The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-27
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent.
Washington, ID. c., March 22n

washington, IL. ", Marcn zznu.
The 46th Congress is now assembled
in extra session. It was a pretty close
shave with our Democrat friends in
organizing the House of Representa-
tives, but they pulled through by the
skin of their teeth, as it were, and
Sam Randall once more wields the
gavel and controls the deliberations of
the popular branch of Congress-a
position second only to that OF Presi-
dent of the United States. The oppo-
sition to Randall in the ranks of his
party was very pronounced, and at one
time seemed likely to be sufficient to
defeat him in the caucus, but his
superior skill at political wire pulling,
with n combination of favorable cir
cumstances, saved his bacon. 1t may
be claimed as Tilden victory, or
hard-money victory; but in my
opinion it is neither. The only real
issues that entered into the contest
among the Democrats were Randall
and anti-Randall, and the question
whether the party deemed it expedient
to place an ex-Confederate in the chair.
The question was settled by the ex-
Confederates themselves mostly voting
in favor of northern man.
The proceedings in organizing were
tame enough, and hardly repaid the
crowds who filled the galleries and
corridors almost to suffocation. 1t
was one o'clock when the election of
Speaker was proceeded with. Mr..
Clymer nominated Samuel J. Randall;
Mr.. Frye nominated Hon. James A.
Garfield, and Rev. Gilbert De La
Matyr nominated Hon. Hendrick B.
Wright, of Pennsylvania. When the
name of Bradley Barlow, of Vermont,
was called, he voted for Judge Kelley,
of Pennsylvania. When Blackburn
announced his vote for Mr.. Randall it
was met with applause on the Repub-
lican side and in the galleries. Judge
Kelley voted for Hendrick B. Wright,
which created something of SEN
sation. Neither Randall, Garfield nor
Wright voted. Randall received 143
votes, Garfield l25, Kelley l, Hendrick
B, Wright IS, showing that 282 men,
bers voted. Just before the vote was
announced Mr.. O'Reilly, of New
York, arrived and voted for Mr.. Ran
dali, thus giving him 144 votes, which
is a majority of all the votes of the
members elect. Mr.. Randall, was
declared elected, and at half-past one
o'clock was conducted to the chair by
Gen. Garfield and Representative
Blackburn. AS the three advanced
up the main aisle there was q nro-
longed applause. Judge Kelley being
the oldest member in continuous SER
vice, administered the oath to the new
Speaker. Among the new faces
which attracted the most attention
were those of ex-Secretary Robson,
who occupied seat in the last row on
the Republican side; Gen. Joe John
son, of Virginia, who sat to the left of
the main aisle, and Godlove S. Orth, of
Indiana. Mr.. Blackburn's desk was
literally covered with flowers. One
conspicuous floral present was mag
nificent basket, having his initials in
the center, made of violets. There
was also a grand pyramid of flowers
on Speaker. elect Randall's desk. The
Senate proceedings were dry and un-
interesting, though witnessed by a
large crowd. The reorganization of
the committees was about all that was
done.
The chief topic OF interest here just
now is the widow divers breach of
promise suit against the venerable
Simon Cameron, now in progress.
Gen. Butler appears as Cameron's
chief counsel, and there is always an
expectant crowd gathered together
when Butler has anything to say or to
do. The impression seems to be that
the General will make it lively for the
festive widow before he gets through
with the case. She claims that Simon
promised to marry her and make
things comfortable for her generally,
and, with that understanding, he was
granted privileges which he shouldn't
have had. In support of this claim
she presents, among other things, two
or three rather dubious love letters.
The naughty old man, on the contrary
thinks it is case of blackmail, and
says he has already paid her 81 900
rather than have fuss about it. To
make it still more warm for the widow,
they present in court Mr.. Thos. NJ.
Oliver, who was once supposed to be
her husband, and who is now alive
and well. This complicates matters
considerably, as it is hard to under
stand how Mrs. Oliver has been
damaged by the refusal of an old man
like Cameron to marry her, when she
already had husband alive and well,
and better looking man, anyhow.
The Post-office Department has
ruled that paper started recently by
firm, with the intention of adver-
tising its business precisely as any
other firm advertises its business in
its own long-established journal, cam
NOT ha admittab To tho p,aiIc of ,,nnn1