The Portland daily press., 1871-01-14
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 7, 1871


But little change will occur in the commit
tee organization of the Senate after the Fourth
of March next. Still there will be some
changes; six chairmen Of committees; a
seventh and perhaps the eighth, will probably
be vacated. The changes are, Williams from
the Private Land Claims Committee; Wiley
from that of Patents; Howard from the "Pa-
cfc Railroads." Cattel from the Joint Com
mittee on Library, Yates from Standing Com
mittee on Revolutionary Claims, and Drake
has already retired from that of Education
and Labor" In all probability Harris will be
defeated, and that will vacate the leading
place on the Joint Select Committee ON Re-
trenchment, it, as is probable, it will be reviy-
ed.
1t is generally credited that Gov. Morton
will leave the Senate for the State Depart
ment after the~Eourth of March next. In
that case the Craftsmanship OF the Committee
on Manufactures will be vacant.
Most Of these vacancies, if not all of them,
will be filled by Southern Republicans. This
will be done, not only as matter of right, but
as one of expediency too, in view of the fact
that the condition of those States will decide
the next Presidential contest. At present
only two of the Southern Senators have chair
manships, and they are select and not stand
ing committees, one being that on Political
Disabilities and the other on the Mississippi
Levees. Robertson has the first, and Kellogg
the second. The chief amount of maneu-
vering will be done over Howard's successor
on the Pacific Railroad Committee. Sherman
is second, but as he is already at the
head Of the Financial Committee, he will
not take the direction of this important body.
The contest will be over the Northern and
Southern Pacific roads influences Ramsey
being the aspirant for the one and Rice of Ar
kansas representing the other New England
has the craftsmanship of ten committees,
eight regular, Senate and joint, and two Sc
lect; Michigan and Nevada two each, Ohio
has one, Illinois two, Indiana one, Kansas,
Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa,
New York, Nebraska, South Carolina and
Louisiana one each.
1t seems to me almost certain that the
Chairmanships soon to be vacated will be fill
ed by Southern Senators. If Morton leaves
the senior member will be Robertson OF
S. c. As Gen. Ferry's health will not permit
him to take Morton's duties, and besides as
he is not in good partisan odor, Sawyer oil
s. c., will probably go to the head OF the Phi
vate Land Claims. The other Southern Sem
tors who will be selected undoubtedly are
Pool OF North Carolina, Rice of Arkansas,
Spencer OF Alabama and Kellogg of Louisi-
ana; herhaps Alcorn of Mississippi, who
though but just coming in is an old Senator
and will certainly receive decided recosni.
tion as man Of leading ability. There are
tweptynine regular committees, and five other
bodies selected for special matters The nine
Democrats are forced to do good deal of
Committee work. Stockton and Bayard
bring up the rear OF four committees. Cass.
erly, Thurman and Hamilton, Md, are each
on three and the rest are ON two each. There
are six committees on which there are no
Democrats. With sixteen instead of nine
Senators there will be more even division oi
the labor. There are none of the really i'm
portant committees will there be any changes
of moment.
ORGANIZATION OF NEXT HOUSE.
Two things are considered settled; one be-
ing that there will be no repeal of the law fix
ing the time of meeting in March, and the
other is that Mr.. Blaine will be reelected
Speaker. At first there was some talk
among revenue reform Republicans, but 1t
soon became evident they had not strength
for that, without disgraceful coalition with
the Democracy. No one seemed willing to
enter into that.
1t is supposed that with Mr.. Blaine most if
not all the old officers will be reelected. 1t is
time there was change in some of them, as
at least most of the House administrative
Offices are used chiefly by the lobby.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEES.
There will be more vacancies in leading
committees than at any time since eighteen
hundred and sixty-one. Probably theie are
more forced retirements of active men then
has hitherto been the case. Tie House loses
Schenck, Julian, Lawrence, Ella, Ingersoli, AL
lison, Paine, logan probably Benjamin, g.
G. Washburn, Woodard, Cullom and a mum.
Der of others-all of them men of useful abil-
ity.
There are thirty vacancies in the House
committees, standing, joint and special. There
are in all forty-eight committees. The chair
manships of the Ways and Means, Election,
Commerce. Public Lands, Manufactures, In
dams, Private Land Claims, Territories, PEN
sions, Railways and Canals, Freedmen's at.
fairs, Education and Labor, Mileage, Patents,
Accounts on Expenditures of the Treasury.
Post Offices, Interior and Public Buildings.
also of the Joint Committees ON Printing. Re.
trenchment and Ventilation. The chairman
ships which it is fully expected will he left as
they now are, ale thus suggested: Mr.. Dawes
on Appropriations, Vim. A. Wheeler, Pacific
Railroad, Farnsworth on Pest Offices and
Roads, and Banks at the head of Foreign At
tairs, Scofeld at head of Navy Committee,
Burton c. Cook on the District Committee,
while Judge Poland remains at the head OF
the Committee on Revision of the Laws
Should the Reconstruction Committee" re-
vive, Butler will remain at its head. A large
proportion OF the vacancies to be are really
among the most important committees of the
House. These chairmen-Paine, Schenck,
Dixon. Morrell, Julian, Clarke, Logan, (f
elected Senator) Benjamin, Cullom, I1gersoll,
Ferris, Arnell, Jenckes, Coke, Dockery, Latin,
Churchill. Stokes, Wilkes have been elect
ed TO stay at home or, is in the case of
Schenck, to 60 abroad
1t is useless TO speculate on the composition
of the committees only one thing seems cer-
tain and that appears to be the same as in the
Senate-that the Southern Republicans will
be given better places than are now held.
SPECTATOR.