New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-26
WASHINGTON.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEES.


SPEAKER BLAINE MAKING UP. HIS SLATE" - TIL;
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS NOT TO rTERFERE-sUR-
PgIsEs AND DIsAPPoISTMENTs EXPECTED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Nov 25-Spcaker Blaine has been
in the city since Saturday evening, and is still mac
cessible to everybody except few intimate per-
sonal friends, who call on him by invitation. de
entertans no doubt of his reelection, and is hard Mt
work making up his Committees-a labor OF the
magnitude of which few people have an idea
which is made unusually perpiexing
at this time by the increased member
ship of the House and by the unprecedentedly large
number of new members whose history talents, and
aptitude for particular kinds of legislative work
must be carefully regarded in assigning them to
places upon committees. Then there are the usual
embanassments about the chairmanships involving
not only questions of party expediency and the
length of service and previous positions of the old
members but vexatIous considerations of locality
and Of the relative Republican strength Of different
State delegations
Added To these moreover is now the new comDli-
! cation arising out of a demand from some quarters
for Che displacement of the members involved in the
Credit Mobilier scandal of last Winter There is
good authority for stating that Mr. Blaine is deter
mined to take the courageous and independent
| course of making M the committees according to
his Judgment, and that all questions about their
organizations will be settled by him alone. He viii
not seek advice from the caucus, and the caucus,
knowing his opinion Of his rights and duties, viii
not offer any. If some indiscreet member ventures
to introduce resolution on the subject, 1t
will without doubt he Immediately laid upon
the table. The Speaker stated to friend to-day
that if reelected he should have two things in view
| = L,rat 1l.a .rnn1n of
the public service and second, the interests of the
Republican party. lie keeps his own counsel as to
his slate and rs far as can be ascertained not
single member has received any intimation from
him as TO the place he is to be given. He has
received hundreds of letters from members and
their friends full of advice and inquiries, to all of
which he has returned such cordial but n0n-c0m-
INITIAL replies as asute politicians know very well
how to write He is entirely untrammeled by
promises, and has no reason to fear any comblna-
tons against him.
Few candidates for Speaker have occupied 30 in
dependent position The office seeks him. and he
has no need to seek the Office. He has not the slight
est occasion to make bargains promise places IN ad-
in return for support, buy of competitors, or
permit the pressure OF members and delegations to
influence his judgment. There is scarcely shadow
of opposition to his reelection, and it is not probable
that any opposing candidate will be brought out III
the caucus No man knows how to keep secret
better than the Speaker, and all statements of his
intentions about the Committees may be set
down as mere CROSSWORD based upon probabilities
known to everybody who is familiar with the GUS
toms of the House and the ambition and previous
positions of the old members. There is good reason.
however, for the suppostion that tho list, which
will be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday, will
DO unusually fruitful in surprises and dislppoint-
ments and that Mr.. Blane's way Of looking after
the interests of the public service and the Republic
can party will astonish many members who think
they know Just how the committees are to be organ
Ted and what their places to be,