National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-06

When the House met at noon Thursday the
number ofspectators in the galleries was unu-
sually SMALL and the attendance of members evil
IDENTIFY fell far short OF quorum. During the
prayer and the reading of the jour. of the last
days proceedings, however, number of mem
bers entered, and, after exchanging New Years
greetings with their colleagues, took their seats,
giving the chamber Its customary appearance of
Mr. Orth rose TO gu estion of privilege stating
that II grew out of and affecting the recent ap.
pointment of the committees OF the House. BE-
fore stating the question specifically he said: 81
ask indulgence TO announce thatit is my purpose
at an early day 10 introduce Reconsideration and
action proposition TO change the method of Sc.
lectlng committees. The vast and diversified in
tGrests of the country all more less affected
by congressional legislation, and this legislation
as is well known Is almost exclusively controlled
by the action of committees. For this reason
their formation assumes All Importance and. is in.
vested with responsibility too great to rest In the
hands OF a single individual, however capable
and honest and patriotic such an individual may
be. AS now exercised II is emphatically one.
man power, aud such power IL always danger
GUS and in conflict with the principles of republic
can government.
1T Is OUR DUTY TO SEE
that II may not at some future period be used to
the detriment OF the best interests Of the people.
And now us to the question of privilege. You
have seen it, sir TO assign me TO three committees
namely, second place on the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, second place on the Committee on Rules,
and chairman of the Committee on Ciyil-Servcc
Reform. By the kindness and unwavering conf
dence of my constituents / have been for twelve
years II member of this House, and am now enter
ing on my seventh term of service here. With two
exceptions there is not another Republican mem
During that time have served us member and
chairman of the Committee on Private Land
Claims as member Of the Committee on Ways
and Means and for ten years as u member of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, part of such time
MS its chairman, With one Xception-pVsSibly
two
lam THE ONLY REPUBLICAN MEMBER
of the present House who at any time
prior TO this session has ever served MS u
chairman Of any committee Of thiS House.
in his recent action has done an injustice
TO me and my constituents, for the relations be-
tween Representative and his constituents are
necessarily IN injustice TO the other. They nat
urNlly feel pride and Interest in the proper rec
IGNITION of their representative, and especially
when such recognition Is regarded by the custom
and courtesy of all deliberate bodies as attaching
to long years Of service. For this injustice there
is, however, no remedy
is TO protest against IT, us now do, for myself and
my constituents, aud for reasons so apparent us
not 70 require specification. respectfully ask the
House TO excuse me from service US member OF
the Committee on Rules"
Mr. Springer stated that he was about 10 make q
suggestion us 70 the method OF appointing commit.
tees, but would not do so at present,
The Spcaker-Tbe Chair does not understand
that II is necessary for him to vimdicate himself
by saying anything In reply. II must not, however
he inferred, because the Chair docs not undertake
to challenge any Of the statements charging him
taken by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr OTth).
Mr., Orth's request was granted, ana he was eX-
cused from further service on the Committee on
Rules.
The regular order, being the call of committees
was dispensed with.
The Speaker laid before the House various ex
ccutivc communications which were apprOpri-
| atcly referred, among them the following Letter
| from the clerk Of the Court Il Claims, giving q
| statement Of MI judgments reINercd 10y the court
for the year ending December 3ISSl report Of the
| Attorney General for ISL,
| Mr.. RosCCrRus introduced the following bills
| which were referred Forthe erection of public
! building in SAN Francisco indemnifying Cali
! fornia for indebtedness incurred in 1851 and 1856.
Tie following were also introduced and re-
| ferred'
| by Mr.. Hawk, Of lllinols.-to reorgRnize The
| militia. Also to require manufacturers Of OlCo,
margarine 10 label the same,
| By Mr Gibson, of LOulSAna-TO amend the
| rules as to the Committee on Mississippi Leyees.
II simply gives the Committee on Mississippi lie
| 70 the Improvement of the Mississippi River.
! Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York, offered resolution
| recitlng the fact that the Rhediyc Of Egypt hue
| presented 10 the United States the Obelisk know
| as "ClcupGtras Needle" aud tending to His High
ness the Khediye) the thanks Of the people of tn,
| United States for a gin which only the Oldest o
nations could make and the youngest could mos
| highly prize, Adopted,
4 lOug and dcsull0ry discussion sprang up as I,
the power Of members TO intr, ducc blils through
the petition box instead OF pre- enting them II
open House those holding tic affirmative Of tn
proposition making strong IOlnt Ia Shown
that the practice Of introducing bills IN that man
ner would result IN Il large saving Of time; ia
opponents Of the proposition calling attention