Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-12
About the House Committees.

There does not seem to be much general dis
satisfaction With Speaker RandallS committees.
The universal opinion Of those who opposed his
election as Speaker Is that he has acted In a
spirit OF liberality and fairness, and has shown
good deal Of consideration for the members
who moved heaven and earth to defeat him
The ways and means committee is pretty evenly
balanced, with probably shade in favor Of the
fIee-traders. The banking and currency COM
mfttee cannot be called radical Soft-money
silver bill taking the restriction off the coinage
and making 1t free; but 1T cannot be called q
committee radically opposed to the national
banking system, or one which Will advocate
any measure which will hamper Secretary
Sherman In maintaining resumption. The Pa
cic railroad committee Is probably inimical to
the Texas Pacific interests, and much less so
with the Northern Pacific, because there are
enough southern men on 1t to defeat the exten-
sion Of the charter of the Northern Pacific COM
pany II the claims OF the Texas Pacific are
ignored. Tie coinage committee, like that OF
banking and ocni c1rrency, is silver committee
through. The committee on appropriations
is is considerably 70 b3e, strengthened by placing
placed only two members who represent
the The I'm interests 1 Of the great lakes. The
man OF the committee to inquire into the causes
OF the depression OF labor seems to be rather a
QuiXotlc assignment. Mr.. Randall seems to
tions with exceeding eXactness. There are
fifty-one committees: Twenty-Five chairman
ship have been assigned to the north and
twenty-five to the south. The best committees
though are assigned TO southern cnaIrmen.
The judiciary committee is an able one, but
there is good deal OF comment over the re-
moyal OF MacMahon, of Ohio, to make room
for Frank Hurd OF the same state. MacMahon
last year led the fight against the insurance
companies who sought to bag the Geneva award
fund while Hurd was the attorney of the com
nantpS AS The CiStrihutjOO this will
again come before that committee, 1t is held
that Rurd can sit with bad grace on the COM
mitiee in judicial capacity. The greenoack
erS have been well placed and are well pleased
Ex-Secretary Robson is assigned to the com.
mittee on the ventilation of the hall Of the
House and On foreign affairs. He rather ex-
pected to be assigned to the judiciary commit
tee, and is OF course disappointed. Taken as a
whole though the Speaker seems to have had
coed Judgment and remarkable tact.
The committee on the District of Columbia Is
largely made up OF new members The chair
man, Gen. Hunton, has served two terms on the
committee con, NIT e. ana @ knows Wen the wants OF the
OF liberality. Messrs. Henkle, Of Nd, and
Bouck, OF Wisconsin, the other members hold
ing over have also shown capacity and intelli-
gence in dealing with District AFFAIRS and their
retention upon the committee will be most ac.
ceptable. Mr.. Clark, OF New Jersey, has served
two years IN Congress, and made an excel
term In Congress, and is spoken of IS a
man OF intelligence Mr.. Sanford of Iowa is
also new member, but displayed considerable
ability IN DEBATE on the army bill. Mr.. KlOtz,
OF Pa, is new member (whose seat is contest
ed by General Albright) with reputation for
ability. Mr.. Neal, of Ohio, has served two
terms In Congress, and is an excellent law
yer. Mr.. Sands, OF New York, served In the
last Congress. BE served on the committee on
reform In the civil service. Hehas reputation
Tor legal ability and as being a liberal minded
man. The other members, Heilman OF Indiana
and AldIich OF Rhode Island, are both new
members with an excellent home record
Gen. Warner, Of Ohio, and Mr. Atherton. of
the same state. exchanged places on commit
tees to-day. Gen. Warner takes AthertOn's
place on the committee on mines and mining.
and the latter takes the formers place on war
claims.