The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-12-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From oar REGULAR correspondent.l

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 9. 1882.
There was an uncommonly slim attend
ance of representatives at the, opening of
congress on Mondsy-the slimmest have
seen in my eight years observation here.
The laggards are always numerous at the
beginning of q session, in years when there
is no speakership to settle, but what it was
that kept such an unusual number behind
this year Can hardly be explained, unless
Speaker Keifer's ruling that IL o'clock
should be the hour was too much for them
People who work from sunrise to sunset
will have some difficulty in comprehending
the hardness of congressman who finds
II. or even ID O'Clock too early for him to
be in his seat, but there are many of them
The greetings among members of both
parties were unusually cordial The cheer
fulness OF the day appeared to dwell on
the democratic side. as they discussed what
they would do in the next congress. Every
one was curious to note the manner and
demeanor of the defeated members who
were represented In such large numbers
upon the floor. Robson, upon whom the
eyes of the gallery were often conferred
was very active going about among his
colleagues, and no one would have inferred
from his manner that he is an intensely
disappointed man. He did not extend
many of his calls to the democratic side
probably because of the jokes and chatting
he met with there. H1uch of the talk
among members on the republican side
was made. up of explanations by those who
had been defeated for reelection of the
peculiar causes which led to that result
Jay Hubbell was one IF the absenteess In
running over the republican side the
figures most sought after by the galleries
were the diplomatic and courtly Kassou
the strudy and vigorous Father Kelley, the
judicious and ever alert Robinson, OF
Massachusetts, Mr.. Robesoh and Speaker.
Keifer Upon the democratic side the
candidates for the next speakership are the
main objects OF attention. They were all
on hand Monday. Carlisle and Randall
were the most digniied of these gentlemen
remaining at their desks to receive callers
None of the candidates weIe so agile and
so ELUSIVE It's the genial Springer who in
the course of thirty or forty minutes en-
braced every democratic voter in the
house.
On the senate side of the capitol the ex-
change of pleasant greetings, comparison
of notes about the past falls campaign,
and other subjects kept up perfect buzz
of conversation in the chamber As is
usual on the first day of session, every
body was in good humor. The chamber,
with the handsome new carpet lately laid
new chairs and desks, freshly varnished
wore bright and acleanly appearance
Some of the desks were decorated szrith
floral tributes, which added to the pleasan&sl
Senator Voorhees, was the
faVOrite among the Senders of hOuouets
He had no less than three on his desk Mr. |
Logan's desk was almost covered with |
bank of flowers. Sen ators Ingalls, and |
Lapham wer also the recipients of trib- |
utes of this kind Don Cameron appears |
a little stern just now. A prominent news |
paper correspondent went to him Just after |
the senate met on Monday and asked him |
what he thought of the appointment of /
his enemy, Clayton McMichael, as United |
States Marshal for the District of Colum-
0ia. The ex-proprietor Of Pennsylvania |
nearly jumped out of his chair, as this |
proved TO be the first intimation he bad of /
the news He said he had not read the mern
ing papers, and could scarcely credit it. |
Mr. McMichael, he said, had never been |
more than a half and half republican, and |
had always opposed him. This was all /
Mr.. Cameron would say. but he immedi- |
ately called General Logan aside and be-
gan whispering to him with much earnest
ness, which was interpreted as evidence
that Mr.. McMchael would not find plain
sailing in his path to confirmation.
AS .the result of the conversation with |
several members of congress of both /
parties I find both sides seem moved BY q /
desire to proceed promptly with the work |
in hand, attend strictly to businsss and