South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-12-16
Letter from Washington.
tF'on our Regular corr..poaaea..)
WAsHrSsros. d. C. Dec 70

member an opening more so in the
course OF my SIX years observation nj
the Capital. In the Senate the on.
portunity for little excitement over
an attompt to change the officers of
that body was early shut Oft by the
deeisration OF Judge Davis that he
should vote to continue the Republic
cans IN possession of The committees
aud the Democrats in the enloym ent
OF the other Offices. The House has
done nothing but organize. 1t is not
very remarkable body intellectually
especially on the Republican side
The progress OF that party in the low
branch of Congress has been gradually
toward mediocraey for some wears.
In the 44th Congress, elected in the
year that the Democratic Landslide
displaced Ben Butler and many other
prominent Republicans. the party still
had left for leaders such men "a Blaine.
Garfield, kasson. Hawley, Hale and
Frye. Ofa!l these Kasson is the only
one left, and he has been out of the
country so long that he has apparent
~ lost his grip as leader. Even the
Michigan 'screech OWL Conger who
usurped the functions of leadership in
last House, is no longer present, and
the rotund Robson OF New jersey.
alone comes forward to fill the gap.
A slender majority thus led, and
made up of some Half-breeds, few
stalwarts, several greenbackers and
two Repudiationists, will find itself
opposed by solid minority possess.
ing such leaders "a Randall. Hewitt.
Carlisle, Blackburn and a dozen
others, all head and shoulders above
the strongest men on the other side
This, taken together with selection of
Speaker who is not n parliumenta.
riaE, nor even ready, clear headed
man. presents An unpromising outlook
for the majority. The only dramatic
scene thus far, occurred on the open.
ing day when Dir. Moore, the fresh
young Republican from. the Memphis
district OF Tennessee, bounded NJ the
aisle from his seat, waving his arms
wildly III the air, and objected to
swearing In Dir. Chalmers, of Missis
sippi, IN stream OF turgid rhetoric
poured forth III stcntorian tones. Ills
language and behavior were so utter
~ ridiculous that the whole honse
broke out IN dcrisive laughter. When
MIR. Moore's name was called, Gen
Bragg, OF Wisconsin, rose and mi.
micSing the mclodramatic STYLE oil
that gentleman, objected to his being
sworn III in almost precisely his Ian.
guage when Directing to tie admiss-
ION of Mr.. Chalmers. This brought
down the House in rounds of applause. |
but 1t had no effect on Mr.. Moore. |
who will require more time and sad !
experience to discover that new mem.
bers, unless OF transcendent ability
must be little diffident or they will |
be very severely sat down upon.
In the determination of the Speak
ership contest we had another illus. |
tration of the magic of the Cameron
tonch in Pennsylvania politics. The
delegation from ti.at State was SUBJ !
stantially solid for Hiscock until Don.
the son of his illustrious father, took !
them in hand and won them away |
from their positive pledges. What |
promises he made of tavors from the !
Administration eau only be guessed
at. Anyhow the Speaker may be
said to owe his elevation to the Cam
eron influence, whether he recognizes
1T or not. According to all accounts |
he has an usually difficult and labor
ious task in the arrangement of the
Committees, and an Intimate conf. |
dental friend of his said recently !
that it is likely to be two weeks before |
they are announced. There mover |
has been more of struggle on the |
part OF members to get on favorite
and important Committees. and not q |
little ill-feeling has already been |
created by the conflicting claims of
those who want the same places. Old /
members think they ought 10 have |
the preference over now members. !
which claim new members are not al (
ways ready to concele. The India. !
ma members have been i'm an uncom- !
Portable state of mind for some DAYS, |
because they failed to support Keller. |
In sticking to Orth so long they fear
they have killed the goose. Orth |
would not let them leave him as he |
set strong hopes upon the dark-horse |
and now there is some
doubt whether Indiana will get a sin. |
gle important craftsmanship. One of
the delegations lately remarked that
Indiana would have to go Democrat /
&c again to inspire little greater re.
spcct in Republican councils.
After President Arthur gets his
Cabinet disposed Of it is understood
that he will take up the Public Prin.
ter contest aud select a successor for
Defrees. This old public functionary
has certainly been in long enough.
and his administration has been
scarcely less Objectionable and cor.
rupt than that Of bis predecessor.
Clam lie il TOO oil for such a t,,,si