The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-10-18
Washington News and Gossip.
THE CONTESTED SEATS.

AhH NONAEoAED oEAIos
There was on unexpected break in the House
upon the contested cases of the colOred South
Carolina members, Rainey and Cain. They
were sworn in by solid Republican vote, aided
by nearly half Of the Democrats The elec-
tion committee will hereafter take eognizance
of these contests. A curious feature of the
debate was that Mr.. Cox, Northern Democrat,
championed Wade Hampton's side, while Mr..
Mills of Texas, an extreme Southern Demo-
crat and ex-Confederate, made ringing speech
in favor of admitting the colored men, on the
simple ground that they undoubtedly had a
prin1a fdcte right to their seats. The vote on
hslney was TO to 6S and by this vote he was
seated 10 face OF strong written protest from
Wade Hampton. The protest of the latter set
up that at the time of Raineys election the
state of South Carolina was under a reign of
terror caused by the presence OF United States
troops and Mr.. Southland of Ohio, in echoing
Mr.. Hampton. declared, "but while under ma
tional troops Sonth Carolina was in a state of
insurTectlon; Upon reaching the Louisiana
case Randall Gibson, who was so prominent
last winter in helping complete the electoral
count, moved to swear in Mr. Darrell. His mo-
tion succeeded, and the plan by which Leuten-
ant-Governor Wiltz tried to smugg'e Demo-
crat on the rolls in place of Darrell, who held
certificates both from Packard and Nichols,
failed by large vote The result of the days
debate was to develop in q marked mauner the
existence of moderate party among the South
ern Democrats of very considerable strength.
THE NEW YORK APPOINTMENTS.
have given the Cabinet more trouble than most
any other appointments. There has been quite
a sharp antagonsm between the different MEM
bers of the Cabinet in respect to them. The
situation is this: 1t is determined that Theodore
Roosevelt is to be collector, and General Mer-
ritt naval officer or surveyor. When ,Secrtta
Evarts returned from New York recently, he
earnestly favored promoting Benedict, deputy
surveyor, to succeed Sharpe as surveyor. This
was approved by George William Curtis, who
urgently recommended Benedict for the survey
orshp When Sharpe was first doomed
Secretary Sherman, who has said in the Cabi-
net that he presented no candidate and only de-
sired that officers be competent, strongly op-
posed the appointment of Benedict on the
ground that as Arthur isiremoved not because he
is inefficient or dishonest, but because he repre-
sented system which the President desired to
abolish, there was no reason for the promotion
of Benedict, who, according to the testimony of
the Jay commission, not only did not disapprove
of the old system, but was in great measure
responsible for it, Notwithstanding Mr.
Sherman's opposition, the probabilities
Tuesday were that Benedict would be appoint
ed but at the Cabinet meeting Mr.. Sherman
opposed Benedcts appointment with such vig-
or that it became apparent that he could not be
appointed without creating serious dissensions
in the Cabinet, For that reason his appoint
ment has been abandoned. The Cabinet are
now considering two names-that of Frederick
Clark Graham and ex-State Senator Bradford
Prince. To concilate General Arthur for his
val from the colectorship, he ia to be made
consul-geDeral at Paris. There are one hun
dred and foIty-three applications for this Office.
TO AID THE REPUBLICANS.
A gentleman who taxed on the subject at
length with Messrs. Spencer, Patterson and
Conover, reports them as fully determined to
vote with the Republicans on all questions in
volving the organization of the Senate. Upon
the admission of Southern Senators they may
vote to seat them, but in this they expect to be
supported by a number of the most prominent
Republican senators from the North. If they
remain of the same mind there is no probability
of any plan being successful by VIII ich the Dem
ocrats may attempt to gain possess ion of the Of
fees and committees of the senate.