The New York herald., 1879-12-02
WASHIN GT0N.
First Regular Session of the Forty
sixth Congress.
SCENES IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Attitude Of the Two Parties on the
Financial Question.
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE OF 1880
Mr.. Tilden's Position Stated by a
Confidential Friend.
WHAT Mr.. HENDRICKS WILL DO.
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE OF 1880
Mr.. Tilden's Position Stated by a
Confidential Friend.
WHAT Mr.. HENDRICKS WILL DO,
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

fhOM OUR SPECIAL COHReSFONDcNI
WAsHINGToN, Dec. l, 1879.
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION IN coNGREss-Do-
NOTHING POLICY OF THE REPUBLICANS
FAIR HOPES from DEMOCRATIC BLUNDERs-
SPEAKER RANDALL's POSITION.
It is plain that the Presidents wise recommends.
tons stop the coinage of deprecated silver dollars
and to retire the greenbacks received very cold
welcome from his own party, the greater part
OF whom. though by no means ALL are anxious to
DO nothing and to avoid being forced to vote
on either OF these questions at this session.
The Western republicans are pretty gen.
orally afraid Of their constituents. Many
Of : them are at heart nfationists and
unlimited silver men; most Of thom fear to imperil
their seats and the fortunes of their party next
by ranging themselves on the Presidents side on
these questions. They hope however that the So
called democratic majority will do them tho service
OF helting them out Of their difficulty by bringing
! Forward scme new or old extreme imitation devices
which the republicans can oppose without commit
ting themselves to q sound policy. There is reason
to believe that this hope will be Justified. The infa-
tonsts and silver among the so-called democrats
threaten already that they will push their pet
schemes into the foreground at early day. and
they have fortunately for them, the Speaker Of the
House on thoir side. Mr.. Randall is understood to
be exercising his great mind ut this moment the
question how to frame new silver bill which will
look one way and shoot another. He favors. for
instance. some Of his intimates give out. bill
which would repeal the present requirements
to coin two millions month, but with
proviso that both gold and silver shall
be received at the mints. Mr.. Randall remembers
that the republicans once made a resumption net
10 ipgeniously worded that nobody was able to say
whether 1t meant resumption or imitation and he
oatters himself that he has as much ingenuity Of
that kind rs his predecessor in the chair. Tho
course OF Mr.. Randall during the extra session was
surprise TO good many people here, He gave
himself up with great zeal to the service
of the -uslimited silver men. !. He viaor-
ously assisted: tho movement which ostensibly
proposed to BULLDOGS Senator Bsyard into
the support of tho Warner Silver BILL but whose real
object was well understood to be to hound Mr.. Bay
ard from the chairmanship of the Finance Com
mfttee. He bored Senators .assiduously with his
very crude notions about the currency, which re-
yards mainly sort Of "three card game to fool
The public into eccting democrat to the Pres
idecy next and the spectacle OF the Speaker of
the House going over to the Senate daily to inhu-
snce legislation that side OF the Capitol caused
surprise and good deal Of comment Of q
kind which would he disagreeable to q thin
friends no is Of the mind still and thinks that
the salvation OF the so-called democratic party de-
pends on the multiplication of any eighty-hve per
cent dollar Tho unlimited silver count on his
assistance. and they say truly that 'Sam rules
the House with . rod Of iron, and what he wants
he'll GET With his assistance, therefore, there is
reasonable prospect that the republicans will be able
to spend the long session in preventing the demo-
cratB from doing mischief which is all they want to
do. II any republican should bring forward bills
to stop the coinage OF silver and retire the green
backs in accordance with the recommendations of
the Message he would receive hearty curses from
the body of his party. As to any hard money demo-
Gratis daring to do SO well. they will talk about
II, and that Is probably all.
SEATS FOR CABINET MEMBERS IN THE HOUSES
OF coNGREss-A MEASURE OF CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM.
Regret is expressed by republicans and democrats
that IN that part Of the Message referring to the
reform Of the civil service the President made no
mention of the proposal before Congress give
TO members of the Cabinet seats in both houses and
the right to participate in debate 1t is claimed
by the friends of this measure that ono of
Its most important results would be the
purihcation OF the civil service, because tho
heads of departments could thon be openly
inerroRated concerning abuses and would be forced
to make public and the attention of the coun-
try could thus bo fixed upon tho misuse of the civil
service for partisan purposes. 1t would give vigil
ant minority the power to efectualy expose to the
country that interference of Office holders in politics
which the President rightly regards as dangerous.
and Of which it shrewdly said here
not long ago that the power and in
huence OF tho army OF ofice holders
has become SO great that those opposed to them
need to have q two-thirds majority to begin with
before they hope to carry an election. He meant
that onethrd Of the voters, plus the power of the
Office holders when these engage actively In politics.
is equal to two-thirds Of tho voters opposed to
them. The friends of Mr.. Pendleton's bill to give
Cabinet Ministers seats on the door Of the two
houses to-day urged him to bring forward that
measure possible. 1t will have support
from both sides Of the Senate and there is hopo Of
IN interesting debate ON it during the session.
GENERAL GRANT ON THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
pnoJEcT--Acr1oN TO be TAKEN IN con-
oREss.
General Grant has written letter to . friend In
this city concerning the proposal of European capt.
talists to take large interest In the Nicaragua Canal
scheme. The General advises that Congress shall
be asked to incorporate the company, hecausc so
vasta project Will have higher credit in Europe IL
II has national rather than n state fran
erable number Of prominent citizens of high
character aud financial ability bc inserted in the act
As corporaors. and he thinks 1t advisable that this
government shall obtain now treaty with Nicara-
qua. not In the nature of concession of right of
way. which would be for the company to acq but
treaty covering the whole project and guarding
tho use Of tho canal and tho right Of the United
States to its use and protection. Finally. in this
letter. those who have seen 1t say that he declares
himself ready to take prominent part in the en.
terprisc whenever these conditions are attained.
Meantime the project is to receive immediate At
tention in both houses. General Burnside intends
Tomorrow to call up his joint resolution last ses-
sion on the Monroe doctrine and to speak upon t.
This resolution is in these words:--
Whereas the people OF this Union hsvc for fifty
years adhered to tho Monroe doctrine that the ma
tious OF the American continent by the Tree and in
dependent condition which they have assumed aud
maintained ARC hereafter not 10 be considered sub