New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-21
SPEAKER KERR's COMMITTEES.

of the House by Speaker Kerr would give en-
tire satisfaction TO either friends OF foes.
He has taken what may be fairly reckoned
abundant time to go over his lists with
care, and make as judiciOus and wise
selections IA were possible from the Congress
the people had given him to choose from.
The perfect honesty of his work is clear The
absolute courage with which he has met its
difficulties is clear. And, unfortunately, his
lack of tact and ignorance of the multifarous
details which successful Speaker is bound to
know are Just as clear as either There has never
been an honester thing done in the Speakers
chair than Mr. Kerr's refusal to appoint Mr..
Fernando Wood to the chairmanshiD OF Ways
and Means, and the consequent leadership of
the House. There has rarely been more bravery
shown than in the dsappointments meted out
with equal hand to Mr.. Wood, and to two or
three other conspicuous leaders, who have it in
their power to make Mr. keT's position
most unenviable one, if not indeed to break
him down altogether. The appointment OF MIR.
Morrison to the Guardianship of the Ways ana
Means Committee involved courage also OF a
certain sort, but the fitness of 1t Is yet to be
shown. Mr.. Morrison was next to the last
member of the Committee on War CLAIMS IN
the last Congress, and there was no complaint
from his party that he did not receive suf-
cent recognition. He was in i'll health, however,
and was absent from the House good deal.
He has been an earnest advocate OF hard
money, has always been counted thor
oucbly honest man, and has always been
esteemed and liked by his associates. We
have never heard word to his discredit,
and in times past have heard many words In
his praise. But still it may he fairly said
that unless Mr.. Morrison surprises the country
with his capacity the country will hardly for
give Mr.. Kerr the surprise OF his appointment.
We have to thank the Speaker for his dispo-
stion of Mr.. Wood. Doubtless the Admins
tration organs which had their index fingers
lifted to point at Wood as "a specimen Re
former, in case he had been placed at
the head Of Ways and Means, will
he bountiiully indignant mt the slight put upon
him. The Speaker and his party can afford to
contemplate that exhibition with philosophy.
Il will not hurt 1t is not likely that Mr.. Cox
is entirely satisfied. Everybody will be sorry
that he is not. Everybody likes him. And yet
it nav be that Mr.. Kerr has done well here,
even though Mr. Cox has been disappointed.
Mr. Cox has made special study of finance;
his speeches show knowledge of its elementary
principles, and unwillingness to be lured
away from them by greenback sophis-
tries or partisan appeals The country, we
think, will have reason to he satisfied with his
work. The Committee on Civil Service Reform
seems safe and strong; though he would
he a bold man who should predict much
genuine work from either party IN this
direction in the present condition OF politics,
and on the eve of the Presidential campaign.
The Committee on Rules is as good as 1t could
be made. That on Railways and Canals seems
fair, and it would probably be safe against
subsidies of any sort even without the
recent vote of the House The Com
mittee on Pacific Railways hardly looks
so safe. In fact, suspicious person might
incline to think that COL Scott, with
an attorney of the Southern Pacific, and
three or four other friends and we'll
wishers on the Committee, had reason to be
satisfied. The Judiciary Is not strong Com
mittee, and some of the other impor-
tant ones show extraordinary weaknesses.
Contrasted with the fine knowledge of human
nature, the Intimate acquaintance with the
aptitudes of different members, and the IN
teIests of different districts, which Mr.. Blame
displayed, the result is not encouraging. What
can be said, for example, of placing small
West Virginia lawyer at tue head OF
the Committee on Commerce, giving to
the entire Atlantic coast but two rep
resentatives on il, and ignoring
leading New-York merchant elected 10y the
Speakers own party, of stainless character,
;yhO at the time of his recent retirement
from business was among the heaviest
aud most experienced importers in the
United States, probably surpassed in this city
hy only A. L. Stewart and H. b. Clafiinf What
sort of use is it, of the material at his disposal,
which leads the Speaker to place such man,
not on Commerce, where lie would naturally
belong or oil Banking and Currency, for which
he might be thought TO have some special
fitness, or ON any OF the leading
business committees, for which his
training would qualify him, but
of all possible places--oD the Committee (Which
sometimes meets once a session and sometimes
does not on Weights and Measures
This insignificant Committee is further
strengthened by the addition of Prof.
Seelye, but, with q better sense Of fitness in
his case, he is also placed On the Committee
on Indian Affairs. The disposition of Mr..
Abram s. Hewitt of this city is clearly the
result OF simple ignorance. Here is iirst-
class business man, of large experience and
widely-recOgnized ability, belonging to the
reform element in the Democracy which the
Speaker is most anxious to encourage, of
stainless personal integrity, and of that
easy private fortune which at once enables
such q man to devote himself unreservedly to
the public service, and removes him from
tho susnicion of imDrOper mOtiyek: i'm