Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-18


The congressional delegation from this state
is now full, Mr.. Dawes having been renominated
in the eleventh district Yesterday, and Gen. But
Ter in the sixth on the day before. Five of the
eleven members are new men. Mr.. Harris, who
succeeds Cakes Ames in the second district; Mr..
Whiting, who may be regarded as the successor
of Mr.. Twiche in the third, although the limits
Of the old and new districts are not identical;
Mr.. Gooch, not exactly new man, for he has
represented the district in several con
crosses some years ago, in the fifth; Judge
Hoar in the seventh, and Mr.. Williams in
the eighth. All of these gentlemen have talent
and character, which will enable them to do good
service 10 their constituents and the public. or
Mr.. Harris we know least, but in his own part
of the state he Is recognized as an able lawyer
and an excellent citizen. The whole delegation
is undoubtedly stronger than it has been for
many years. OF the new members, both Judge
Hoar and Mr. Whiting are sure 10 command
attention and influence from the first. Each has
already a national reputation, and, although
neither is much experienced in legislative work.
their great abilities cannot fail to give them a
prominent position before the country. 1t is
safe to predict of Judge Hoar that he will be
not only orcible in deb IT, but eminently use
full in the general business of the house by viz
tue of his knowledge, sagacity and infeXible
uprightness.
Among the members of the present house who
are renominated and sure to be elected we have
three, Messrs. Dawes, Butler, and G. +. Hoar,
who are not interior to any other three who can
be named, in prominence before the country and
influence upon legislation, and in the next con-
gress at any rate Massachusetts will not lose
any Of the influence which she has had in the
councils Of the nation. Our practice of retain
ing in the public service men who have proved
their usefulness has had the effect to give to the
members from this state greater opportunities
for shaping the legislation of congress than
their number, or the relative importance Of
Massachusetts derived from her population or
other circumstances would seem to justify. In
the present congress the chairmen of five i'm
portant committees are Massachusetts men,
bers-Dawes of the ways and means,
Hooper of banking and currency, Banks
of foreign affairs, Butler of revision of
the laws, and Bufinton of accounts
Governor Washburn, before his resignation,
was chairman OF the important committee OF
claims, and other members have good positions
on leading committees. Ofceurse the other
states cannot have the same proportion of
chairmen. 1t is the duty and, no doubt, the
purpose Of the speaker TO distribute the com
miltees as equally as possible among The states,
having reference, of course, to the special quail
fcations Of m .mbers so far as such exist and
can be conveniently recognized; but it is the
reasonable custom 10 continue member, who
has been reelected to successive congresses, on
the committee where he has already served, if
he desires it, and, as those standing before him
fail OF a reelection or retire for other reasons,
he comes to stand at the head of it. In this
way it has happened that just half of our pres
ent congressman preside over committees, and
Mr.. Hoar, in his second term, has the second
place on two-fhose on elections and on educa-
ton and labor.