The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-17
(From our Regular Correspondent.)

(From our Regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 18th, 1879.
All the candidates aud Office seekers on
the Potomac appear to be quiet tonight,
and are pursuing those tactics which are
known in politics as a still hunt" In
about three days the hunt will DO noisy,
open aud aggressive. The headquarters
Of the rival candidates for the speakershlp
are about seven squares apart, on Penn
sylvania avenue. Mr.. Blackburn has rooms
at Wilards, where the preliminaries of so
many political campaigns and plots have
been arranged; and Mr.. Randall has es-
tablished himself at the National Hotel,
half way between Williard's and the CAPT
FOL. A few members who left Immediately
on adjournment, have returned, but the
number is small. and the democratic house
caucus has been postponed from Saturday,
the 18th inst, until Monday, the 18th,
just one day before the convention of con-
gress.
The Democratic Senators will hold their
caucus on Saturday, and it is expected
that the attendance will be full with per-
hans tho single exception of Hampton Of
s. y. The many candidates for positions
within the gift of the Senate are still in
the field. These candidates are so numer
Gus aud Senators are so reticent that it is
not easy to predict which is ahead If, in
deed, any body outside of the candidates
and their family connections are interested
in the scramble. 1t Is understood that
the caucus will meet on Saturday night
to appoint committee to draft schedule
of the standing committees Of the Senate
on the part Of the democratic majority, and
perhaps to discuss, informally the merits
Of the candidates for the various Offices;
but it is rot expected that any nominations
will be made until after the standing com
mittees are organized, Ii has been sug-
gested by several prominent senators that
there shall be only one regular ballot in
caucus for candidates for the various
Offices, after which, failing to nominate and
all the pledges of senators as to their votes
being fulfilled, the duty of selecting men
for the Offices shall be delegated to eau
Gus committee, the same as that of draft
ing q schedule Of committees, subject, Of
course to revision by the caucus. Under
these circumstances it is probable that the
Senate will proceedi in a very leisurely
manner in the dispensation ofits patronage
1t appears that Col. Stoddard Johnston,
Of Kentucky, has initiated the beautiful
example Of Mrs. Hayes, in establishing
the rule that there shall be no liquor dis
pensed at MIR. Blackburn's headquarters
1t will 60 hard with the majority of poll
ticians to forego their customary ratlons,
but it will make this political struggle
much more decent than any that has been
known at the Wizards for years. Late
last night prominent democratic mem
Der moved to suspend the rules and allow
one bibulous bout before retiring, but Col.
Johnston refused most fatty and said that
there should be no drinking in Blackburn s
rooms.
There is no end of speculation as to the
probable length of the extra session and
in regard TO the probable course of legisla-
ton, many think the session will be short
and end abruptly with veto to the bill
repeating the federal election law. In
this case there would seem to be no other
course but to call second extra session
for it is understood that appropriation bills
will not be passed unless with the repeal
of this law; without appropriations ell the
machinery Of government, civil, military
and judicial must stop The president can
not draw his salary, the member of congress
will be without pay, and the question
may turn upon which can hold out longest
1t Is certain that the president has more
laid by for rainy day than the average
member, but this is Dot the case with the
presidents cabinet nor with the 100000
Office holders. There are many who be.
lieve, and many in this city who hope, that
the session will continue through the sum.
mer and merge without intermission into
the regular session in December If such
should DO the case, congress will have ar
unhealthy realization of the horrors of g
Washington summer, and it may be
brought to see the necessity of draining
tho acres of insalubriOus marsh which en-
viron the city, or, what will be cheaper
and better, of moving the capital to more
healthfu locality. G. A. S.