Shepherdstown Register

Meeting of Congress.

Congress met on Monday last, but the divided state of parties in the House will probably prevent an organization for several days, and possibly for several weeks. The offices of the House are valuable prizes, and the contest for them will be very animated. The character of these prizes, for which there are said to be eight hundred applicants, may be learned from the following estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury:--

"The Speakership, $16 a day: Public Printer, about $75,000 worth of work (exclusive of paper) for the session; Clerk of the House of Representatives, $3,600; Various Clerks in his office, combined salaries, $13,320; Sergeant-at-arms, Doorkeeper and Postmaster of the House, $6,480; Messenger, $1,756.70; Librarian of the House, $1,800; Reading Clerk, $1,800; Clerk to the Sergeant-at-arms, $1,800; five Messengers for the Post Office of the House of Representatives, $7,200; Chaplain of the House, $750. Now for the contingent expenses: For binding documents, $70,000; furniture and repairs, (a good job for a cabinetmaker.) $3,000, for stationary for members, $12,000; twenty-one messengers including superintendent of folding and document rooms, $28,413; for engraving and lithographing, $50,000; messenger in charge of the hall, $1,740; for two messengers in clerk's office, $360; laborers, $2,500; pages, (boys) $5,936: for folding documents, including pay of folder etc., $20,000; draughtsman and clerks, $9,000; binding Congressional Globes, $6,940. Besides various other "contingencies," to be supplied by friends of the dispensing parties. The business and political traders know very well what they are, and will not disregard them."