New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-22
WASHINGTON.
SPEAKER BLAINE's DILEMMA,


| HIS REELECTION TO THE sPEAKERSHIP CONCEDED
THE APPOINTMENT OF TIE COMMITTEES A DIP
fICULT TAsK-wnL HE DEGRADE THE CREDIT
hoBILIRR AND SALARY GRAB MEMBERS IA PLAN
FOR SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY UPON A
PARTY CAUCUS.
lPRoA REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE
WAsEuNGToN, Nov. 20.-Congrcss meets a
week from Monday next II 1t were not for the Cuban
excitement the organization Of the House would be
the absorbing topic OF the day. Now, IL forms sort OF
reserved subject upon which fail back after they
have exhausted phase OF the Vrgnius affair." and
hayefreey the latest items OF rumor
relating to 1t. With the Congressman who are beginning
To drop into the empty hotels and the
| approaching meeting ia, however all the time
In mind and they appear glad when the over
laying topic is laid aside, and they can get
doWn TO the matter dearest 10 their hearts. The dis
puted questions about the organization relate entirely
10 the makeup" OF the Committees. That Mr.. Blaine
Is TO be reelected Speaker is agreed upon all Sides He
has plenty of who would pull him down If they
could, but they fear to attack him. He Is by far the
most skllfu and sagacous politician In the House, and
IL would be hopeless for rival 70 attempt 10 make
headway against him. If he were poor Speaker his
ability politician might not save him from attack,
but he is altogether the best presiding officer
that has occupied the chair within tine NOM
DRY Of the oldest mombers, dispatchng business
with great rapidly, controlling and directing
tho turbulent house with remarkable tact, and, While
losing sight the interests OF his party, rarely
exhibiting in his appointments and decisions the unfair
ness OF partisan. An intense party man at heart he
seldom forgets that kind OF judicial character attaches
by tradition 10 his position, and that under the rules
the rights OF the minority entitled to protection at
his hands. IL he has ever violated parliamentary
usafe, or displayed want OF strict impartiaty, 1t
has been either in Difference to the wishes OF his pOlt
cal associates, TO save his party from Imminent peril
Mr.. Blaine has heretofore been fortunate In the com
position Of tho Standing Committees OF the House.
almost always STRENGTHENING himself by his appoint
mens. suppose it is secret that tho Speaker cher
shes ambition to be President and that he has strong
hopes that he will be Grants successor Every act OF
his public life, If not no entered Congress- at least
since he BECAME Speaker has been with an eye ITS
effect upon his Presidential chances. This towering
ambition ought to be set down 10 his discredit No
man has better right TO look forward to the White
House. He occupies what is really the second Office in
the nation FOR the VcePresdents only respectable
hgurchead for the Senate, whom Franklin once pro-
posed TO style, " Ills Most Superfluous Hghness" Be-
sides the power and standing his Office gives him, he is
respects the ablest man among the Republican
leaders. I" II the Presidential nomination is
like a game OF chess" said an old Congressman last
Winter, you may lexpect 10 sec Blaine win it, lie is
the shrewdest Of us all"
The Speaker is just now IN a psrplexing dilemma
about his Committees and il n easy 10 how he
escape from 1t without damaging his chances for
the Presidency. The trouble all grows out Of tho
ugly Credit Mobilier business Of last session.
The echoes OF the storm OF public indignation that
reared about the heads Of Congressman when
Cakes Ames disclosed the contents OF his black
memorandum book have not yet died away. -Four
OF the victims OF the popular wrath held important
Committee chairmanshps, and under the rules OF par
lamentary usage are entitled TO reappointment These
are Dawes Garfield, scoled, and Kelley. Dawes wae
Chairman OF Ways aud Means. Garfield Of Appropria-
tions sconed OF Naval Affairs while Kelley for
time Chairman OF two Committees, Civil Ser
vice and Coinage, beside being member
OF tho Ways Means, which u held TO
be equivalent to chairmauship. He resigned the two
former places last session to take tho embarrassing or
the new Committee the Centennial Celebration. VIII
Blaiue rclppOut these men and thus continue them ~
&C ocio leaders OF the House and OF the party II he
he will give tO his enemies club with winch they
VIII be TO pound him when ne comes up lor the
Presidential nomination He Will be accused OF deIying
public opinion, and all the unsupported reports OF his
completely ia the CrGlt Mobier frauds WI bc revived
on the other hand will he be any better or II lac takes
the other course and treats them political parahs Dy
degrading them from their positions II he docs TINS
hc makes OF them his nlOrL. eneLies IAelf hosy -
by 10 means be despised. Their power shaken bur
they st strong. Their constituents sun Delevo
in tnem and stand By them. | know this j. the case In
CEN GarIled's district. and 1 informed that II is 50
in the districts OF the three others Besides their prom
hence their ability and the fact that before last Winter
no fan OF me lobby ever attached to them, gives them
a large following OF friends In tne house VINO Woud
Tescnl am indIgnty offered them. II Blaine should dis
Mace them they and their friends would destroy MN
il fhey could and IN al probability would succeed ia
running bis political Iuture. beIt' men, Is tne
Speakers dilemma II lac reappoints thcsr men To ther
old chairman hips his Budding prospects Jr the freS-
dcDcy may be oiGhted by the rost OF pubic opinion II
he does not, these prospects Nl oe uCSoJou
BY tue new and active enemies ne WI lnahe - -.
I am not ia Mr. Blanc's confidence, ava nave not
seen him since last Spring but am credhly informed
'ha he appreciates the PerilS o. MS st'aIon ana
by shifting tho responsibility OF eetths tle question
upon caucus The programme T.; am oid, as iSl.
lows: Alter the caucus makes inc NOMINATIONS Ior
Speaker Clerk, and other offices soIne one VIII IN
troducc resolution expressing the oplpOn OF the parry
that no member implicated IN the Cieuit MoOiior iilr
should be given prOnIhehb pOsitlo1 upoA ahJ Gun
Blaines action. n 10 fails, he can say =" ap-
pointed these gentlemen IL rs true. Dut |
did 1t BY direction OF tue I&puOhcan caucus,
which speaks the voice Of the party, ana which AM
bound 10 Obey Ii IL Is carried be can say 10 the de-
posed meui bers. ' | very sorry FOR you wanted
give you your old places, but you sec tho party would
me-" IL IL srewd pan but VIII IL entirely relieve the
Speaker his embarrassment IL IS unprecedented
Tor a House caucus 10 dictate the makeup VI com
mitees aud will be evidence OF cOWaTdce on Mr
Banes part AZ he seeks to eyade the responsibility OF
naming the chalrmen, an evidence when VIII certainly
be used against him. And. what Il worse the qies-
mendous row" which may END In breaking Hp
the party Tue members who are most deslr0us
OF degrading Dawes, Tened, ana o .he o,nefs
How can they have the face 70 throw Circuit hobiner
mud their mbers when they are dauDed up
to the eyes in tue ni,e OF tne blCk iy ste ~ tne,
messed in Republican Ola anmoSities VIII be
famed 10 white heat and new cues Mlh Do ElndJnd
which years Will not eXungulsh II thc qlnreis lhus
engcndeTef should afterwards break out III tue mouse
aud Disrupt the party, who would be- more 10 blame
than Mr. Blancl II not tho most blame"orthy, he
would probably be the cmei sGASrer ny tho oaau''y;
The situation Is very complicated and Interesting. II
the Speaker can successfuy extrcao himself from u
lac viii add greatly to his reputation for sasaciy