraply reported py the Senate committee.
In regard to Kellogg -SpoGord CONTEST questions
OF political character. will come before the commit
tee In discussing their claim. but thus far the only
preston OF the committee has been in favor OF pro-
ceedng with the hearing OF the claimants and giving
immediate attention TO all matters bearing upon tho
contest Senator Morton, who is chairman Of the
committee, while thoroughly informed Of Its proceed-
ings both by letters from the clerk brotherinlaw,
has not iDtimated as yet anything concerning the
merits of ethor claimant. When the committee meets
tomorrow it will bc determined what line OF conduct
shall guide the committee In coming to conclusion.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE CHAIRMANsHIPs OF THE
HOUSE COMMITTEES.
The Speaker has not yet made up the committees
and hc Is uucommony close and uncommunicative
about his intentions, but there various specuia
tions aGoat the subject and gossip says that the
chairman on Ways and Means Is likely to bo either
Mr.. Fernando Wood or Mr. Hewitt; that tho chair
rnanshp OF the Judiciary Committee lies between
Mr. ClarKson Potter and Mr. Randolph Tucker;
that Mr.. Alexander H. stephens will probably be
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Cly-
mcr chairman OF the Committee Appropriations,
and Mr. Roberts chairman OF the Committee Ac-
counts. In tho making up Of the Appropriations Com.
mtee 1t Is quite likely that Messrs Hale and Foster
among the Republican members will be retained from
last session
THE LENGTH OF THE sEssIoN-DEMocRATs
UNEASY.
Tho Democratic members Of the House are becom.
Ing restve under tho uncertain length OF the extra
session. and call will be made tomorrow for caucus
90 decide whether the business shall DO limited to tho
call oil the President allowed 10 take full
legislative range. There are number OF lawyers
whose business has been postponed and who are
appealed TO to home and look after interests
OF thor clients The democrats recognize that
publlcans both houses better in hand than their
forces and the fear Is that undor pretence
another the democrats may absent themselves in the
House ana gvo tho republicans majority. Tho No
vember elections also attraction to draw of
good many members Of both parties