The Portland daily press., 1875-12-23
Speaker Kerr's Committees.
An Independent View Of Them.

The New York Tribune in long editorial,
gives very candid criticism of the result of
Speaker Kerr's three weeks deliberation:
The Committee on Pacific Railways hardly
looks SO safe. In fact, a 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 wshers on the COM
mlttee, had reason to be satisfied. The Judi
ciary IS not strong committee, and some of
tne otner important ones show extraordinary
weaknesses. Contrasted with the fine knowl-
edge OF human nature the intimate acquain-
tance with the apttudes of different members,
and the interests of different districts, which
Mr Blaine displayed, the result is not encourage
ing. what can be said, for example, of plac-
ing small West Virginia lawyer at the head
OF the Committee on Commerce, giving the en-
tire Atlantic coast but two representatives on
it, and ignoring leading New York merchant
elected by the Speakers own partly, of stain
less character, who at the time of his recent re-
tirement from business was among the heaviest
and most experienced importers in the United
States, probably surpassed in this city by only
A. i. Stewart and ii. b. Claf1D? What sort Of
useIs it, of the material at his disposal, which
leads abe Speaker to place such man, not on
commerce, where he would naturally belong,
or on Banking and Currency, for which he
might be thought to have some special fitness
or on any of the leading business committees,
Tor which his training would qualify him, but
RoooAOAO
(which sometimes meets once session and
sometimes does noD on Weights and Meas
ures? This insignificant committee is further
strengthened by the addition of Prof Seelye,
put, with better sense of fitness in his case,
he is also placed on the Committee on Indian
Affairs. The disposition of Mr. Abram 8.
Hewitt of this city, is clearly the result of sim
pie ignorance. Here is first 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 man to devote himself unre-
servedly to the public service, and removes him
from the suspicion of improper motives; in
short, man having the same class Of qualif-
cations with Mr.. Henry B. Payne of Cleve-
land. The Speaker did an excellent
thing in giving Mr.. Payne high rank in the
cisely the same motives should have led him to
accord similar rank to Mr.. Hewitt, on Appro-
priations, Ways and Means. Banking and Cur
rency, or some of the other most important
business committees. Instead of this, Mr..
Hewitt is placed fifth on Public Buildings and
Grounds. The Speaker did not make such q
mistake purposely. of course; be simply did not
know better.
But there are many excuses 10 be made for
such lapses, and for any general disappoint-
ment at the cast the committees Here in
the first place is Congress made up largely of
new men; of men who have never served In
Congress; whose capacities are therefore un-
tried; OF whom nothing is known beyond the
constituencies that elected them Some of
them bring regulations, it is true, but reputa-
tions which are purely local, and upon which
presiding officer can place little dependence in
the serious business of constituting the COM
mittees which are the working force. the real
machinery of Congress- All these have their
friends, and their friends have most exalted
notions of their qualifications. The members
themselves have had no opportunities for COM
parison, and it is very much matter of chance
whether they fall into their proper places upon
committees. Whether they do or not they and
their friends are pretty sure to be disappointed.
Then, too, it must not be forgotten that here
comes party into power which when it was in
power twenty years ago was so simply because
of the numbers and influence Of the slave state
representatives, and thau when they withdrew
it fell into hopeless minority and remained
there for fifteen years. 1t is a party that for
these fifteen years has had none Of the educa.-
ing influences which necessarily come to those
who hold the reins and ere responsible to the
peopls for the conduct of the government. 1t
has been in position where it coald afford to
be carping and critical, reckless, audacious, ir-
responsible. That has become its habit