Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-11

some days later Mr.. Robson named the
following committee, towit: Robson, of
New Jersey; Butterwor.h, of Ohio; Kas
son, of Iowa; Hubbeli, OF Michigan; Can
non, of Illinois; Anderson,of Kansas; Reed,
of Maine; Shallenbarger, of Pennsylvania,
and Page, of California. Little was heard
of this committee, and things ran along
smoothly until the committee had loaded
the calendar with various bills, quite a
number Of which had stanch advocates iii
the house VINO urged their consideration
in season and out of season. Various eau
cuses followed. The little revenue bill was
decided upon, and Keiley's opposition was
repuGiated in the memorable caucus at
which The stormy discussion arose, and
conclusion was reached which the chair
man of the ways and means refused to be
bound By; either there or on the floor of the
hoI.e.
Thc ieyenue policy having been decided
upon. another caucus vas called a little
later 10 consider lie eorrso OF business:
which was brought about for strife for
Precedence among number Of members
who had two measures they wished 10
push. Chief Of these troublesome mem
Ders who persistently refused to be sat
down upon by this caucus was Anderson,
of Kansas, with tie agricultural ana pleuro-
pneumonia bill There were, besides.
Bowman, with his court OF claims bill:
Reed, with his Geneva award bill; and
Calkns, with the election cases. To at
tempt q settlement between the rival eIe-
ments the caucus was called, when 1t was
found that the same clash Of interests
which occurred in this house
was fully a5 troublesome il the
caucus, and a practical deadlock
ensued. Robinson, OF Massa cilusetts, SUI
gested lis Z way out Of the difficulty that :.
conference of these gentlemen wao had
measures which were desired to be given
preference, should be called, and that Jhey
make Ii programme TO sui inis 10 the eau
Gus. Van Voor.iis, of New York. com
ploined t.idt, 10 matter what should be
The existing committee as it then STOOD
had practical control OF everything, and
that the committee Oh appropriations con-
troiied 1t. 80 many men from the appro-
prlations committee were members OF the
existing committee that the reference Of A
matter to the latter amounted TO about the
same thing as referring il 70 The commit
tee On appro pTiaiions, which cy this means
had practical direction OF the affairs OF the
house. There were Robes scr, Cannon
and Bdttsrworth from the approp;ia-
tions committee, who were supported BY
Canine! ard EIcbbe!l from tie c2am;....<s
On Ways aid D15ans, III result .ailg Ii 1t
the other Interests OF the house had moth
ing to say about the management of his
business. Ee thought that the committee
should DO recast with vieH to distribute
the power, not only more equally between
the committees, but among the geograpii
lcal divisions of the country. Robinson,
Of Massachusetts, then moved, il view of
the frmuess of the criticism, that the
chairman appoint new committee,
which sho2Id have direction and should be
Known as the committee on order OF
business. This gave rise to what was
known as the steering committee" and
with what result, as far as the desired
object was concerned, may be seen from
an inspection of it's composition.
In the course of a day or two, pursuant
to this motion, Mr.. Robinson announced
the second committee as follows: Messrs.
Hiscock, Robinson, of Massachusetts.
Mckinley. Pound and Robson, and to all
intents and purposes that committee Was
exactly like the other, except that it iuten-
sifed the objectionable features of the
first. 1t was in one sense representative
committee OF the house, but Of Mr.. Robe
son, who by this means was given the prac
teal direction of business. I. contained
two members Of the appropriation COM
mlttea out of seven, instead CT three out
of nine, as il the first case. Bingham, of
Pennsylvania, took the place OF ShaIlen-
berger, Burrows took the place of Hub
bell, and Mckinley. of Ohio TOOK
the place OF Butterworti. As far as the
t,:o Il int 10
concerned, the West and South had nothing
to say. New York, Massachusetts, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, the four eastern
states with line contiguous, and with sim
liar Interests, controlled the committee,
while Mckinley, of Ohio, was practically
III the sana list. Oaly Wisconsin and
| Michigan of the western states hal any
yoics, Indiana, Illinois, and ali states So lth
and west OF them having no voice.
Uoon the question OF tariff there were
Mckinley, Bingham, Hiscoci and Rnb-sni
with interests which demanded prohibifory
| protection. and made a recommendation
| FROM that com mittee for tariH revision
| impossible. Cannon, Reed, Anderson.
But:erworth and Page, who were fs.-
vorabie for revision ali the old committee,
were superseded. The majority of the
new com mittee were formed with the view
of letting the tariff strictly alone. In this
way the house at the last session was
! placed under such direction that tariff leg
islasion was impossible, and it was further
| more next to impossible to give anything
consideration except such as appeared de-
sirable to Mr. Robson.
It is probable that soon a caucus will
be held at which the propriety of recast-
! ing the committee for the better distribu-
| ton of the directing power among the
| different geographical divisions OF the
Union will be considered.
THE TARIFF REPORr.