Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-02
THE SD CONGRESS.
SHADOWS OF INTEREST CAST BE-
FORE ITS EARLY COMING.
The Desired Democrats Uouss Caucus
Stiil In the Ciouds--rhe House and
the senate OfBoes.
TBy telegraph to tne Dispatch.I


WASHINGTON. ID. c., August 1.-Repre-
sentative Catchings, the leading member
OF the House Committee on Rules, was an
early caller upon Mr. Crisp to-day and re-
mained In the ex-Speaker's rooms during
the afternoon. He has always been MIR.
Crisp's lieutenant upon the floor and his
valued adviser in private so 1t was at
once assumed that he had been called into
consultation respecting the committee as
signments and tho House rules. Mr.
Catchings shares Mr.. CrIsp's views respect
Ing the length OF the special session.
TIE RULES.
Touching the rules he feels that while
there Is urgent necessity for the adoption
of some rules foT the government OF the
House very soon after the House is called
10 order. there IS no present reason Tor any
radical revislon. Under the old rules,
when the majority really desired to reach
vote upon pending question the result
could be attained through special order
or rule from the Committee on Rules.
This practice. he thought. bad lost none
Of Its efficiency, and was still available. II
changes are TO be made in the direction OF
cloture they will be made only after ma
ture consideration and an exhibition or
the actual necessity of the case.
TEX DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The members Of the House now in Wash
iugton are still In the dark as TO the date
of the democratic House caucus, which ~
necessary to perfect scheme OF organlza-
tion Of the body. This afternoon Mr.
Robinson of Louisiana, one OF the secre-
taries of the Democratic caucus, wired
Representative Holman. the chairman or
the caucus, asking for authority 10 call tho
caucus for Saturday niZht at o'clock, but
no response had beenrecelved up to night
fall.
TIE DooRKEEPERsHIP.
The lists at the House post Office show
very few new arrivals of representatives.
For this reason the contest tor the House
Offices lacks vrility and the various can
dIdates who have opened up headquarters
in true convention style haYe been rather
lonely. The warmest fight Will be over
the doorkeepership. Mr.. Turner. the
Doorkeeper of the last House, Is confident
that he will have no difficulty IN securing
q reelection. He says that he has already
llG members on hIs list OF absolutely
reliable votes. As 10 votes constitute
majority of the Democratic caucus BIS
claim. If well founded. would ensure his
election. He Is confident of the endorse
ment OF the New York delegation. lhls
delegation il called to meet tomorrow
night, but there IS some reason TO doubt
whether they will DO able 10 muster
quorum. Mr. Fellows came over from
New York this morning and spent half an
hour III consultation with Dir. Crisp, ana
returned to his home this afternoon. lie
did not appear to be deeply interested IN
the question of the doOrkeeDershlp,
although when pressed be sald that Mr..
Turner would doubtless receive the sup
port of the New York men.
Mr.. Turner's two OppOnents-Hurt or
Tennessee and Smith of Texas are pur-
SUNG quiet canvass and still express
confidence OF success.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Sergeant-at-Arms Yoder. against whom
q fight for reelection is beng made, to-day
expressed himself a. sure Of receiving a
second term. Ii IS claimed by his friends
that he will 60 into the caucus Of his own
State with six out OF ele ven members OF
that delegation pledged to MIN. Mr..
Noder has been conducting @ canvass Tor
the past three months and claims TO have
pledges from more than majority OF the
democratic members. Some OF hls friends
claim 1874 votes, while ii only takes li2 TO
make majority. 1t Is asserted that he
will receive the solid vote OF New York
and probably the entire vote OF New Eng
land.
Samuel johnson, another Ohio candi-
date for the Office of SeTgeant-at-Arms OF
success. He has heard from many repro
sentatlyes who have not yet arrived III
the city. and especially from members
of the Ono delegation, and believes that
he will have no difficulty III securing
their spport. With his State delegation
behind MN he believes that there Will be
no tangible opposition, for 1t Is conceded
that the State can have the Office II II IS
solid for any one candidate.
SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
1t is Improbable that there will be
caucus Of the majority of the Senate tins
week. Senator German, the chairman
of the Democratic caucus in the Senate,
has taken up bis quarters at the Capitol;
but be has not vet given the issue OF q call
consideration. 1t will Of course be neces-
sary for the Democratic senators to get
together and decide upon line OF pollcy
respecting the question which VIII proOa-
bis be the first 10 engage serious atten-
ton in the Senate namely, the Tght or
admission OF the three senator's from the
Northwest whose titles have been chal-
lenced, but Senator GOTman feels thht
there is no need for haste IN the matter,
and the caucus Will probably not be held
before the middle of next week.
THE SENATE OFFICES.
Senator German, Sergeant-at-Arms
Bright. and the Secretary Ct the Senate.
General Cox, had a long conference tins
afternoon at the Capitol, and II Is sup
posed that the subject of the distribution
OF the patronage under the two officers
VINO take hold next Monday was up for
consideration. The gentlemen denied
that there was any significance attached
to their meeting. and when asked
how soon the offices would be dis
tributed made reply 10 the effect
that the Senate was body that moved
slowly, and much depended upon Its acton.
IL is known, however, that all Republican
clerks and officials who are absent from
toe CITY have been advised not 10 return
until notified, a. the Republicans have not
vet caucus ssed and determined who tney
want TO remain as the representatives, or
tha minority. There is consequently
much uneasnees among the Republcan
officials as t0 who will be retained as the
favored few.
SENATORS PRESENT.
The senators present in the city up 70
this time are as follows Messrs. Gail.
Cockrell, German, Harris, Martin, Mills,
Mitchell of Oregon. Pugh, Quay, Vest,
Voorhees,. and White of Louisiana.
Senator Vest arrived from the West this
morning and at once plunged into mass
of mail that was awaiting his ARRIVAL. lie
declined to discuss the matters that would
como before this Congress, saving that
wher the proper time came he would have
more or less TO say on the financial cues
ton. OF the session, he said he had no
doubt that it would be long and con-
tinuOus one.
OREGONIAN VIEWS.
Senator Mitchell. of Oregon, after spend
ing three months among the people OF ms
state. reached Washington YESTERDAY. lie
saws that his people are divided them
selves as TO what is the best thing to do
on the silver question. For one do not
believe the Sherman act is by any means
the sole source of tho present financial
difficulties IN this country. concede
that the way III which it has been
administered by the department-which,
in my judgment, is not according to us
spirt-has contributed III part 20 the pres
ent financial depression, but l believe the
real cause 20 be the apprehension under
which the industrial classes are laborlng
with reference TO be probable acton OF
the present administration on the subject
OF the tariff. These are times, however,
when the real welfare Of the country
should not be sacrificed for tho
sake of mere partisan advantage.