The New York herald., 1879-03-19
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

ORGANIZATION OF THE FoRTY-sIxTH CONGRESS
;Es AND INCIDENTS.
WASHINGTON. March 18. 1879.
For the frs. time In eighteen years Congress
democratic In both branches convened at the Capitol
to-day. Tho crowd attending its assembling out
numbered even that which Witnessed the opening
proceedings Of tho Fortyou Congress four years
ago, when democratic House was FIRST inaugurated
after interval of twenty years There enough OF
the rsgime yet left in Washington from ante
bellum days to make powerful democratic demon
stration when its political sympathics and onthu-
siasm are evoked by On occasion like the present.
Accordingly tho galleries literally packed to
suocaton two hours in advance of tho beginning of
business. The serried ranks in unbroken lines
the verge of the galleries back to the walls and
doorways against which and in which people were
standing wedged together in a solid phalanx.
The Senate had little delay in organizing. 1t is
perpetual body and twothirds Of it is always to
speak, old. Nor there any considerable delay in
organizing the House. The democrats had l4S men
ON the hoor from the beginning. and the republi
cans did not attempt even contemplate refraining
from voting to defeat . quorum. the prospect
of any obstruction to the election OF Mr. Randall i'm
mediately vanished When the vote. however, was
about to be announced showing the presence Of the
above number Of democrats for Mr.. Randall little.
the matter Of quorum and temporary misunder-
standing to Mr.. Randalls supposed deficient vote
induced the summoning to the floor of Congressman
OReilly, Of Brooklyn, who cast himself into the
breach. and risking the loss Of HIS Aldermanic Of
ace. gave Mr.. Randall the quorum figure o. la.
The swearing in OF the xConfederates created the
usual merriment, and tho drawing Of seats was the
subject of still more fun, especially some of the
older members, like Mr.. Wood. chairman Of the
Ways and Means were not drawn from the box
until near the end and had to put up with seats
the outer edge Of the circle.
The House is divided so evenly politically that for
the first time in great many years the centre aisle
separates the two parties exactly. Usually. from
tho inequality Of tho party forces. one side
has had to intrude to a greater less ex-
tent upon the others seats. But now tho
right Is all democratic and the left all republican
There are ao2 seats altogether. giving Isl to each
party Az there only 293 members, all told, and
as the democratic majorityis so small. this even
partition was easily effected With oil tho members
and tho eight Territorial delegates accommodated with
places and with the Speaker in his chair. there -
main but two unoccupied seats on the floor Of the
House.
Az the allotment OF seats drew to close tho House
gradually assumed the appearance it Is destined to
wear as the Fortysixth Congress- As the seats filled
mp the character OF the body began to show itself.
From tho gallery the view was complimentary to
its general Intelligence Tho democratic side pre-
sents better looking set Of men than did the
previous Congress- while the republicans suffer some-
what by comparison in this respect with their prede
cessors. The democrats are better dressed and
fresher than the old party. while the republicans
have . younger and newer array Of faces. White
heads have disappeared largely from both
sides. In the Forty-fourth Congress any Amer
icsn visiting the House for the first time
would have readily told the democratic side
from the republican. But such . spectator would
be mora puzzled to maze the distinction in tho
Forty-sixth Congress. Indeed, II few OF the tawny
Iank Southcrners would betake themselves to the
cloak rooms while he made the inspection he might
fail altogether to find difference. II is to be hoped
the fact is good augury for both Congress and the
country.