The New York herald., 1879-03-16
The Democrats EndeavOring to Select
Chairmen for Committees.
QUESTIONS 10 BE DECIDED.
Statement from Mr.. Wells Concerning
the Harrison Charges.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

uemOcratlc
gressmen in Washington is as yet remarkably small.
The reason of this is doubtless the suddenness
of the extra session and the inability Of so many
men to put their business affairs in shape
to allow them to leave home. Ordinarily, when the
session opens at the regular season. in December,
large majority of the congressman are here nearly
week in advance. allowing extensive and exciting
personal canvassing and electioneering on behalf OF
the several candidates, but this occasion the can
didates working upon speculation and promises
and implied pledges to an extent that leaves the
issue OF the contest for the Speakership doubtful
down to the last hour.
GROWING CONFIDENCE THE RANDALL MEN.
It would be only guess work. therefore, to assert
who actually ahead in the race as matters look to-
night. Tho friends of Mr. Randall are almost passive
in their confident claim that they will enter the
caucus with from eighty -fvo to ninety votes. and
their assurance is strengthened by the action
! this afternoon Of the delegations from Penn
sylvania and New York. The former met
in pursuance Of call issued by Mr. Clymer. and the
entire representation was found be for Mr.. Ran
dali with the exception of Mr.. Wright who is green
hacker and did attend the meeting although this
fact does not imply any hostility to Mr.. Randall.
The latter gentleman goes into the caucus. there
fore, with virtually his whole State delegation
at his back. Notwithstanding the reported
efforts Of Senator Wallace to ALLEVIATE some of the
Pennsylvania members from his support. The New
Workers did nothing Of formal nature, but al ex-
cept Mr.. Cox. expressed their devotion to the
OF Mr. Randall. Even Mr.. Cox did not dissent. He
freely admitted the ability Mr. Randall had shown as
Speaker. Mr.. Fernando Wood said he was authorized
TO declare that Mr. Muller his absent colleague, was
for Mr.. Randall. The other Congressman in at
tendance, Messrs. James O'Brien and Archibald
al
him. Owing to the absence OF Messrs Covert and
Muller the meeting adjourned until tomorrow
ing It is understood that Congressman O'Reilly
of Brooklyn, will not be in attendance at the
opening of Congress; he will also be unable to at
tend the caucus, there IL meeting OF the Brook
lyn Aldermen on Monday and his presence with the
Board il Indispensable.
THE BLACKBURN CANVASS AND THE aREESBAcKE1s
From this confident showing OF the Randall men
we turn to the Blackburn canvass. and VIC find
that at conference Of the supporters Of
the lattor gentleman. held this afternoon at the
metropolitan Hotel. careful poll Of his friends
taken. showing him sure Of over seventy votes
This record was made up. his supporters profess
to the exclusion of all names they were not sure Of
At the same time thcre is perceptiblo increase Of
prestige among the grecnbackers. occasioned by the
publication Of their address and announcement
Of candidates. Indeed the rumor current for
some time this evening and found many believers
that tho Blackburn men had begun going to the
greenbackers ON Q proposition to Jointly support
Mr. Cox To counteract this report and to show the
greenbackers that their candidate in full
sympathy with their principles the Blackburn
men sent down to the greenback headquarters
the letter OF acceptance written by Mr.. Blackburn
when he was renominated for Congress last year
and upon which he made the run for his present
seat. The moro important portion of this letter is
a. follows. and it gives great satisfaction to the
grcenbackers:-
WHAT MIR. BLACKBURN PROMISED
It win be my pleasure. IS my duty. to seek by
sistcnt labor to such legislation as will give
full and effect b the act remonctzing silver by
providing for certificates based silver bullion
as well as gold; to secure the substitution
paper. thereby abolishing the most onerous unfair
and vicious financial system with which our people
have ever been 70 'Sc r M s @
| Dues whether public or private, save in such
cases as the special provisions Of contract shall
further contraction Of the volume Of currency
already reduced below the demanded by tho
/ needs of commerce and the wants of trade and to
| check the destructive and biighting policy
of forced resumption. whose tightening folds
have already cnveiopcd millions of victims
70 the nnsSr Of the bonaeS
debt OF the country while urging and insfstng Upon
/
need not to assure you that my best efforts viii
be given in aid of reform in tho tariff SYSTEM looking
| feature seeking to reduce TO q strict revenue
bssis step in the direction OF free trade. with all
the nations OF the earth without which the shsckes
| can never be stricken from the limbs OF the pro-
ducing classes. Supported and encouraged by your
approval shall exert my best energies in vindi
| cation OF truth and the vital principle of
republican government to bring into universal con-
| demnation the practices and the men by which the
/ f.,v,l tain NJ md moi has IS.cn
| stamped upon our countrys escutchcon. No effort
OF mine shall be wanting to restore to the statute
| book the income tax law by which baked capital
\ may be iorccd 10 share in some measure the
burdens OF government. thereby relieving from the
present unjust discrimination tho labor OF the land
In short. desire to pledge myself to the utmost of
my power to reversal OF that system OF class lcgis
iaton which for nearly twenty years has been work
| OF the many for the enrichment of the few.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS IN CAUCUS ENDEAvoR-
mo TO SELECT THE CHAIRMEN OF conf
The democratic Senator'S met TO day and q commit.
tee of ninc appointed to revise the list of stand
ing committees OF the Senate. The Senator'S
selected for this duty were Mr.. Wallace, of
Pennsylvania. chairman; Mcssrs. Eaton. of Con-
ncctcut; Garland, Of Arkansas; Pendlcton,
of Ohio; Mcdonald, Of Indiana, Davis, Of
West vrginia Ransom. OF North Carolina; Cockreli
OF Missouri and Grover, Of Oregon. The committee
met tonight nj wiilards and in session for
three hours. but did not complete their labor The
| reorganization of the committees requires not
| only the selection OF the charmen, but
| the orsler in which the Senator'S named
| on the committees must bc according TO the
length of service in the Senate with due con-
sideration for the preferences expressed by the
Senators as TO the committees on which they would
| wish to serve. The standing committees number
thirty ive. many Of them composed OF nine mem
| bers, hve Of whom will be democrats. and
the task Of allotting places to tho forty.
| two democratic Senators was not found as
easy as the committee supposed IL would
| be when the work Yves taken In hand. One Of the
members sssSsd sftcr We adjournment tonight that