The Portland daily press., 1871-11-10
Letter from Washington.


It begins to he a question of considerable IN
terest- what will be done about the Commit
tees of the House. l suppose it is good deal
like carrying Goals to Newcastle Tor one 10 /
write to the home of Mr.. Blaine, speculations as
to who will be charmen OF the important COM
mittees to be appointed by him. But it may |
amuse hin, AMI be news to others, if we scan |
what is said here of his intentions. |
The "Ways ard Means craftsmanship has |
b ZEN source of more debate than any other. |
We have it announced that Dawes, Kelley 4
Garfield and Wheeler, Massachusetts,, Penn
sylvania, Ohio aud New York,-were all TO
have it, 1t seems decided that Mr. Dawes
would rather stay with the Appropriations;
that Kelley is too ultra a protectionists, Gar
field too little SO, aud Wheeler too little
known. Opinion here seems to have settled
on Mr.. Shellabarger as the coming man. If
the Speaker is as wise as he is shrewd, he will
take that able and upright Representative for
this leading place. Mr.. Dawes will stay where
he is. Garfield will be kept at the head of
Banking and Currency" Wheeler at that of
the Pacific Railroads." Gen. Butler will, in
my Judgment be fitted into the military
Committee; Bingham will remain at the head
of the Judiciary" Sawyer, of Wisconsin put
at the head OF "Public Lands;' your Repre-
sentative at that of Commerce." ia place for
which he is most eminently qualified; Kelley
will be second on the "Ways and Means"
Sargent on the appropriations" in all prob
ability the Reconstruction Committee will not
be revived, the House branch of the joint spec
ial Ku Klu1 Inv sstigatng Committee taking
Hn,r oc
sachusetts will be made chairman of the Com
mittee on Education and Labor, ore of grow
ing importance; though l suggest that Mr..
Hoar should take Gov. Washburn's place,
when he leaves here, at the head of the very
| important committee on "Claims''-a position
needing good lawyer, man of business
knowledge and one of the most scrupulous in
| tegrity. Judge Scofeld, of Pennsylvania,
will be ed on the NAVAL Committee,
aud Mr.. Hale of Maine will probably be Sec
ond. Some western man will have the "Pen-
sions', "District of Columbia "Roads and
Canals" and the others. AS to "IndIan At
fairs" it seems to me that Sargent Eof Califor-
| MIA comes nearest possessing the needed quail
fcations, but he will not give up the Appro-
| priations OF course Banks will have ''For-
eign Affairs" and if he is industrious will in
| crease its Importance.
ON THE SENATE SIDE
there will not be great many changes. A
chairman will have to be chosen for the COM
mittee which was framed to lay senators on a
| olovered shelf Cameron, as the Oldest man in
the Senate, will doubtless be put at its head
| as it is well understood he proposes to retire
from that GA Foreign Relations" Whether
| the senior Senator, Mr.. Sumner, will be restor
| ed to his old place. depends upon the San Do
| ming) problem. Should Cameron retire, there
would really be two vacancies, as it seems set
tied that Senator Schurz will be regarded by
the Republican caucus as having gone out of the
party, if not ocer to the Democracy. Hence be
would be removed from the leading committee
and his place filled by some one else-probably
Carpenter of Wisconsin, who more nearly rep.
resents, with Senator Morton, the Admins
tration's views on foreign policy than any 9th.
er Senator. Senator Scott will take leading
position at the ensuing session, and 6eservedly
so, not only because he is intellectually man
capable of doing So but because he is, also, in
position sure to require him at the front. His
Republican colleagues, Pratt, Pool and Rice
are also sure of holding leading places MIR
Pratt will, it is believed, show to great adyan
tage, while Pools knowledge and insight will
make him conspicuous. The Ku-Klux out
RACES report will be Chief if not the principal
topic of debate. In this the Democrats are
fortunate in having Bayard to present their
side. He is suave, smooth, adroit, unscrupu.
lous,-capable of making the bad appear the
better reason.
COMMITTEE WORK BEGUN.
Senator Scott is busy with the Ku-Klux re-
port. 1t will be an able document-so much
may be safely affirmed. Its presentation will
be startling. Its array of facts are certain to
be overwhelming.
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
The Ku- Klux investigation and report will
be chief topic. exciting bitter debate in both
Houses.
In the House, there will be thorough over.
hauling of the Washington treaty. predicated
upon the legislation that is required to carry
out some of its provisions.
| San Domingo is sure to be brought in some.
hew-probably by Mr.. Sumner o, Mr.. Schurz
moving an inquiry as to employment of ma.
val vessels.
doubt very much if the Tariff will be prom.
lEent, except as peg to hang campaign
speeches on. The Labor Question will be an.
| other stalking horse.
Practically, the Commercial Marine will
come in, and something will be done to relieve
| and stimulate
Besides Ku-Kluxism, there is not likely to
be much of vital character considered. Most
measures adopted will 10 of an ameliorative
and popular character. SPECTATOR
TEMPERANCE MEETING.-The Cumberland
sanr, fry NJ