Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Presidents Message and how Received
The House Committees and their I'm
pOrtance-afiscelIaneou Items.
Correspondence Knoxville Chronicle
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 4, 1871


Correspondence Knoxville Chronicle.]
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 4, 1871.
The assembling of Congress to-day served
! to draw to the city an immense number of
visitors. The galleries of both Houses
were filed. "a
The event of the day was, of courses the
| Presidents message. 1t was read to both
Houses from manuscript, and before it was
read, it may be said that but a very few
knew of its contents. AS / said in a pre-
vious letter, it was the Presidents own
work. AS telegraphed, it was received
with enthusiasm by the Presidents friends
and with evident surprise by his oppo-
nents. 1t is so eminently sensible and
business like, deals so reasonably, temper
ately but sagaciously with all questions
that it has met with less criticism than
any message for years. The President ev-
identity intended anticipating his enemies.
He is SO extremely reticeHt that they
were unable to divine his sentiments.
They believed lie would oppose general
amnesty, coldly refer to civil service
reform and let the Southern Unionists
fight their own battles. Upon these points,
therefore his opponents have been dwell
ing with peculiar force. Imagine their
chagrin, therefore, when on every one of
their positions the President spoke out
fearlessly and pointedly, and stole their
thunder. There is but one expression
here amongst Republicans, and that is that
the message must satisfy every reasonable
man and make the President stronger
than ever.
HOUSE COMMITTEES.
Next in Importance to the message was
the announcement of the House commit
mittees. There has been much discussion
concerning these, as your readers well
know. There has been more interest and
anxiety concerning them this session than
ever before. The House is large and legis-
lation is increasing SO fast that more and
more does it Eecome necessary for that
body to depend upon the Committees. All
important work in Congress is done in the
committee room. The subjects for legis- |
lation are so numerous, the bills introduced
so many in number, and the public and |
private applications for aid so fast multi |
plying that the responsibility of commit |
tee-men increases. 1t may not be gener- |
ally known to your readers, but it is the |
fact, that it is utterly impossible for Con- |
gressman to examine with any kind ofcare, |
fraction even, of the laws proposed |
and claims of every kind presented. |
His dependence, therefore, is upon the |
laborious and honest examination of all |
such matters by the proper committees. |
The whole field of Legislature and appro-
priation of public monies is therefore di-
vided into subjects.
Thus there are in the House some forty |
seven Committees. They embrace every |
subject upon which Congress will be re-
quired to act. When bill is introduced
or claim is presented, it is at once referred
to its appropriate committee. Then it is
carefully examined and compared with |
former laws or similar measures pending.
Its weak points are eliminated and its
provisions reconciled with the organic
law. If it is a claim its merits are thor
oughly canvassed. When a committee af-
ter this examination, reports favorable, the
of the House, as a rule, accept
the conclusions as right. If the commit
tee is divided, or the proposed measure is
it is discussed in the House
Butgenerally Congressman depend upon
committees to protect them from being
imposed upon by frauds, or from voting
for an unwise measure. The committees /
are therefore important bodies A Con-
influence and usefulness de-
pends almost entirely upon his position on
the committees. esY gsFr euHES
Thus the chairman of the Committee
ON Ways and Means is generally regard
ed as the leader of the House. Now he
rather divides his high position with the +
Chairman of MISREPRESENTATION committee,
which being a privileged c9mmittee, al
ways entitled to the floor and always sure
to be heard, as without appropriations of
money the whole machinery of govern
ment stops-a very honorable position.
These two committees are the most inn
portant, and position on either one of
them is considered ahigh honor. Yon have
them before you and can see how they are
consti tuted. Honorable Horace Maynard
stands second on Ways and Means, a very
and honorable post In the alb
sence of the chairman, Mr.. Dawes, he
steps at once to one of the leading posi-
tiGns in the House. The Joint Committee
ON the Insurrectionary States is likewise
one of great Importance, and is composed
of some of the ablest lawyers in the House.
AIr, Maynard stands second on this COM
mittee. These places are awarded to men ;
of long service and ability, and the advap- {
tage OF. retaining men in Congress So long
as they are competent and faithful Is be- :
coming more generally recognized every
where. Speaker Blaine's appointments are
generally acceptable, They are not to the
extreme in any respect. rvTa
GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.
Senator Brownlow was in hisseat in the
Senate aud seemed in good health and
spirits. He was cordially received by his
associates and enjoys their confidence and
respect. He is always present when need !
ed, and has, on several occasions, made his s
vote of great importance. Republicans in l
may know that their interests /,
will be guarded in the Senate.
General John Eaton, Jr., at the BureauOf ]
Education, is doing great and good work
and deserves the support of all friends of u
education. He stands high in administra-
ion circles and has the respect and CO.
operation of educators everywhere.
+ Mr.. Mullett says the work on the custom :
house shall go on regularly and hewill send l l
20 the CHRONICLE office q photograph of i
he huildino as il will look when COM | I