St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-01-14
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
News from Everywhere.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

CONGRESS reasssembied on the 9TH. In the
Senate, bills were introduced BY Mr.. An
thony-To promote the efficiency of the Navy
by Mr.. Maxey-To increase the efficiency of
the Signal Service of the Army; by MI.
Plumb-To provide for the disposition of a
portion of Fort Hayes Military Reservation,
Kansas. In the House, Mr.. Ortiz rose tc a
question of privilege, stating it grew out OF
and affecting the recent appointment of com
mittees of the House. Before stating the
question specifically. he said: ~ ask indul-
gence to announce that it is my parpose at an
early day to introduce for consideration and
action proposition to change the method of
selecting committees. The vast and dfversi
fled interests of the country are all more or
less affected by Congressional legislation, and
this legislation as is well known, is almost
exclusively controlled by the action of the
committees. For this reason their formation
assumes importance and is invested with re-
sponsibility too great to rest in the hands OF
single individsal, however capable and hon
est and patriot&eEuch indiviual may be. AS
now exercised iaFs emphatically one man
power and such power is always dangerous
and in conflict with the principles of re-
publican government. 1t is our duty to
see that it may not ut some future period be
used to the detriment of the best interests of
the people. And now as to the question of
privilege. You have seen fit, sir, to assign me
two committees, namely. second place on
Rules, and Chairman of the Committee on
unwaverng confidence of my constituency.
| haREe been for twelve years member of this
ilotsSc, and am now entering on my seventh
there is not another Republican member who
mas o,ius long represented his people
During that time I have served % mem
Der and Chairman on the CSnlmittee
on Private and Claims, as mem
Der of the Committee on Ways ana Means,
and for t n years as member 9f the Com
lnittee on Foreign Affairs, part NJ that time as
its Chairman. With one exception, possibly
two am the only Republican member who,
at any time prior to this session, has ever
served as Chairman of any committee of this
House. In view of this factcssubmit that the
speaker IN his recent actiohzdas done an in
Justice to me and my constituents, for the re-
lations between Representative and his
constituents are so clearly interviewer that
Injustice to one is necessarily an injustice to
thess6her. Ihey naturally Ieel pride and
interest in the proper recognition ef thSsc
Representative, and especially vines stsa
RECOGNITION is regarded by custom as attach
ing to long years of service. For this inius-
lce there Is, however, no remedy All that
can be done is to protest against it, as l do
now for myself and constituents and for
reasons that do not require specification, 1
respectfully ask the House to excuse me from
service as a member OF the Committee on
Rules The Speaker: "The Chair does not
understand that it is necessary for him to
Nindicate himself by speaking in reply 1t
must not, however, be inferred that because
the Chair does not undertake to challenge the
statements charging him with injustice, that
the Chair acquiesces in the views taken by
the gentleman from Indiana" Mr. Orth's re-
quest was granted. Mr.. Hewitt On W was |
reiieyed from service on Committee on Public
buildings and Grounds. Mr.. Hewett (Ala.) Of |
tered resolution reciting the fact that me
khedive of Egypt had presented to the Ufleed |
states the obelisk knowp1as Cleopatra's Nee |
d aie ana ma rendering to his Highness the Hhe,
- ates for a gift which only theg0dest of ma
tons could make and the Agangesr could |
most highly prize. Adopted. cd