The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

. D.
To THE EDITOR or THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The forty-sixth Congress is now as
/ sembled in extra session. 1t was
pretty close shave with our Democratic
friends in organizing the House Of Rep
resentatives, 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- po-
sition second only to that Of President
Of the United States. The opposition
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 IA COM
| bination Of favorable circu instances,
saved his bacon. II may be claimed as
IA Tilden victory, or hard money vic
/ tory but, la my opinion, it is neither.
Tneonly real issues that entered into the
contest among the Democrats were
/ Randall and anti Randall, and the ques-
ton whether the party deemed it ex-
pedient to place an ex-Confederate in
the chair. The question was settled by
the -Confederates themselves mostly
voting in favor OF a Northern man.
/ The proceedings in organizing were
tame enough, aud hardly repaid the
crowds who filleI the galleries and cor
ridors almost to suflocation. 1t was one
o'clock when the election Of Speaker
was proceeded with. Mr.. Clymer nom
mated Samuel J. Randall; Mr.. Frye
nominated Hon. James A. Garfield, and
Rev. Gilbert De La Matyr nominated
Hon. Hendrick B. Wright, of Pennsyl-
vania. When the name of Bradley Bar
low, OF Vermont, was called, be voted
for Judge Kelly, Of Pennsylvania
When Blackburn announced his vote
for Mr.. Randall, it was met with ap-
plause on the Republican side and in
the galleries. Judge Kelley voted for
Hendrick b. Wright, which created
something Of sensation. Neither
Randall, Garfield or Wright voted. Ran
dali received one hundred and forty
three votes, Garfield, one hundred and
twenty-five, Kelly one, Hendrick b.
Wright thirteen, showing that two
hundred and eighty. two members
voted. Just before the vote was an
nouueed, Mr.. O'Reilly, Of New York,
arrived and voted for Mr.. Randall, thus
giving him one hundred and forty four
votes, which is majority Of all votes
Of the members elect. Mr. Randall was
declared elected, and at half past one
o'clock was conducted to the chair by
General Garfield and Representative
Blackburn. As the three advanced up
the main aisle there was prolonged ap-
plause. Judge Kelly being the oldest
member in continuous service, admin
istered the oath to the new Speaker.
Among the new faces which attracted
the most attention were those Of ex- Sec
retary Robson, who occupied seat in
the last row on the Republican side;
General Joe Johnson, of Virginia, who
sat at the left Of the main aisle, aud
, Godlove S Orth, OF Indiana. Mr.. Black
burns desk was literally covered with
flowers. One conspicuous floral present
. was magnificent basket with his iu-
itials In the center, made OF viole,s.
7 There was also a grand pyramid of
flowers on Speaker-eIect Randall's desk.
The Senate proceedings were dry and
. uninteresting, though witnessed by a
large crowd. The reorganization Of the
committees was about all that was
done.
The post Office department has ruled
that paper started recently by a firm,
with the intention Of advertising its
business precisely as any other firm adj
vertises its business in its own long es-
tabllshed journal, cannot be admitted to
the mails at pound rates, though the
older paper may be. By this decision
the department says the act, il of long
+ continuance, suflices to remove the bar
which it will impose upon the beginner
because the original, as well as the pres
, ent, intention is swallowed up by th,
act, 1t being pecuniary success. Tn.
new enterprise, in not having reached
the point Of the true profit, like certain
p papers aud magazines published by th,
: large firms Of New York, in which ar,
/. extensively advertised their own bust.