New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-21

DOUBTFUL BUT MAY Do.
lBy TELEGRAPH rRBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20-The organization of the
House of Representatives was completed to-day by
the appointment of the standing committees. After
the customary holiday recess, which this year will
be little longer than II has been before for several
years, it's members. will return to Washington the
first week of the year, and begin the real work
Of the XLIvth Congress. The Speaker has devoted
nearly all his time since his election two weeks ago,
10 the responsible, and in the present instance
usually difficult task of bringing legislative order
out of the chaos of almost three hundred new MEM
bers a majority of whom appear upon the floor of
the House for the first time. and large proportion
of whom comparatively unknown TO the conn
try and to each other. The task has been one that
has required the exercise of the most untrng indus
try and it has severely tested the strength Of MIR.
Kerr in his present weak condition. During
that two weeks, except when the House was i'll ses-
sion, he might have been found at almost any hour
of the day or evening in his room at Wizards,
eourteously receiving suggestions from every quar-
ter OF in consultation with the trusted leaders of
the party; but he was remarkably snccessful IN
keeping his own counsel, and only now and then at
long intervals did hint escape upon which any
one could base conjecture III regard to any one of
the important committees. The task of the Speaker
was unusually difficult, because in addition TO so or
ganizng the House TO insure facility and success
in the transaction of business he also expected
to give 10 the important committees such character
as to strengthen his party in the approaching Presi
Dental campaign; and this not an easy thing to
do when he had 10 take into consideration the am
bition Of Representatives and the conflicting inter
este of different sections and different enterprises.
TO the members themselves the session to-day was
one of the most intense interest and yet the attend
ance was smaller than on any previous day during
the session. The leaders of both parties were all
there but many more obscure men, who expected
little awaited themselves of the opportunity to in
crease the length of their vacation, either by going
home on Friday last or by not returning from Phila-
delphia Among the most conspicuous absentees
were Mr. Holman on the Democratic side, and Mr..
Seelye and Mr. Banks, who, though liberals, have
seats among the Republicans There was no extra
ordinary crowd in the galleries. Secretary BI1sow
occupied seat the floor by the side of Mr.. Blaine
After the reading of the journal the Speaker pre-
sented one OF two Executive communications, the
general hum and confusion continuing in the cham
Der while the Clerk read their titles; but when Mr.
Kerr handed TO the reader thick bunch of papers
and said that with the permission of the House, he
would announce the committees, the buzz of voices
ceased at once. Members who had been writing OF
talking sat erect and faced the Speaker, and the
change was almost as sudden and simultaneous as
the execution Of a military order by regiment OF
soldiers. As the long lists were read the faces OF
the members were an interesting study. Mr.. Wood,
who had few minutes before begun writing a
letter did not look up when his name was an
nounced as second on the Ways and Means Commit
tee, Int a few minutes later he put down his pen,
leaned back in his chair, folded his arms and us
tened TO the reading with that distinguished
and dignifed air that makes him so
prominent an object in the House. Some
of those who were named as chairmen, OF
were given desirable places the committees,
seemed agreeably surprised while others took 1t as
amatter of course, though they had had private
information beforehand. Another class who nad
hoped for good positions and who had intimated to
the Sneaker IN advance that they would like TO be
on the Banking and Currency Committee, or the
Appropriations or Foreign Committees looked dis
nppointed when these committees read and
their names did not appear; and as the reader adj
yanoed with the list some of them seemed to think
that they had been forgotten altogether. IL was
difficult, after adjournment, to get any general ex-
preston from the members in regard to the commit
tees but it was easy TO see that there was great
disappointment among many Democrats, and this
evening majority of those still in the city Seem TO
be much dsgusted with the general arrangement.
The controversy between Mr.. Cox and Mr.. Wood has
heretofore been referred to- 1t is understood that
Mr. Kerr consulted both of these men, and as neither
would agree that the other should be Chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee, he determined that
neither should The result is that neither is salts
fed with his position. Mr. Wood thinks that he
was entitled to the Craftsmanship, and MIR. Cox does
not Ike bis place at the head Of the Committee on
Banking and Currency
Mr. Bliss of Brooklyn thinks he has been Very I'M
Justly treated. Representing he says, the third
Democratic city in the country in which is situated
one of the important navyyards, he has has neither
been placed on one of the money committees OF ON
the Naval Committee, but on that of Invalid Pen
sions He intmates that after his work in Mr.. Kerrs
behalf this is rather shall by treatment. Another DEM
ocratlc member who sadly dlsappointe said that
il the committees had been drawn by lot they could
not have been constructed. IT is safe to say
that there is more disappointment and disgust among
the Democrats than satisfaction The leading Re-
puLlicans of the House consider themselves rs well
treated The recognized leaders have been placed
In positions where they will have the best advant-
pges and the Speaker seems either 10 have con-
suited the wishes Of his political opponents more, or
10 have gwen more heed to their wishes, than TO
those Of his friends.
The money committees almost the frstto be
examined. The Committee OH Ways and Means, as
was remarked last night, is strongly In favor OF
hard money and no wildcat imitation scheme Will
be fsvorably entertained by IT, The majority viii
also favor revenue tariff but this question ID not
likely TO he acted upon by the House this session.
The Committee Oh Appropriations Is not believed 10
be radically economical in its tendency, as 1t was
hoped il would be- While Mr.. Randall Will favor
very large reductions in public expenditures, and
will be more than sustained by his first lieutenant
On the Committee, Mr.. Holman, and they may be