National Republican., 1877-10-31


day morning, and we will now call attention
to few others.
The Pacific Railroad Committee promises
to be fruitful field for enterprise, If not
for jobs. There are now two routes, the
Central and Northern Pacific, that have en-
joyed wealth of subsidy from the Govern
ment, and which no doubt feel that enough
has already been done in that direction.
They probably think that they have capac-
ity TO take all that the Government has to
spare in that way, and hence there is no
room for new comers. The indications,
however, are that another candidate for
public favor and aid will be presented in
the Southern Pacific scheme, which will be
urged upon the attention of Congress with
much pcrtinacity. Geographically this
committee is so divided us TO leave but
little hope that either of these great lines to
the Pacific will have everything its
own way. Mr. POTTER, the chairman,
is New York city lawyer, who will
endeayor to do justice by all these routes,
as they will find substantially centre in
that great metropolis of finance, trade, and
commerce. Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Cali
fornia, Connecticut, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Wisconsin,
Massachusetts, and Missouri are all repre-
scntcd and if any one else can see how an
overwhelming combination can be made in
behalf of any one enterprise, we confess
that we cannot.
Tho Gnn,n,,ttaa h;1itnryr A fairs
pies prominent position in relation to our
national dcienses, and has been selected with
out giving it away to the South. Mr. BAN
MING, Of Ohio, who has been honored with
the craftsmanship, is well qualified for the
position, and his colleagues on the commit
tee are of character to promise usefulness
and intelligence in the discharge of their
duties.
The Committee on Naval Affairs isplaced
under the craftsmanship of Mr.. WHITTHoRNE,
of Tennessee, gentleman of some expert.
ence in that relation. The personnel of the
committee is fair
The Committee on Foreign Affairs is
placed nominally in charge of Mr.. SWAMI,
Of Maryland; but as Mr.. Cox, of New York,
is next on the committee, and the health
of Mr.. SWAMI is understood to be such us
to greatly impair his usefulness, and as Mr..
Cox is only at the head of the Committee
on Library, the inference is that he will be
expected to take the laboring oar on For
eign Affairs There is excellent material
on this committee, and it is mainly drawn
from the Republican side of the House.
The Committee on Railways and Canals
is placed in the hands of Mr. ScHLEICHER,
of Texas, aState where canal is not known,
except in history, and where railroad inter-
ests are mainly prospective. The majority
of this committee are from Southern States,
where there Is no prejudice in favor of
canals, but considerable hankering after rail-
roads.
The Revision of the Laws in an important
committee. Mr.. WALSH, of Maryland, is
its chairman. There are three Northern
men on it-a fact which insures the COM
mittee against any undue Northern inhu
ence in revising the existing laws Of the
nation.
The Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds holds very important relation to
this District Mr. Cook, of Georgia, is its
chairman. He will vindicate his own fit
ness for the position. The only Eastern
members on the committee are Messrs.
BLISS, of New York, and COLLINS, of
Pennsylvania The balance are from the
West and South. This, however, is no OBJ
lection to them, provided they entertain
fair and liberal views in regard to the pub
lie buildings and grounds that beautiiy the
national capital.
One word relating to the assignment to
chairmanships on these committees and we
have done. Geographically the thirty-one
most important committees are held by
eighteen chairmen from the Southern States.
This, we trust, will satisfy the solid South,
while it establishes beyond question that
the Speaker has no undue prejudices in
favor OF the North.