Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-13
Icortespondencc Knoxville Chronicle.l

q The House Committees and their Hun.
pertance-- Miscellanecus Items.
.'H ,Cortespondencc Knoxville Chroniclel
WASHINGTON, ID. O., Dec. 4, 1871.
Tho assembling Of Congress to-day served |
to draw to the city an immense number of |
visitors. The galleries of both Houses
were filled.
The event of the day was, of course, the |
Presidents message. 1t was read TO both |
Houses from manuscript, and before 1t was |
read, it may be said that but very few
knew of its contents. AS j said in pre-
vious letter, it was the Presidents own
work. AS telegraphed, 1t 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 reticent that they
were unable to divine his sentiments.
They believed he 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 become 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 II Is the
fact, that it is utterly impossible for Con-
gresham to examine with any kind ofcare,
"a 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-
uuired to act When a bill is introduced
or a claim is presented, it is at once referred
to its appropriate committee. Then it IL
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 claim its merits are thor
hlt,a mi Ian q
ter this examination, reports favorable, the
members of the House, as rule, accept
the conclusions as right. If the commit
tee is divided, or the proposed measure is
important, it is discussed in the House.
But generally 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-
gressman's influence and usefulness de-
ponds almost entirely upon his position on
the committees.
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 neutrality-suspicious. committee,
which being privileged committee, 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 i'm
portant, and position on either one of
them is considered high honor. You have
them before you and can see how they are
,consti tuted. Honorable Horace Maynard
stands second on Ways and Means, a very
important and honorable post. In the alb
sence of the chairman, Mr.. Dawes, he
steps at once to one of the leading posi-
tions 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.
Mr.. Maynard stands second on this COM
mittee. These places are awarded to men
of long service and ability, and the advan-
tage of retaining men in Congress so long
40 Uelrru rs-rrIuy wUuGd uerlve from i'm be-
owed cultivation of the five hundred Fy-
res left, would richly them for the thee
ange. Lands to become valuable must Y
improved, and they cannot be improved
less divided into smaller tracts 10 bring She
This is one thing to be ac- ind
nplished Mis-
Another work to be done is TO create ind
ter public sentiment in respect to per- "a,
lal violence. rim
Nhe impression so generally prevailing lists