The New York herald., 1872-01-10

will be swept off In the general uprising of the
people on the grand idea of manifest des-
tiny"
The Assembly Committees-A Good Besin-
ming in Legislative Reform.
Speaker Smith has justified the good opinion
of his friends. Entering upon the canvass
for the Speakership Of tho Assembly with
determination to stand or fall upon
his personal merits, and refusing from
the first to owe the position to
a single outside or undue influence,
he was elected without pledge to any
man, and with his hands free to form the
groundwork Of legislation In such manner
as he should see fit. In framing the standing
committees of the body over which he presides
he has not rejected counsel and advice, but in
his final determinations he has acted solely
on his own judgment, and he is
alone responsible for their character.
The list is published In our Albany cor
respondence, and 1t will be seen that, while
many of the names are those Of new men yet
untried In legislation, the selections bear upon
them the stamp of honesty and merit. 1t is
gratifying to know that the Speaker
has expurgated from the principal
committees every member whose lcgis-
lative record is furnished by the breath
of suspicion, and that he has sought among
the solid business men of the House those
Into whose hands are to be consigned the
most important duties of the session. Mr..
Alvord, as q matter OF course, finds his
position at the head Of the Committee of
Ways and Means, to which he is entitled
as much from his experience as from
the vote he received in the contest
for the Speakership. Mr.. L. Bradford,
Prince. o lawyer, residing at Flushing, is
chairman Of the important Committee on Ju-
dietary. Colonel Rush c. Hawkins Is at the
head of the Committee on Cities, and, while he
has done some indiscreet things early in the
session, it is probable that like many young
members who are over-zealous at the
start, he may settle down into a prac-
teal legislator before the first few weeks
Of the session shall have passed. Mr.. Daniel
G. Fort, Of Oswego, who has the chairman
ship of Canals, Is q banker aud citizen of
high character and position. Mr.. Alberger,
of Buffalo, heads the Committee on Commerce
and Navigation. and is provision dealer, an
old member and one whose honesty
has never been called In question.
Mr.. Edward D. White of Brooklyn,
who is Chairman Of Railroads, is
hardware dealer aud manufacturer, and is
spoken Of as man of wealth and strict In
tegrity. Mr.. Lippitt, the Chairman of the In
surance Committee, is farmer and merchant
of Solsville, Madison county. Mr.. G. Mech
Woolsey, of Milton, Ulster county, Is at the
head of the Committee of Claims, and was
member last year. He is mer-
chant, and Is said to be an honest
| man, although we do not at the
present moment recall the position he held in
the last demoralizing session. The remaining
charmen are mainly farmers and merchants
who stand we'll in their several localities, but
as we have said, many OF the members are
| new and untried men.
| The best guarantee we have Of the honest
character of the committees is furnished by the
absence of certain members from all Of
the important committee. Mr.. Hustled,
| of Westchester, is made chairman
of the Committee on Federal Relations, which
| has seldom or ever any business to transact
during the session. and has the honor of
Thomas G. Fields company at the other end
of the committee. The only other committee
on which he appears is that Of Two-thirds and
Three-6fths Bills, in which important position
he is associated with William M. Ely,
Of Broome. Mr. Ely has also the
honor Of being chairman Of Indian Affairs,
and honor is all the position yields. Mat
Bemus, Of Fenton's home, is allowed seat
on Roads and Bridges only; but there he Is
we'll sandwched in with good men. The
genial Tom Fields Is at the bottom OF the
Militia Committee, in addition to his position
on Federal Relations. AS he had much to
do with drilling last years majority the
selection Is happy one. Alexander
Frear, as long as he remains In
the Assembly, is allowed TO devote his legisla-
tive experience TO the committees on Public
Education and Public Health. Other men,
bers who have had experience in last years
legislation have been allowed TO rest upon
the laurels they then won, while the
responsible duties have been devolved upon
lless tried hut better trusted men, IN