Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-01
The House Committees.

er Randall indicate the way in which po-
litical power tends under democratic lead
ership. 1t requires but glance AT
The committees to see that the South takes
the lions share of the places, thus recelV-
ing the recognition OF being the controu-
ing power in the democratic party. Oi
the AZ standing committees in the House,
the South is given the chairmanships and
control of 81, and u of these are among
the most important in the House. viz: the
committees on Elections. Appropriations.
Claims, Commerce, Post Offices aud Post
Roads. the Judiciary, Indian Affairs, For
eign Affairs, Patents. Public Buildings and
Grounds, Banking and Currency, and Ma
val affairs.
In contrast with this excessive liberaiy
to the South is the niggardly and unjust
treatment accorded 10 other sections. New
England is turned away without single
craftsmanship. The remaining northern
States east of the Alleghanies have eight
chairmanshps, of which the most impor-
tant are those of Ways and Means and
Agriculture The West, that great and
growing part of the country, has but II
committees and most of these are OF no
importance worth mentioning. New
York and the Southern States absorb the
control of all the business OF the govern
ment so far as The House can control ii.
No better indication OF the inevitable
tendency as regards sections OF political
power W hen lodged in democratic hands
could be presented to the public than an
ANALYSIS OF Speaker Randall's committees.
The solid South, not yet cleansed from the
stains of rebellion against the general gov
eminent and still procaimingi adherence
to the principles of the Lost Cause, comes
into control of the government just as fast
and as far us the democratic party is able to
place the power in the hands of that sec
ton and of the men who were conspic-
uous in the rebellion. The South is gorged
with places without regard to the capabil-
ity of the men appointed or the fitness OF
the appointments in other respects. The
chairman of the committee on Commerce
is Regain of Texas, State with no com
merce. The interests of Education are
put in the hands OF "a Vlrginian, where
school teacher who should teach his pu-
pills the true history of the rebellion and
its results would be ordered to leave the
State or be driven out by force and out (
rage. And SO other instances OF inconsist-
e ncies and Injustice to the real interests of
the country may be found in the appoint
ments. The Pacific Railroad committee
has majority in favor of the Texas Pa
cifc Railroad that great subsidy scheme
In which the South is united, and to ac-
conf lish which all the resources of cor
rupton available in such cases will be
brought to bear upon Congress.
If the friends of sound currency de-
ire any assurance of the manner in
W hich :heir cause will be betrayed if they
trust in the democratic party for support
they will find it in the new committee on
Banking and Currency, a majority of
which is composed of soft money men,
The cause alleged for making up this
com mittee as it is is that it is only in ac-
cordance with the ruling idea in the dem
ocratic party. in regard to the currency-a
statement if true that democrats of the I
Ea stern States who are in principle for
sound currency should carefully consider.
How far the democratic party regards |
that element in our politics which calls for
reform in the civil service, for pure men
in office and the reign OF honesty and
economy in public affairs, let the public
Judge when it sees Fernando Wood raised
to be the leader of the House by his APP
pointment as chairman of the committee
on Ways and Means. OF this appoint
ment leading paper in his own State
says: "a man whose notorietv is estab-
lished as a desperate political schemer.
graduated from the worst school OF New
York Municipal corruptionists. neither en-
towing nor deserving the respect of the
decent portion of the community in which
he has passed his lite, destitute of any
duONe Il CtIidlU low dDC SHALLOW
cunning, whose only distinction comes
from the lavish expenditure of i'll gotten
wealth, he is certainly fair representa-
tive OF his party. That his prominence in
Congress is a disgrace to the country few
men who know him will deny. But that
is something which the country ought to
have considered when it turned over the
popular branch OF the National legisa-
ture to the democrats"
1t there are any republicans who have
been inclined TO look towards the demo-
cratic party for the promotion of honest
men and the support OF honest measures
they are respectfully invited to observe the
democratic drift as Indicated by Speaker
Randalfs appointments and consider The
signs are SO clearly written that their i'm
port cannot be mistaken.
The verdict of the Jury in the Water.