Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-19
Iron Our Regular COHesPoodent J
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. D. c, March Is. 1879

and are pursuing those tactics which are
known In politics rs sill hunt In
about lhree days the hunt will be noisy.
open and aggressive. The headquarters
OF the rival candidates for The speakership
are about seven squares apart on Pennsyl-
vania Avenue. Mr.. Blackburn has rooms
at Willard's where the preliminaries of so
many political campaigns and plots have
been arranged: and Mr.. Randall has es-
tahlished himself at the National Hotel,
half way between Wizards and the CIpi-
tol. A few members who left Immediately
on adjournment have returned. but the
number is small, and the democratic House
caucus has been postponed from Satur lay.
the 18th instant. 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 he full with. perhaps,
the single exception Of Hampton OF South
Carolina. The many candidates for posi-
lions within the the gift of the Senate are
still in the field. These candidates are So
numerous and senators are so reticent
that it Is not easy to predict which is
ahead, if, indeed, anybody outside Of the
candidates and their family connections
are interested in the scramble. 1t is under
STOOL that the caucus will meet on Sltur-
day night 10 appoint committee to draft Il
schedule of the standing committees of the
Senate on the part Of the democratic ma
jority. and perhaps to discuss informally
the merits of the candidates for the vari-
Gus offices; bat it is not expected that any
nominations will be made until after the
standing committees are organized. Ii
has been suggested by several prominent
senators that there shall be only one reg.
ular ballot in caucus for candidates for III,
various offices, after which, failing tc
nominate, and all the pledges of senator,
as 10 their votes being fulfilled, the duty oi
selecting men for the Offices shall be dele.
gated to Il caucus committee, the Sumo as
that Of drafting schedule of committees
subject, OF course, 10 revision by the eau.
Gus. Under these circumstances it is prob.
able that the Senate will proceed in very
ei>urely manner in the dispensalion of its
patti onage.
1t appears that Col. Stoddard Johnston
Of Kentucky, has Initiated the beautiful
example of Mrs. Hayes, in establishing
the rule that there shall he no lquor dis
pensed at Mr.. Blackburn's headquarters
1t will 60 hard with the majority of poll
ticians TO furcgo their customary ration
but it will m Ike this political struggle
much more decent than any that has been
known ut Wizards for years. I-ale las
night prominent democratic member
moved to suspend the rules and allow orr
bibulous bout before retiring, but Col
Johnston refused most faily, and said tha
there should be no drinking in Blackburn,
rooms.
There is no end of speculation as to the
probable length Of the extra session anl
in regard to the probable course Of leeis
lalion. Many think the session will b,
short and end abruptly with veto to th,
bill repeating the federal election law. In
this case there would seem to he no Other
course hut 10 call Il second extra session
for it is understood that appropriation bills
will not be passed unless with the repea
of thls law; without appropriations ALI the
machinery Of government, civil, mIitar,
and Judicial must stop The presd, n,
cannot draw his salary. the members Of
congress will be without pay. and the
question may turn upon which can hold
out longest. 1t is certain that the presi.
dent has more laid by for rainy day than
the average member, but this is not tic
case with the presidents cabinet nor with
the one hundred thousand Office holders
There are many who believe, and many in
this city who hope, that the session will
continue through the summer and merge
without interlnis'i sion into the regular ses-
sion in December, If such should be the
case, congress will have nm unhealthy
realization of the horrors OF Washington
summer and it may be brought to See the
necessity Of draining the acres of insalu
brious marsh which environ the city. or,
what will be cheaper and better, of NOV
ing the capital to y more healthful locality
C.