Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-04-03
WASHINGTON LETTER. $
From the Dome Of cur Nation
nj Capitol - Congressional
Notes The Speakership -
Political GOssip.Ben. But
ler's Engagement.
From our Regular Correspondent.

from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., 'ch 20, '79.
For once new Congress has con-
vened just when 1t should, and made
suspicious advent hand in hand with
fowry spring bedecked in her brand
new garb of hunters green, attended
by birds and bees, young lamb, spring
chicken, and asparagus. During the
present week its organization has been
effected, committees selected, para.
phenalia prepared, and all the con-
plex machinery of legislatien-even
to its wheels within wheels-set in
smoothly running order. Before the
first of May considerable quantity
of business can be easily disposed of,
that is if those who are paid SIS, 900
per annum do it-not to mention
good round sums to come and go,
(oblivious of railroad passes in their
pockets immense stationery bills,
and other perquisites too numerous
to eunmerate-are inblined to per-
form their duty. Like all good house,
wives who begin the spring by reg
ular process of house-cleaning, over
hauling boxes and tupboards and
corners, bringing to light things that
are hid, and completing all unfinished
Or neglected jobs which have collect
ed during the winter, Congress should
Immediately inaugurate a general
"clean-up-time" Of its pigeon-holes
and accumulations. Among the FIRST
things deserving its vigorous atten-
ton, even before the appropriations,
are the hundreds of private bills just
in their nature and of paramount i'm
portance to individuals, which passed
the House but failed in tn. Senate,
or vice versa, and are now pining for
ventilation. Surely the people of the
country are entitled to little consid
Grafton, as well as those whom they
have exalted to its offices.
For days past the war between the
rival candidates for Speaker has been
waged with great fury and not little
bitterness. At the Randall head
quarters there was great confidence,
and how their fayorite could be beat
en- his friends could not see. There
was just as much confidence at the
Blackburn headquarters. At midnight
of Sunday Randall claimed IA ma
jority. Blackburn at the same hour
was sure of his election, with l3 votes
to spare. And so the two candidates
went to the Capitol on Monday night
to await the result. The caucus was
held and Randall obtained IS votes
and Blackburn 81 on the first ballot.
Blackburn defeated, but not cast
down, made speech and moved to
make his antagonists nomination
unanimous. And so the hatchet was
buried. There had been a deal of
tall story telling on both sides. Men
were claimed by Randall and Black
burn and, as consequence, such
men are denounced as having gone
back on their word. However, the
matter is settled now, for when Con-
gress convened on Tuesday Randall
had 143 votes and was elected. In
the Senate there was not little curl
Osity to see how the Democrats, now
in control, would conduct themselves
There was, however, very little OF in
terest and the first day of the extra
session passed with hardly q ripple.
While Speaker Randall was re-
elected on his own merits, it is un-I
the fact that his success is
looked upon by politicians as a very
decided indication of the success OF
Tilden in getting the Democratic
for the presidency. In
fact the old political stagers in Wash
ington already put it down as an as
sured fact that TiIden and Grant will |
be the party candidates pitted against
each other in 1880. The figuring
for Tilden is on this basis: The
Democratic party can count upon car
rying every Southern State and will
only need to secure New York and
Indiana, and some small State in ad-
iition, to get the requisite number of
electoral votes. 1t is doubted if there
IS any other man who would be as sure
Of carrying New York as Tilden, and
IF course Hendricks would be WIN
ling card in Indiana. Then it is be-
ieved that Tilden would stand good
chance Of carrying New Jersey, and
| better one of California, if that
State is not neglected, rs the Calitor-
liz Democrats say it was in 1876 un-
Ter Hewitt's management of the
latianal campaign. Thus with Tilden
md Hendricks in the field, and with
/ bold, energetic chairman of the
committee, an easy victory
8 figured out by these calculators.
IN behalf Of Grant, of course, the
iguring is reversed and a nearly solid
North is claimed for him, with some
nroads upon the South. Whatever
nay be the results of the nominations,
looks to-day as if Tildcn and Grant
will be the nominees.
The absence Of General Butler will
elleve Sergeant-st-Arms Thompson
# the greater part of his duty, that
# prancing about with the big mace.
m timaa nact vvhapoyar <hn L. |