The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-01-05
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
THE. COMMITTEE SURPRISES - SOME
PLACES WHERE EXPENSES MAY
BE REDUCED - SENATOR
FERRY's ESCAPE,
! ETC. ETC.

| &
ETC. ETC.
! WASHINGTON,
Dec. Is, 1851
EDITOR DEMOCRAT
There was something of a fiutter
hereabouts when the official an
nouncement of the House standing
committees came to be made, but it
was short-lived, and has subsidized in
to a feeling of general satisfaction, SO
far as the majority side of the House
is concerned. Speaker Kerr's pro-
gramme was materially different from
any the politicians had marked out,
in some particulars, and surprise,
more than disappointment, was the
result. 1t was notpossible that there
should be no disappointments, for,
ridiculous as it may appear, out Of
1s9 majority members, at least 1873
would expect an important chairman
ship, though there were only forty,
in all, to be given. But that sort Of
grief comes with the organization of
every new Congress, and speedily
vanishes, leaving no rancor in the
heart of the body polite.
The more intelligent consideration
given to the subject the more does
the Speakers work appear judicious
and wise, as we'll as courageous and
honest. His selection for Chair
man for the Committee on Ways and
Means was a genuine surprise, as
that position, which is understood to
carry with it the leadership of the
House, was never assigned to Wes-
tern man before, and no Western
man had been thought of in that con-
nection. But whatever may have
been the Speakers reason for disre-
garding preccdents, he has made no
mistake in this appointment. There
is not on either side of the House a
filter man for this position than Mr..
Morrison, as those who have not yet
taken his measure will be ready to
confess before the session Closes
The Republicans in Congress and out
manifest an exceedingly pertuberent
state of mind. They eagerly pointed
out the supposed indignity to Fer
nando Wood in refusing him the
Ways and Means Craftsmanship, and
ltearfully hoped he would decline to
serve in the second place. Yet how
they would have roared had Fernando
been appointed. They forgot how
they applapded two years ago when
two or three Democrats bollcd his
nomination for Speaker. The disap-
| pointment and wrath was all their
own this time when Fernando walked
into the committee room and grace
fully accepted the place assigned
him. But these Republicans are ex-
ccc'lingly hard to please.
It being understood that no chan
ges are to be made in the tariff laws
at present, the Ways and Means
Committee will be less important in
this Congress than the Committee on
Appropriations. Mr.. Randall, since
his appointment to the head Of this
Committee, has reiterated, in private
conversation, his views when can
didate for Speaker-that the annual
Expenses Of the Government can be
reduced forty millions Of dollars
without crippling in the slightestde-
gree any Department. To this work
4 Mr.. .Randalrs committee will ear
nestly address itself. Last year we
were assured that everything was
Whitfield down to the finest possible
point, and the estimates for the now
current fiscal year summed up
three hundred and ten millions Of
dollars. Congress, however, in view
of the elections pending, took on q
virtuous mood, and cut the appropri.
ations down some seventeen millions
below the estimate. This seemed
very hard to the Administration, bu1
4 it cannot look for even as generous
treatment as this from the presen,
House Of Representatives, and prob
ably assuming that its estimates viii
be ruthlessly cut down, it has pru
IDENTIFY made them much larger thar
before, to allow an ample margin fol
reduction.
The sum demanded to carry on thu
Government from June, 1875, t.
June, 1877, is $s14,612,eO or fou
and half millions more than las
: years estimates, and twenty -one ane
: ia half millions more than the appro
priations made by the last Congress
II il notownrthxr 4hat M pn;a4a.,