The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-12-20
Our Washington Special.
A Congressional Lottery.

House offices. DIR. Hicks, Libel d
Suit.s iBreWing a Scandal. The L
senate i'm a Quandary. Malone '
will stick. ,
WASHINGTON, DEC. 15.-The. last :
week has been devoted by both branch {
es of Congress in preparatory steps of
organization, and the minor details
that are a necessity and part of the
machinery" of legislative bodies. In
the House, the most interesting spec
tacle of the week was the allotment of
the drawing of a lottery company, the
location of a members seat being regu-
lated entirely by "chance." There
were 376 numbers containing as many
consecutive members placed in a box,
from which blindfolded page drew
them one at time, a clerk on his right
calling off the number and clerk on
the left announcing the name of the
Congressman whose number cores
ponds on the roll. Each member was
then privileged to step inside the floor
of the House proper, and select a seat |
among the vacant ones, of his own
choosing. Many amusing incidents |
occurred during the drawing. and often
the Hall would reverberate with peals |
of mirth and laughter.
MR.. RANDALL's SEAT. |
AS an illustration of the esteem in
which Mr.. Randall is held by his fell
low members, when the seats were
drawn at the Forty-seventh Congress,
the first name called was that of Gen.
Joe Wheeler, giving him first choice.
Having learned Mr.. RandalPs prefer
ence for seat, he took that one in
order to secure it for his distinguished
colleague, surrendering it to him when
it came his choice. Tuesday, Mr.. Dun
can, a new member, and having no
knowledge of the above occurrence,
was the first one callnd, and repeated
the same thing. using his advantage
to secure good seat for Mr.. Randall,
at the risk of getting poor one him.
self. Fortunately, however, he Sc
cured seat in the close vicinity of his
, choice for Mr.. Randall. Mr.. Cox's
9 name was the second called and he
, selected a seat near the center of the
Hall. Ex-Speaker Kcifer was COM
PEELED to take a back seat on the out
er circle of the Republican side.
THE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
are just now the engrossing topic.
There are six committees that are con-
sidered the leading and most import
n ant ones among an aggregate of fifty
: seven. 9th six and all, the Ways
b aud Means is recognized as the great
# est in powers and prestige; the chair.
manship of this is then the objective
point of much competition, but, as in
:. dicated in my last. Mr.. Morrison o
- Illinois will receive this plum. Mex
a in importance is the Committee of Ap
y preparations, Of which either Mr.. Ran
dali or Blackburn will be appointed
y chairman, tho friends of the latte
is claiming that Speaker Carlisle will no
ct ignore his claims to the position. Mr.
D. Cox will be chairmaH of the Foreign
'e Relations Committee, Mr.. Converse q
the Judiciary, Mr.. Hewitt of Nava
,s Affairs, and Mr.. Buckner of Banking
"a and Currency. With the chairman
=. ships of only fifty-seven committee
- (and many of them uninIportant ones
" at the Speakers disposal for distribu
ton to l7S democratic mem mbers, it cal
be surlnised that he has task unen
- viable. in an effort to please SO vast
90 number. The committee of Election
10 will be announced in few days, a
q important references have been mad
= to them in contested election cases
> but the remainder will not be promul
gated till just previous to the holida
vs recess.
ut THE MINOR OFFICES OF TIE HOUSE
e, under the Clerk, Sergeant at. Arm
90 and DOorkeeper, are now the object
er of great scramble by an army of th
ne lesser political lights from all parts {
81 the United States. There are seventy
eight positions under the above prir
,e cipal officers, and there are no les
er than two hundred and ten applicant
II. on the ground endeavoring to secur
ys these leavings. The appointing pow
ne ers of these positions are moving yer
ne slowly, however, and the complete IT
to organization of the House will nc
have been accomplished until the no
iday adjournment.
no GUITEAU'S SPIRITUAL ADVISER.
th Rev. DIR. Hicks has met with de
,ir feat in.h his libel suit against the Ev,
in ming Star of this city. 1t will be r,
Ii membered that shortly after the RI
h, moval of Guiteau's body from the ia
the above journal published stat'
:, ment that it had been reported ths
Doctor Hicks was demanding 500
70 for the bones of the murderer, Th
reverend gentleman rushed into cou
80 with a suit for $4,000 damages, an
- the Judge has just dismissed it on tn
~ ground that the said publication di
- not contain libel, as Rev. Hicks ha
the right to demand any sum for th
at body which Guiteau bequsathed
.ct him previous to his execution. Th
as Doctor now has the pleasure of settlin
IN for the costs and his lawy er's fees OIL
wv of the profits of his Florida orane
le. plantation. Mr.. Hicks is now pa
&C. tor of the Tabernacle" one of tt
largest upsectarian churches in tt
he city.
t,v BREWING A SCANDAL.
Ex-Congressman VIM. A. Phillip
,,., of Kansas, who was charged by CO
.r- Boudinot, agent of the Cherokees, wit
IN having stated that he (Phillips) hs
80, paid Secretary of the Interior Tell
49,, and Senator Dawes So, 500 to secu
,ht their influence for the appropriation
$500 900 for the Cherokee tribe, said
H. me today: Il have not met BOudin
40 during the last ten years, have N