Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-12-31
Mr.. kerr's Committees.

Mr.. kerr's Committees.
Nothing could show more forcibly the
straits to hich the Democratic party is re-
duced, il the matter of Statesmen, than the
standing committees OF the House. With
three or tour exceptions the list Of eharmen
Is string Vi noBodie>. who have served
hitherto without max. Giy mark or who
are without experience and have yet to make
their reput-tions If they ever have any
Some Of the curious features OF Mr.. herr
work, ia the allotment of the committees,
are noticed a follows by the Washington
correspondent Of the New York Times
If the Democratic House had the choosing
OF Il Speaker AGAIN lAey would not elect Mr..
Kerr. The committee on elections,
which j. first Oh the list and very impor-
tant committee, has Harris, OF Virginia, as
chairman This will insure a report In favor
| of the claim Of Goode to the seat contested
by Platt The only Republican member Of
the last House placed on the committee ON
elections is Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts, who
will bear the brunt of opposition to com
mittee determined to do everything for party
aud very little for law. The leader Of the
House discovered and appointed by Mr..
Kerr to the craftsmanship oI tue committee
on ways and means, is Mr.. Morrison, OF
Illinois He has been Speaker of the lower
branch Of the State Legislature. lie was d
member Of the last Congress and is now
serving his third term. He has never done
anything or made a speech that can be re-
called since he became member. He is an
obscure and unknown member, and his ap-
pointment is wholly for political aud per
sonal reasons He did more than any other
man to secure the Speakership for Mr.. Kerr,
and has advised and assisted in preparing
the list of committees. He has his reward.
Mr.. Wood is second on the committee.
The assignment of two members from one
State Illinois-on this committee is in yio-
latiOn OF all precedent, and is wholly unjust
The majority on the committee is strongly
in contrast with the minority in real power,
the Democrats being greatly oyermatched III
ability and experience by Blaine, Garfield
Kelley, and Burchard The only protec
ZIONIST On the committee is Kelley, of Penn
sylyauia, the other members, who are not
distinctiSely Freetraders, being in favor OF a
"tarii Tor revenue
Last night it was finally decided that
Cox must have the committee on banking
and currency. He is very much displeased,
but Will serve. The committee Is strongly,
if not unanimously. opposed to an increase
Of paper money. Cox, Payne, Townsend,
and hassOn have good records on the money
question. OF the remaining six members it
i believed :hree may be relied upon
t. uphold an honest currency, 81
that the House will have not even an op-
portunlty - vote on bill to repeal the re
sumption set, for no such bill will ever get
beyond the committee The committee On
Pacific railroads yerife5 the suggestion that
It would be constructed III the int. re. Of the
Southern Pacific railroad Lamar, the
chairman. has been from the first supporter
Of the Job, and Atk ms, Of Tennessee, both
by inclination and the instruction OF his
State Legislature, i alsJ is advocate. Mr..
Thomas, Of Maryland, l. the only Democrat
on the committee unequiyocally opposed to
the scheme, and Garfield, Kasson, aud Platt
! of New York, Republicans, support him in
| the opposition. Thu. the committee stand;
always six 10 five in favor Of the subsidy,
and in certain contingencies. seven to four.
/ Randsll's friends enjoy the disgust Of those
who voted for Kerr on the suppositon that
/ he wa> hostile to this subsidy
The House i inclined TO laugh at the APP
| pOintmeut Of Proctor Knott as chairman of
| the Judiciary committee, but he is certainly
u man vi wit, and is said to have a good
reputation and extensive legal practice a:
home. The Democrats on this committee
are oyerbalsnce1 bv the four kepubli-
cans - MeCrary, Lawrence, FRYE. and
| ; tarkweather. Mr.. Holman, besides hi
place on the approprlat.,n- commit
tee, i chairman Of the committee On pub
lie buildings and grounds. Mr.. Wells, Of
Missouri. who was On the list for this place.
withdrew to enable the Speaker to propi-
tiate Holman By offering him this commit
tee, and thus Wells, one Of the best Of the
old members, gets no Craftsmanship at all
This shows the haste with which the max
my up Of the committees was concluded
The appointment Of the committee on re-
form in the civil service was received with
laugh 1t is safe to say that the majority Of
the committee Is in favor of turning out all
the clerks, and appointing Democrats.
There il great dissatisfaction among some
OF the State delegations at the composition
OF the committees because the local inter
e,ts cared for by the State Representatives
seem to have been entirely overlooked, and
men appointed to places who are untitled BY
inclination and interest to serve in them.
For instance, the State OF Wisconsin has
always had representative on the COM
mittee on commerce to look after its river
interests bat this year Mr. Kerr ignored |
tue request Of the entire delegation from |
that State Tor representation on the com
mittee, and appointed Mark II. Dunnell, of |
Minnesota, who is said to be hostile to the 4
improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin |
rivers. This State has a.so had place on
Indian affairs, but this yesr its desires are
Ignored, and instead it has two places, not
wanted, on the Judiciary and banking and
currency committees The distribution Of
the chairmanships and important places
among the States Is peculiar. 10 addition
to obtaining the head Of seven committees,
Pennsylvania is represented on the ways and
means. which is equal to another chairman
ship. and also on banking and currency.
New England, which, in the last Congress.
had seven chalFmanships, now has nO1s.