New-York tribune., 1879-03-19

of the House and the newly elected
members of the Senate were sworn IN
With the exception of two or three absentees
and of Senator Bell, of New-Hampshire, and
Mr.. Hull, of Florida, whose credentials were
not acted upon. The Democrats of the Sem
ate have partially arranged the committees OF
that body.
THE HOUSE CLOSELY BALANCED.
Mr.. RANDALL GETS JUST ONE MAJORITY AND Al
MOST NOT EVEN TnAT-oRElLLYs DRAMATIC
APPEARANCE JUST IN TIME-NEw FACES AND
MISSING FACES.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON March 1S.-The Democrats organ
lied the House of representatives to-day without
a hitch although, after bringing in all their sick
men and rushing one of their Representatives
across the Continent in special trains at
an unhcard-of rate of speed, they had not
= single vote to spare. Except for the dramatic
oppearance of Mr. O'Reilly, of Brooklyn
after the roll-call had been completed, and even
after the Clerk of the House had begun the an
nouncement of the vote q second ballot would have
been necessary for the choice of a Speaker.
The Democrats have elected the officers of the
House as the Republicans desired that they should
but until they have turned out few Republicans
and admitted Democratic contestants III their
places no one will be able TO say when the Speaker
raps for order on any given morning, whether
majority of the members who are to participate III
tbe business of the day will be Democrats or Re-
pubhcans
The opening proceedings to-day were dull; hardly
interesting enough to repay the thousands OF
people who throDged the galleries or struggled
in vain to get in for the trouble
and fatigue, the crush and discomfort
TO which they subjected themselves. The Winter
residents Of Washington. the fashionable people
Los fho md att
clety of the Capital, the people who have business
before Congress aud the Departments, those who
were attached to the last Congress, and hundreds OF
Others still remain the city; and with the perma-
nent residents whose business did not prevent them
from going to the Capitol, they jammed the great
building full of people, the majority of whom got
very little satisfaction from anything they were
able TO see or hear.
The Representatives in the new House were early
in their seats. The change in the personnel OF the
House gave to the body rather an unfamiliar look,
vet it was widely remarked that in general appear
ance it would compare favoraby with either of
its immediate predecessors. few familiar
faces were missed. General b. +. Buffers
picturesque form, always pointed out by
strangers in the last Congress- Is seen there no more
and his distinguished and distlnguished-Ook
colleague, General Banks, will be equally missed
although he not as active or amusing as the
Lowell statesman. Martin /. Townsend, as full OF
fire and spirit as boy, has left the House. where, in
spite of the provoking things he would always say,
he was a universal fsvOrte. Mr.. Eugene Hale,
whose readiness for every parliamentary emer"
gency relieved his Republican colleagues of much
anxiety. could lily be spared, but his place will
probably be filled by his equally brilliant friend,
Mr. FRYE of Maine, who is one of the strongest as
lie is one of the most discreet members OF the pres
ent House. Other Republicans who were consplcu-
GUS by their absence might be mentioned but on
the whole the Republican side of the House loses
fewer of its strong men than the Democratic, and
will be able to hold Its own III the sharp political
contests in which this Congress will certainly en-
gage The tail of this dog is not only more active
and vigorous than the animal ITSELF but 1t Is almost
as big.
On the Democratic side Of the House the faces
most missed were those of ClarksOn n. Potter,
Abram s. Hewitt, Mr.. Durham and Mr. Glover,
among others.
Tho House was an interesting study to-day, not
only because of the absence of familiar faces, but
aso for the presence of some remarkable new ones.
NJ? RobesOn cx- Secretary of the Navy, whose jolly
face and rotunJ figure make friends for him
among strangers, sat IN the back row on the Eepub-
ican side His natural enemy, Mr.. Whithornc,
was in his old place. When these two men come III
contact it is expected that the sparks will fly.
A man who received many attentions on the Dem
ocratic side, and even from some Republicans was
General Joseph f. Johuston, a soldier who won the
respect OF every Union man who fought i'll the
armies that met lis troops in the field, and whose
influence for coed is to-day as great among The
Southern people as that Of any other man. He will
disappOint general expectation if he does not prove
himself useful Representative and wise leader
in his part at a time when that party needs all the
wisdom II can command
On the Republican side of the chamber General
Hawley, of Connecticut, was welcomed back by
many with whom he had served in former Con-
gresses His election TO this Congress is substan-
tial gain for his party Mr.. Levi j. Morton, OF New
York reinforces the strong body of sound thinkers
IN financial subjecte among the Repubcans at the
very time when such recruit VIII he fully appre-
cated. This is not by any means a catalogue Of all
tie new men of mark, but simply list of Il few OF
them who flst caught the eve of the observer.
The calling of the roll was not attended by sin
gle interesting incident except Clerk Adams's lame
explanation for leaving of the name Of Horatio
Bisbee. ir, the Republican elected in the Hid
Florida District
The election of Speaker was then at once pro-
ceeded With. The greatest interest was manifested
III the votes of the Greenbackers and Of two or three
Democrats who rad threatened to 90 with them.
The first of these men whose name was reached was
NJ. Barlow, Of Vermont. Tic recorded his vote i0r
JIdgc Kelley. The Nationals (strmght-ontSl WIN
the exception of Smith, of New Jersey cast thclr
ten votes solidiy for Hendrick B. Wright ana they
were also re forced by judge Kelley MI Stevenson,
Of Illinois and Mr. Ladd, of Maine Mr.. Smlth, OF New
Jersey who has been claimed by the Nationals de
serted them and voted for Randall. When the roll
cal was completed, the vote stood Randall l43,
Garfield 12j, Wright 13, Kelley ], absent ana not
voting = Of these last three were the candldates.
Messrs Randall, Garfield and Wright and the OtheI
two were Judge James, of NGw-lork !keP;l ana ana