Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-06
HOUSE.


WAsHINGToN, January 5.-When
the House met at noon to-day the
number of spectators in the galleries
was unusually small, and the attend
ance of members evidently fell far
short Of a quorum. During prayer
and the reading of the journal of the
last days proceedings, however,
| number of members entered, and,
after OK hanging New Year greetings
with their colleagues, took their seats,
giving the chamber its customary
appearance of life and hustle.
Mr.. Orth, of Indiana, rose to a
question of privilege, stating that it
grew out of the feeling in regard to
the recent appointment of commit
tees. Before stating the question
specifically, he said: Il ask indul-
gence to announce that it is my pur-
pose, at an early day, to introduce for
consideration and action PROPOSE,
ton to change the method of select
ing committees. The vast and diver
sifed interests of the country are all
more or less affected by congression-
al legislation, and this legislation, as
is well known, is almost exclusively
controlled by the action of commit
! tees.
For this reason, their formation
assumes importance, and is invested
with a responsibility too great to
rest in the hands of single individ-
ual, however, acceptable, and honest,
and patriotic. Such an Individual
may be, as he now exercised en-
phatically, one man power, and such
power is always dangerous and IL
conflict with the principles of the
Republican government. 1t is ou
duty to see that it may not, at some
future period, be used to the det-
riment of the best interests of the
people. But, row as to the question
of privilege, you have seen fit, sir, tc
assign me to three committees
Namely, in the first place, on foreign
affairs; secondly, on rules; anC
thirdly, chairman of the com
mitteo on civil servic'
reform BY the kindness ant
unwavering confidence of M,
constituents I have been fo
twel ye years member of this House
and [ am now entering on ~,
seventh term in service here Witt
two exceptions, there is not anothe
Republican member who has thi
long represented his people. During
= that time J have served as mem
. Der and chairman of the committee
), on private land claims, as member O
/ the committee on ways and means
. and for ten years as member of tn
committee on foreign affairs, a par
S of such time as it's chairman. Wit
: one exception, possibly two, I al
9 the only Republican member, wht
: at any time>prior to this session, ha
= ever served as chairman OF any con
e mittee of this House.
u In view of this fact, [ submit tho
the Speaker, in his recent action, ha
done an injustice to me and my cor
stituents. For this injustice thel
is, however, no remedy. All that ca
l. be done is to protest against it, as
A now do, for myself and my con
stituents, and for reasons so appa,
al ent as hot to require specification
v respectfully ask the Honse to excus
n me from service as member of IL
L. committee on rules.
N The Speaker.-The chair does nj
l. understand that it is necessary fl
re him to vindicate himself by sayir
anything in reply. It must not, ho'
ever, be inferred, because the cha
does not undertake to challenge al
A of the statements charging him wi
le injustice, that tue chair acquiesces
! the views taken by the gentlem'
n from Indiana.
MIR, Orth's request was granite
and he was excused from further Sc
4 vice on the committee on rules.