Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-16
FIGHT FOR FAT PLACES
Among Congressman and Their Fol-
lowers.
Figures on West Virginia's uatold
Wealth
In Its Vast Forests Of the Finest
Timber.
Minor Spicy Capital Gossip from
"lan." y
Special 10 The Relister.

WAsHINGroNY, December 15.-This week
has been a rather uninteresting one so tar
as the proceedings of Congress are con-
cerned. to .Yisitors who have watched il,
legislation as outsiders. In fact there has
been little if any legislation even COM
menced. The history OF the week in both
Houses has been a series of adjournments
from day to day pending the formation OF
committees, and the arrangement OF other
prelin inaries. About one thousand bills
were introduced early in the week but
there were no committees to whom to refer
them and they are therefore not much
further advanced than when they rested in
the pockets OF their patrons. The work,
however, OF arranging the preliminaries at
both ends OF the Capitol has been watched
with unaffected interest by good many
persons here and elsewhere. The forma-
tion OF committees means good deal to
members as we'll as outside protectors OF
particular interests. A good chairmanship
means not only the patronage OF the com.
mittee in the way Of clerks, messengers,
&C., but it means the control OF a consider
able extent of the business which comes
before it, prominence on the h)or and in
fiuence outside, and it is no wonder there
is a struggle 10 secure these places. In the
Senate, where every thing goes by seniority,
it is largely matter OF watching ones
members aud insisting that long service
shall be respected, but in the House such
customs have not obtained to any consid.
erable extent, aud there is frightful
pressure brought 10 bear upon the Speaker
by tue applicants and their friends. For
nearly every chairmanship on the House
list there has been a scramble. The Ways
and Means place was virtually conceded to
Morrison when Carlisle was elected Speak
er. For the head of the Appropriations
Committee there hes been heated contest
between Randall and Blackburn, and when
it was announced yesterday that the for.
mer had been decided upon, Blackburu's
friends made the air blue with cursory re-
marks. They denounced it as an act OF
ingrattuGe on the part OF the Speaker
swore that Black burn had made Carlisle's
fight FOR him; had gotten out OF the Speak
ers way on all occasions 10 accommodate
him; was entitled to the place by
every claim OF fitness and fidelity
apd that under tie circumstances to
live i,andall preference was to degrade
Black burn. \ similar sguable has been
going on all week between Cox and Bel.
mont who both want TO be ct the head OF
foreign affairs in the House and other
like disputes have gone on steadily over
the minor Chairmanships. None OF the
West Virginia delegates in the Lower House
expect charmanshlps and are not likely TO
be disappointed in this respect. Ii they
can get places on rs good committees and
I've otherwise as we'll treated in the assign
ment OF work, as were the West Virginia
Senators at the other end 0; the Capitol
they will doubtless be well satisfied.
While the struggle for places on com.
mittees among members has progressed,
there has been an equally lovely canvass
carried on by non members for the minor
offices OF the two Houses. The probable
entire reorganization OF the Senate offered
possible refuge for the discharged Rapub
,iCan employees OF the House and they have
rot been slow to push their claims. Some
few OF the Democrssic employees of the
Senatcs, smelling the battle after oil, got
plsCe On the House rolls aud it is possible
tina; tie biggest result Of the shaking up
will be TO transfer the main body OF the
o!d timers from one end Of the building TO
the other. Ian.