National Republican., 1877-10-30

Standing House Committees.

fear nothing"
Standing House Committees.
As was anticipated, Speaker RANDALL
announced the standing committees of the
House yesterday afternoon. He has de-
vc'ed much time to the careful study of
the personnel of the House, with the view
Of securing ability and fitness on the part
of those selected and assigned to the scve-
raj places in question. The task of making
up the committees is delicate, embarrassing
and onerous, requiring due regard fol- the gen
eral goodw hich can only be attained through
marked impartiality, sound judgment and
high purpose. In glancing over the make
up OF the committees somewhat hastily, we
are constrained to think that Speaker RAN
DALI. has in the main acted justly and
wisely, and has succeeded admirably in
making the most and best of the material
offered for the work he had in hand.
The Committee of Ways and Means,
with Mr.. WOOD at the head, is quite as well
n could be expected. The Democratic ma
jority has majority Of members from
the Southern States in its makeup,
while the minority are all from the
North and West and combines some
Of the very best material in the House.
We have have already expressed our pref
erence for Mr.. WOOD as chairman of this
committee, for the reason that he represents
the great commercial metropolis of the
country, and has large experience and signal
sbility rs a legislator.
The Committee on Appropriations conf
bines much business ability, and, from our
knowledge of the men, we are led to the
spinion that the cause of economy has been
carefully guarded.
II this committee does not prove too fru
gal in its ideas of expenditures there is little
danger Of its being pronigate in overbur-
thening any Department of the Govern
ment with lavish appropriations of the pub
Lie funds. 1t will vindicate its own sense of
Justice and liberality by its own action, and
We are not disposed to PREJUDICE it. If it
provides justly for the wants of the Govern
nent so as not to cripple its functions, it
will do well-better by far than its prede-
sessor.
The Committee on Banking and Currency
at this crisis in our monetary affairs is of
great importance to the future welfare of
the country. The composite features Of
this committee do not indicate in any clear
degree what may be expected from its future
action. 1t is what may be termed a high
mix. Mr. BUCKNER, the chairman, is rep
resented as a silver remonetizer and in
favor Of the repeal of the resumption act.
Mr.. EWING is another of the same sort. Mr.
YATES, il is said, will vote to report a
bill to repeal the resumption, act and
then will vote against the bill. Mr.. HART
is hard-money banker, if any one can
clearly define what that is. Messrs. HAIR
DENBERGH, BELL, EAMEs, and CRIrrENDEN
are all hard-money advocates, while Messrs.
FORT and PHILLIPS are soft money. Mr..
HARTzELL is yet undecided which side of
the financial question he will take. If any
one can foresee what Is to come from such u
committee he is blessed with a remarkable
prescience.
The Committee on the District of COlum-
bia is of the greatest Importance to the
h'ei'ctS VI 'hAo ptoPi'' ~ hoihS INV pito'ht
welfare of the city of Washington in its
keeping, and 80 far as our knowledge of the
members is concerned we feel confident that
Justice will be done to its interests. Mr..
WILLIAMS, the chairman, is a gentleman of
distinguished intelligence and proverbial
fairness, and we feel confident that
he entertnins just sense of what
Is due from Congress to the capital
dty of the nation. Mr.. HENKLE, OF
Maryland, and Mr.. HUNToN, of Virginia
are both gentlemen of liberal and fair
views, and have just pride as to what is
due to this District. Mr.. HENDEE is con-
versant with District affairs, and will be
actuated by upright motives and dctermin-
ations. We have no doubt that this COM
mittee will in its future action vindicate
the wisdom of its composition.
We shall take occasion hereafter to refer
TO the other important committees, and
what may be expected of them.