New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-28
HOUSE ORG4NIZA1ION.

n
RESPECTING THE ADJUSTMENT or COMMITTEES
WHY THE LEADING cnAIRMANsmfs WERE GIVEN
TO TIE wEsI-MORRIsON, cox, AND OTHERS
REPRESENT TIE WILL OF TH1 MAJORITY.
To the Editor or me Tribune.
SIR: Certain considerations respecting the adjust
ment of committees have been generally overlooked.
which nevertheless deserve especial attention. alike
by those who wish intelligently to sustain and by
those who wish fairly to criticise tho course OF
Speaker Kerr. These considerations Will enGesyor
TO state impartally.
Prior to the war the South largely controlled egls-
Iation. because the older and more experienced men,
bers of the dominant party, who were naturally
selected for the charge of important committees.
were from that section. Since 1860 for the same
reason the East has enjoyed predominant influence
III the House. In the Democratic party the Southern
members formed majority and naturally influenced
its course in the Republican party. when the South
was nearly unrcpresented, the Eastern members
formed a majority and held controlling influence.
Ii is law of legislative bodies, the observance OF
which essential to their efficiency in practical work.
that such bodies shall be organized in harmony with
the will of their controlling elements aid any
Speaker who should disregard this law would DO
subject to serious and just criticism. The people
decide by their ballots what elements shall prevail,
and it is the duty of Speaker TO give effect to ther
decision.
Mr. Kerr has .been chosen Speaker Of the first
House elected since the completion of redstrcting
consequent upon the apportionment of 1870. That
apportonment gave for the first time in our history
to States west Of those bordering the Atlantic
clear majority Of members, and in consequence 1t be-
came the duty of the Speaker to award predomi-
nant influence in legislation to members from West
ern States in far the interests of those States
differ from those Of the Atlantic States. Had Mr.
Kerr declined to do So he would have been guilty OF
violating a law essential to the efficiency of legisla-
tive bodies which the House itself had observed IL
electng him, q member from u Western State.
though by votes cast largely by Eastern members.
But during the past fifteen years tho Demo-
cratic party has had power in very few Western dis
tricts, and it elec ed from the South in 1874 very
few members of legislative experience prior to tho
war. ia order to select Democrats from the West
for committees in which Western States felt IN es-
pecal interest the Speaker compelled in several
Instances to choose comparatively new men, passing
over others from the Last of larger legislative expo
rience This naturally creates some dissatisfaction.
but so far rs il the necessary consequence OF an
endeavor 10 regard the viii of the majority, it does
not deserve censuTe.
Undoubtedly majority Of the members Of tho
House favor sound currency. 1t not merely
the privilege but the duty of the Speaker to select
Chairmen of the Committee of WAYS and Means and
of Banking and Currency whose views on that ques-
ton were those which the House had approved in
his own election. In like manner majority Of mem-
hers doubtless favor revenue tariff, and, although
many may dissent from them, they cannot blame tho
Speaker because the wishes of the majority have
been consulted III the organization any moro than
niationists can blame him because they were mob
allowed to control the organization. Mr.. Nor
- adj
of hard money aud of what is commonly
called free trade, and, being Western Democrat.
he fairly represents in essential respects the ee-
mcnts which the Speaker was bound to consider.
1t is well that he i of upright character and
unstane1 record, and il will rest with him 10 provo
whether in point of ability he is equal to the posi-
ton. AT all events he is probably as well qualified
as any other North-Westem Democrat in the House,
and the selection of Southern member would have
exposed the party to an attack which would
have been quite effective, however unjustifiabe.
Mr. Cox. Chairman of the Banking and
Currency Committee, also represents the prevailing
sentiment of the House in essential particulars tho
more because, though now from this city, he was
formerly member from Ohio The same regard
for the wishes of Western members Is eyinced in tho
selection of Mr. Knott of Kentucky for the judiciary
Committee Mr. Clark Of Missouri for the Postal
mittoe on Pacific Railroads, Mr. Milken Of Ken
lucky for the Committee on Public Expenditures.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana for tho Committee on Public
Bindings aud Nlr. Jones of Kentucky tor the COM
mttee on Roads aud Canals.
In some of these instances the members selected
viii probably prove not especially competent; but II
the people who elect the numerical majority in tho
House have not selected worthy representatives
that is no. the fault of the Speaker The fair ques-
ton, think, respecting his action, is whether he
has made rs good a choice he could from the ma
terias at his disposal and in accordance with tho
rules which limit him In the organization. Ii the
elements which nc was bound to consider are NOS
such rs should control or il they represented In
adequately the responsibility rests rather with the
people, and especially with tho Democratic psrty
than with tho SPEAKER. Yours.
Aee- York, Dec. -, 1875.