The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-30
Live WASHINGTON TOPICS
Forecast of Events by The Tribune's
Regular Correspondent.
STRUGGLE FOR APPOINTMENTS
Reasons for Ambition on Part of Aspir.
ants-Anccdotc Of the New Mem
bcr--A Blow Mt Tho Scranton
Republicans Seed Bureau.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington, Nov. 29.-By tomorrow
all the members of congress are ex-
pected to be here. Many OF them are In
town now, especially those Interested
in the battle over the house Offices. The
friends Of all the candidates have been
ON the ground with coats Off and
sleeves W., for more than a week. At
this writing II looks as though the COM
bine's slate will go through without
much trouble On the slate are:
Mcdowell. of Pennsylvania, for clerk;
Glenn, of New York, for doorkeeper;
Russell, of Missouri, for sergeant-at-
arms.
The combine have not picked their
man for postmaster, but he will likely
come from Ohio. Rev. Turner of
Kansas, will probably do the praying
for the house.
The hackers of General Henderson,
Of Illinois, are still full of fight and in
the language Of the late John G.
Thompson, of Ohio, are claiming ev-
erything and conceding nothing, As
stated in dispatch in the early part
of this week General Henderson, II de-
feated for the clerkshiD. may break
the combines slate and capture the
sergeant alarms. The general has
host of friends among the McDoweN
supporters who will no doubt vote for
him for sergeant-at-arms after their
candidate for clerk is out of the woods.
Ex-Speaker and Speaker o-be Reed
has been in town all week. but he has
maintained a dignified silence on the
question RS to what the coming con-
gress will do in the way of legislation.
Mr. Reed has run up his presidential
lightning rod and he therefore recog-
nizes the value of silence at this time.
In making up his committees he Will
use the greatest judgment possible. He
will no doubt put men at the head or
the important committees who will be
able to secure for him the largest num-
Der of delegates to the next Republican
national convention.
Senator Quay, who has been in FlCri-
da since the election, Is expected to
reach here tomorrow. He will take no
active interest in the fight for house
offices, as the Pennsylvania delegation
is a unit for his friend, Mcdowell and
If he attempted to control members
from other states he would probably
hurt rather than help the cause of
Mcdowell.
Mr.. McDOwcIIs Ambition.
Some people wonder why Mcdowell
wants to be clerk Of the house, after
having been member Of congress.
The question Is easily answered. NC
Dowell is no different from hundreds
of other ex-members. He was In
Washington just long enough to fall
in love with the city. 1t Is true he
Is wealthy enough to live here, and be
sentieman of sleisure. but that is
not the question. He has had pull
at the public teat and, like everybody
else, he likes It. Mcdowell runs a
banking business in Sharon, Pa. He Is
the bank. He Is president. board or
directors, etc. In other words. he
owns the bank. The major Is an In
yeterate smoker of Pittsburg stogies.
He introduced the "pesky things" In
the last congress. and now many or
the members have become slaves to
the habit. He. always keeps a box of
them on tap at his headquarters, and
takes q great deal of pleasure in hand
ing his callers a death dealer" and
then calmly await results. The first
l.time q fellow tackles Pittsburg
stogie he inveriable gets sick. This
tickles the major
There is more reason for General
Henderson wanting the clerkship than
Major Mcdowell. He needs 1t from a
financial point of view. The general
was in congress twenty years. but he
never saved a dollar. His salary didn't
more than keep him. and he was too
honest to take any of the money that
Is floating around at times. In dispo-
sition General Henderson Is one OF the
most lovable men that ever came to
congress. He doesn't know the. first
principal of meanness. He Is kind and
affectionate, and probably hasn't an
enemy in the world. He is II years old
today. Sympathy. IL nothing else, will
probably secure for him the office OF
sergeant at-arms. He certainly de-
serves recognition of some kind from
the party which he has served so long
and faithfully.
The IRE prcssibIc New Member.
The new member of congress, as a
rule. is decidedly new" in the strict
est sense of the word. He is an i'm
portant individual, indeed. About the
| first thing he does when he strikes
| town Is to visit the clerks Office and see
! II his name Is on the roll. Then he
visits the various departments just to
| let the officials know he Is in town
| and is a full 1edged member of con-
| gress. II he Is stopping at hotel he
watching the register to see If any of
| the late arrivals are from his district.
He then hunts UP a friend, generally
an old member of congress, to pilot
him around town and show him the
sights. One OF these new" members,
1 will call him Jones for short, was In
troduced to Senator German the other
| day, and this Is what followed:
''This Is Mr.. German, Mr. Jones.
| said the gentleman in charge OF the
"new" member.
II didn't catch the name." said Jones
| "Gorman," replied the distinguished
| Marylander.
Member of the House?" inquired the
new" member.
| mo, sir; Senate"
| 40
plied Mr.. Newmember LET me see
| From what state, Mr.. Gorman"
Maryland" said Senator German
| who by this time was somewhat irri.
tated by his newly-made acquaintance
| Ignorance.
"Oh, yes," replied Mr.. Newmember
Democrat or Republican,"
This last question was more than thu
leader of the Democrats of the Senate
could stand, and with look of disgust
1 on his face. he turned on his heel, ant
! walked hurriedly away, leaving Mr.
Newmember and his friend staring a
each other.
Thiftis only a sample Of the stupldit,
exhI ,ited bv the average new member
/ of congress.
ineton for the past four years. will re
move with his family to Clearfeld, Pa.
about the FIRST Of the new year. Mr.
| kNrr was very popular in Washington
and his enforced departure will be re
eretted by many. He will probabl!
i come back to Washington. as q membe
.of congress from the Twenty -eightl
i eet control again. Mr.. Kerr has lease'
kie washington residence on Capitu
4 Hlll 20 REPRESENTATIVE Leonard. of tn
Il Gixtsenth Pennsylvania district.
4 AeaiNAt THIRD verm.
1 Nr. Logan Carlisle - one Democrat
i nf3ce. holder under President Cleveland
mo 4 opposed to third term. and b
| GSys 70 without anv hesitauey. b de