The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-14
The Organization Of the House of Rep
resentativcs.

reSentativcs.
Among tho most noticeable changes in
the committees OF the House. Is that Of APP
preparations, which in the last Congress was
weak intellectually, but composed Of men on
both sides against whom no personal exccp-
tlun could bo taken. BY n recent amend
mont to the rules, its number was increased
from eleven to fifteen, In order to tighten the
burden OF business, which is especially
heavy at the close Of every session, when
conference committees have final charge Of
the disagrcements and the worst form OF
legislation is reserved for the closing hours
by the Rings and lobby that infest the cor
ridors Of Congress.
This Committee now stands as follows:
"ArKISs BLouSr. SINGLETON CLrAKR, BLACKBURN
WEtis, CoRS, foRSrY, and McMAnoS-nine Democrats
BAEER, MosEoE, HAwLKY HuHsKLI, CASNoN and HIsoocE
ELK Republicans"
ATKINS, BLoUNT SINGLETON, CLYMER
and BAKER are the only members OF the last
Congress retained on the present Commit
tee. and they have been materially strength
ened by experience. BLACKBURN, WELLS,
COBB, FoRNBY, and MCMAHON ON the Demo-
cratic side, and MONROE, HAwLEY, HUB
BELL, CANNON. and HIsCoCK on the Repub-
lican side. are in the main valuable Access
sions. Jobbcry will find little comfort with
either, and the corrupt traders in politics,
who pretend to be satisfied with the general
organization, because they cannot condemn
II with any hope Of attracting sympathy.
are directly touched by the composition Of
the Appropriations, where most Of the
schemes requiring money must pass under
review.
This Committee has grown, out OF It's nat
ural order, TO be the most important in the
House since the Forty-iourth Congress,
when the Democrats initiated the policy OF
reduction in the public expenditures. Per-
haps it has assumed larger functions than
was originally intended, and thereby ex-
cited the jealousy OF others, which led to
the recent proposition to limit its authority
TO certain specified bills, and to allow the
Military Committee, the Naval Committee
the Post Office Committee, and the Indian
Committee TO report the appropriations
connected with their different branches Of
the public service respectively as was for
merly done.
1t was wisely determined not to 60 back
to the old system, because money legisla-
ton may be much easier shaped in one Com
mittee Of picked men, worthy Of entire trust
and efficient, than In four, however well dis
posed they might be. Such change could
not be made without investing those COM
mittees with the Same power as that given
TO the Appropriations which would, per-
haps, under the duress Of the previous
question and sharp practice have carried
the Brazilian subsidy and a number OF
other jobs through the last Congress, had
such rule prevailed.
But in preparing their bills, there should
be counsel and concert Of action between
this Committee and those charged with re-
sponsibilities nearly rs high, so that 1t may
not seem to engross power unduly, or to die
tate offensive terms TO the House. 1t is en-
titled TO the last word on every supply bill,
and that word ought TO be in the line Of the
strictest economy and tho most rigid scru-
Tiny OF the official estimates. To make the
work acceptable, and TO insure cordial CO.
operation in the House, instead OF the angry
hiscords and the indecent struggles for con-
troll that were frequently witnessed in the
last Congress, advice and conference should
rather be invited than rudely repealed.
SO long as this Committee holds faithfully
10 the policy which gave 1t the lead in the
Forty-fourth Congress, and displaced the
Ways and Means from its ancient preemi-
hence, 1t will retain position and confidence.
To do that, something more is expected
Than was attempted or realized in the late
Congress 1t is quite practicable to reduce
The regular expenses OF the Government at
least twenty-five millions year, beginning
with the army which is the greatest drain
on the Treasury, and applying stern
principle OF retrenchment to the other de-
partments, which are now carried on at n
cost nearly double that paid by railroads,
banks, insurance companies and private
individuals for corresponding service. TO
say nothing Of the sinecures that arc no.
torious. We shall soon sec how clean the
new brooms will sweep.
The Ways and Means Committee will re-
sumo temporary authority. when revision
Of the tariff and some other measures shall
be presented at the regular session, but can
not hold it, II its chief rival shall pursue
theoretically the course suggested. The
present tariff Is a mass Of monopolies and
crude Determinations, and ought to be
thoroughly oyorhauled. But where one
man wants a new tariff there are ten
thousand demanding reform Of abuses and
reduction Of expenditures.