New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-17
SPEAKER KEIFERS COLD VICTUALS.
THE PROPOSITION TO ENLARGE THE HOUSE COMMIT
TEES NOT CORDIALLY RECEIVED.


lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Alr Robeson made an
other effort to-day. in which he was sustained by
the Speaker, to secure action upon the proposition
to increase the membership of fourteen important
standing committees and to create new standing
committee. The House did not agree with the
Speaker and Mr.. Robson respecting the propriety
of Immediate action, but, by an overwhelming
majority decided TO proceed with the regular order
Although matters relating 10 the organization OF the
House Com ittees are not, as a rule, subjects Oh
great general interest, the propositions reported by
Mr.. Robson, from the Committee on Rules, have
evoked much private discussion among members OF
tha House and have excited considerable pubic
attention
An examination of the calendars of different COM
mittces shows the recommendations of Committee
on Rules are not apparently based upon the relative
amount of labor imposed upon the different COM
mittees For example, the Committee on Invalid
Pensions had on its calendar this morning $50 bills
referred this session, while the Committee on Agri-
culture had eleven bills its calendar. 1t is pro-
posed TO increase membership of each of these
committees from fifteen to nineteen, while it is not
proposed to increase at all the membership OF the
Committee on Private Land Claims, consisting OF
eleven members, which has nearly 500 bills on It's
calendar 1t is proposed to increase the membership
of the Committee on Foreign AUalrS, WHICH HAS
nineteen bills and resolutions on its calendar from
eleven to fifteen and to create new standing conf
mittee of thirteen members on lnterOceanic Canal
and Foreign Inland Transportation, which Will have
charge of many matters that would otherwise be re-
ferred to the Committee Foreign Affairs. 1t IS
also proposed to increase the Committees on Post
Offices and Pos; Roads, with forty bills; on Pacific
Railroads. with six bills Mississippi River In
provements, with three bills; and on Public Lands
with 102 bills, from eleven To fifteen members each
Notwithstanding the vigorous efforts that have
been privately made to secure votes for The PROPOSE
ton of the Committee on Rules there is decided OPP
position to it; and weIl-informed members express
the opinion that it will be defeated One prominent
Republican member who is not one of those ele-
gantly described by of the Speakers most con-
fdental and influential friends as sore heads"
said to-day: "I am very much opposed to the
proposition TO increase the membership of the COM
mttees, and shall vote against it. do not think,
as the Speaker does that if the proposition shall be
adopted he Will be able so to distribute the add-
;ional appointments as to allay the dlScontent
caused by his previous assignments. IL w0ulu DC Il
good deal like bis refusing to invite man to dinner
and afterward-feeing that he had not done exactly
rrht-sending him some cold yictuais."
Ii is understood that the Speaker has made con-
siderable progress with the new assignments; so
that if the committees increased there Will be
very little delay in announcing additional appoint
ments and il is said he proposes TO DIVIDE the new
appointments equally between the members OF tne
two parties.