The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-17

WASHINGTON, March Id te,egraphed
you last night that there were about eighty
Democratic members Of The House here,
and tonight think there are more than
one hundred. The contest for the speaker
| ship is consequently no longer confined to
| the hotcl-lobbyists and the body-Suards Of
| the two candidates. but is actively partici-
pated in by those who arc to vote in caucus
Monday night. The National and Wizards,
| the headquarters Of Messrs. Randall and
Blackburn, are full Of people, many Of
whom expect to be benefited by the result.
1t is almost impossible to get at the bottom
| facts CT the situation, and 10 form anything
like rational idea OF the strength OF either
OF the candidates for the nomination you
have to wade through vast amount OF
brag, enthusiasm, and wild calculation.
For instance, you take aside one OF the lead
ing Blackburn fuglcmen and say to him,
Now. want to know what your dcllbc-
rate Judgment is in regard to the
spcakcrShip; l want to know 1t rs
Journalist and not as 4 partiSan.|
Well. he will say, 81 have gone over all the
letters and kilograms, and have his vote
down TO Il dot. and Joe will get lightweight
votes OH the first ballot" Then you go to
pronounced Randall man, and in response
to the identical request he will tell you that
Sammy has, beyond Il peradvcniure, eighty
five votes. He will then add. This does
not include single doubtful one" Now,
seyentv-four votes will nominate the Speak
er, and il both parties tell the TRUTH we will
have dual presiding officer. | asked Gem
eral Eppa Hunton this afternoon what he
thought in regard to the speakcrslip, and
he .eplied that Blackburn'S nomination is
certain. and he and Manning oi Mississippi
are the chief managers for the eloquent
Young kcntuckian. Soon afterwards Judge
John /. Harris informed me that there WAS
not the slightest doubt OF Randai'S success.
THE ESTIMATE OF A Cool.-HEAnED RANDALL
MAN.
The following is the estimate tonight OF
one OF MI Randail's most confidential
friends. and he assures Tie that lie has
! omitted every doubtful man in his cacu,:;-
ton. lie says Randall! will get s. votes
viz. Illinois, ,; Indiana. 5: Missouri. +;
Pennsylvania. I: New York, :; New DER
<ey. 8; Maryland. 4; West Virginia, g.;
Virginia. s; North Carolina. /; South Car
DINA. /: Florida, .: Georgia, s.; Tonnes
see, 6; Alabama. L; mississippi, ,; Lou
isiana. >; Texas. ,; Arkansas, |; Connec-
ticut, |; Massachusetts, !; Wisconsin, = !;
Delaware. /: Ohio. 6; Minnesota, l.
TIE OTHER OFFICERS OF TUE House.
| 1t seems to be conceded that neither Gen.
Fields for Doorkecper nor Mr.. Thompson
for Sergcant-at- Arms will have opposition,
and that the opposition to Stewart for post
master is not at AL serious. The contest,
however, between Adams, Of Kentucky, the
present clerk, and Caldwell, OF Alabama, is
very warm, and the friends OF each say they
will win.
vIRGINIANS At THE CAPITAL.
There arc scores OF Nirginans here, all
Of them good fellows, and capable OF filing
foreign missions or any other high positions
with credit, who want places under the new
organizations Of the Senate and House. but
many Of them must necessarily be diSap-
pointed, because the most liberal allowance
to Virginia possible would not suffice to
supply the demands OF a single congress
sional district.
TIE RCMOR IN REGARD TO IOWA.
Your correspondent is inclined to believe
there is good deal in the rumor that the
Clerk Of the House does not intend to put
the Iowa delegation in the roll, Or at least
such as were elected III October and moi
voted for ag ain in November. Those who
have given the question proper consldera
ton say the October election was without
the warrant of law, and that the Radicals sc
ruled in the West Virginia case, where the
facts were the same as in the Iowa case.
THE SENATE OFFICES.
For Secretary OF the Senate Messrs. Wat
terson and Burch OF Tennessee, Stenger OF
PENNSYLVANIA, Waddell of North Carolina
and Dennis OF Maryland are the candidates,
and so far Mr.. Watterson has the most votes
pledged to him. He is the father OF the
brilliant editor of the Louisville Courier
journal. For Sergeant-at-Arms Mr.. L. ..
Washington, of Virginia, has more general
strength than any candidate named, while
Mr. Richard Bright, Of Indiana, is making
a very active CANVASS, backed by Senator
VOORHEES,. The Postmaster OF the Senate
and all OF its other officers and employees are
appointed by the Secretary and Sergcaht-at
| Arms.
| THE RADICALS CATCH AT STRAWS.
| There was an order made by the Senate
during the Thirty-tlird Congress that nc
! officer should be removed without the writ
| ten consent of the Nice-Presidcnt, and the
discovery of This obsolete regulation has az
fordcd the Republicans about to lose their
places q crumb OF comfort. When asked
about il to-day Senator Withers, with a
smile, said it will not take us long to repeal
if: and Senator Beck remarked, eve Will
undo if in three minutes" 1t has not been
followed, and no one seemed to know OF It's
existence until recently.
THE SENATE CAUCUS THIS AFTERNOON.
The Senate Democratic caucus this alter
noon appointed the following committee
Messrs. Wallace, CockrelI, Ransom, Eaton,
Davis of West Virginia, Mcdonald, PEN
dleton, Garland, and Grover, to arrange the
Senate committees, and report the same 10
! the caucus.
THE GREEEBACKERs DO NOT STAND FIRM.
In spite of all the declarations OF the
Greenbackers that they intend to stand in
H. rsxtn