Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-24
fHE DISTRICT COMMITTEES.


The announcement Of the committees for this
District, in Congress, is always looked to with
more or less interest here. though Of late years
not with great hopefulness, from the fact tina,
the committees, however well disposed have
from various causes utterly failed to secure
needed legislation for the District This has
been more particularly the case in the House,
where the infnitesimal amount of time allotted
TO the District Committee has served to prevent
the con sideration of any District matter. except
some trifiing thing too Insignificant to PROVOKE
debate.
without expecting too muc CHI, ID .refore, from
any Committee, we think from the material of
the present House District Committee that it
may be able TO get some of the District business
on the hooks where IL has hung so long The
ChairmaB, Hon. Burton G. Cook, of Illinois, Is
sew on the Committee, and Is probably unfa-
miliar with Its business, but he has q clear
head, fine legal attachments, and has had much
legislative experience, State and National. He
has been in Washington some years, having
served in the thirty ninth, fortietb, and forty
first Congresses, and has thus had an opportu-
nifty to see what are the pressing wants of the
District community. As Chairman Of the Com.
mittee on Roads and Canals he has presented
his reports with perspicuity and intelligence
that always commended them to the respectful
attention of the House. He has the confidence
Of that body in a marked degree. and We doubt
not that he will be aole TO secure favorable ac-
ton upon many Of the important measures, for
the need of which this community is now suf-
fering greatly.
mittee heretofore, and has brought to the con-
sideration of ITS business much patient and
intelligent labor. He, too, Is greatly respected
by his fellow members, and his opinions have
much weight. The other members, with the
exception of Mr.. Williams, of Indiana, are
new upon the Committee. Mr.. Williams, like
Messrs. Cook and Welker, is a lawyer by pro-
fession. He served in the last Congress, and Is
q valuable member of the Committee.
Mr.. Gilfllan, Of Pennsylvania. is serving his
first term in Congress, and is also a lawyer by
profession Mr.. Boles, of Arkansas, studied
and practlced law in that State, and was elected
to the Forueth and Forty first Congress. Mr..
Hamilton, who was a member of the last House,
has also the advantages of legal training. Mr.
Cowles, Of New York, is serving his frs: term
Mr.. Stone, of the adjoining Congressional Dis
trict of Maryland, well known and much
esteemed here personally; and from his knowl-
edge of District affairs will be an intelligent
member Of the Committee. Mr.. Knott, of Ken
lucky, has also spent ssne time in Washing
ton, enabling him 10 get good idea Of District
leeds.
Senator Sprague seems TO hold to the para
doxical idea that lawyers are not the right sort
Of men to make laws, but legal training is GER
tainly not bad qualification for District
Committeeman, as a large proportion of the
bills coming before them require a knowledge
oflaw points for their proper consideration, and
some bad blunders have occasionally Deen
made in District legislation through a want o.
rledU he ~ of sash
IT.
The Senate Distric, Committee is also vel
constituted.
The chairman, Mr.. Hamlin, Of Maine, can b.
claimed as almost citizen of Washington
from the number of years he has spent here
during his long public career. He was Rep
resentative In the 18th and goth Con gresses:
was q member of the United States Senate from
1873 to 1857; was reelected In 1857; presided
over the Senate as Vice President from 1861 to
1856, and is now elected TO serve until March
3, ISIS. We happen To know that this District
I indebted to him very materially for much OF
the legislation Of the past calculated to and in
its advancement; and we believe that his saga
cious and practical mind will devise some
means Of afordIng relief to the District from
the discouraging drawbacks to its prosperity
under which we now suffer.
Mr.. Patterson. OF New Hampshire, hardly
needs an introduction TO our District readers.
His name Is identified with almost every meas
ure Of District reform and improvement pass
ed since he has been in Congress. Senator Sum-
ner, too, amid his multifarious duties, has
never falied 10 give his ti.ae the patient con-
sideration Of District matters. Mr.. Rice. OF
Arkansas; Mr. Harris. of La and Mr. Vicksrs.
of Maryland, also served on this committee 10
the last Congress.
Mr.. Pratt, Of Indiana, is a new member.
and calculated TO give II weight physically
as well rs mentally, his avoirdupois being
something over two hundred pounds, with a
height and frame proportionate. Like his COL
league. Mr.. Morton, he is a man of energy and
force OF character, and will doubtless prove a
valuable accession to the committee
Altogether, If committees. like these fail 70
command the attention OF Congress the Dis
trict may as well hang its harp on the WILLIAMS