The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-21
HOUSE OFFICIALS.
Very Previous Speeulations as
to the Organization Of the
Fifty fourth Congress.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 1S94-In spec
ulations concerning the organization of
the next House of Representatives by
the Republicans, outside of the almost
universal acceptance of Mr.. Reed as the
inevitable Speaker, the only place that
has suggested candidates is that of Clerk
of the House. Two names have been
heard for several days, the first being
that of Thomas H. Mckee, the acting
Secretary of the Republican Congress
sional Committee. The next candidate
was Mr.. Mcdowell. the present member
at large from Pennsylvania, who says
that he has the solid delegation of his
State behind him. A third candidate was
announced this morning in the person of
Thomas J. Henderson of Illinois, mem
ber of the present House, who was not
renominated His candidacy is suggested
in a letter received from a prominent
member of the Illinois delegation who
says that the name of Mr.. Henderson
will, in all probabilities, be submitted
to the Republican caucus. Mr.. Hender-
sons friends, who appear to have plung-
ed actively into the contest, say that as
is seems certain Mr.. Reed will be elected
Speaker without opposition, it will be
conceded that the Clerkship will go to
the West.
This question of geographical location
enters largely into the contest for the
elective places within the gift of the
House. In accordance with the prece-
dent established in the past it is likely
that the doorkeepership will go to the
South. AS yet no candidate has arisen,
but it is said that Representative Houk
of Tennessee who was defeated for re-
election, will in all probability be a can
didate for the place. Mr.. Houk was an
Assistant Postmaster of the House dur
ing previous Congress. In the Forty
seventh Congress, when J. Warren Keif-
er of Ohio was Speaker, Edward Nc
Pherson of Pennsylvania was Clerk; Col
onel George w. Hooker of Vermont was
elected Sergeant-at-Arms, while the
Postmastership went TO Michigan in the
person of Henry Sherwood, the Post
master of Washington, and now
acting as assistant to the present in
cumbent. The South was recognized by
the selection of Walter P. Brownlow of
Tennessee, as doorkeeper of the House,
he being a nephew of the War Governor,
tParson'' Brownlow.
w HeH MI. IlSeu was opedh6T III TIE
E'ifty-first Congress, Mr.. Mcpherson
was again Clerk, but Iowa came in for
a place, A. ]. Holmes representing her
in the Office of Sergeant-at-Arms. The
doorkeepership again went South, C. w
Adams of Maryland, holding the place.
The Northwest was represented by J. L.
Wheat of Wisconsin, who was the post
master.
In the event, which seems now proba-
bic that General Anson C. McCoos, the
former Secretary of the Senate, may re-
main in New York as Mayor Strong's
right hand man, prominent Senators
are fayoring the appointment of Mr..
Benjamin Durfee as Secretary of the
Senate in case the Republicans control
the organization. Mr.. Durfee has been
q recognized expert in financial and
tariff matters for years. He was Clerk
of the Finance Committee of the Sen
ate during the Craftsmanship of Mr.
Morrill, and was retained by Mr.. Voor-
hees as the committees expert because
of his marked ability and experience.
He has been appreciated by Senators
on both sides of the Chamber on account
of his wonderful capacity for work and
other qualities that go to make up well
equipped official. No one else has ye.
been suggested, but it is probable that
as the time for reorganization approach
IS, there will be other candidates in the