New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-06
;UE SPEAKERS TASK.
SPECULATION ABOUT HOUSE COMMITTEES.
WHO ARE LIKELY TO GET PRIzEs-THE RUSH FOR

EPEN OLAIlON ADOOi hOSOG NN~fNANN
WHO ARE LIKELY TO GET PRlzEs-THE RUSH FOR
MINOR HOUSE OFFICES.
IDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Speaker Carlisle mas begun
the most difficult and perpexlng task which falls
to the lot of man who for the first time enters
upon the duties of that office-the formation Oh
committees In his case the task is more dlficult
one than in that of any Speaker who has preceded
him, because the number of member to be assigned
is larger by thirty two than ever before. ana INC
number Of new men is also greater. On the Deh-
ocratc side alone there are more than loo nc"
members. There are forty-two standing anu seiec'
committees with total membership OF 444.
When Speaker Kerr appointed the committees Oh
the XLIVth Congress, the Democrats had major
ity of about seventy, but the total membership OF
the House was only 203, and the numbers OF com
nittees and of members of most of them were both
less than at the present time 1t took Speaker Kerr
two weeks to complete the committee assignments,
and Sneaker Carlisle does not think he will be able
10 do so before the beginning of the holiday recess
In this work he is aided by his faithful lieutenant
Colonel Morrison, and by Abram S. Hewitt. Col
onel Morrison and Mr.. Hewitt spend considerable
time with him. but ii is doubtful if Mr. Randall mas
visited the Speakers since his election 1t IS
not probable that his advice has been sought OF
that he has volunteered any suggestions.
MIR. wATTERsON's FORECAST
The Couier-,Joundl of yesterday contained what
purports to be dispatch from an "extra special
correspondent at Washington. which gives the
cast of the Ways and Means Committee as follows:
w. r. Morrison, Illinois, chairman; John II.
Tucker, Virginia; Frank H. lIurd Ohio; IL.
Blount, Georgia; John Hancock, Texas; Z. Johh
Ellis louisiana A. S. Hewitt New-York; A. 3.
Willis, Kentucky; S. J. Randall. Pennsylvania;
John A. Kasson, Iowa; w. H.Calkns, Indiana; j.
w Keifer Ohio The same dispatch says that Gen-
eral Rosecrans will be chairman of the Military
Committee " with Slocum good second y that Mr..
Tucker will be chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee; that Mr.. Dorsheimer will be given a good
place on the same committee; that Perry Belmont,
"brave, conscientious and enlightened" is urged
for the Craftsmanship of Foreign Affairs, and that
Speaker Carlisle will heap Goals of fire upon Mr
Randalps head by making him chairman of the APP
propriations Committee This forecast Is rather
interesting as showing what Editor Watterson
thinks should be DONE Nobody seems to doubt
that Colonel Morrison will be chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee, or that among its
members will be Messrs. Hewitt, Hurd, Willis and
Kelley.
SCRAMBLE FOR MINOR OFFICES.
The scramble for subordinate places in the House
is becoming more desperate hourly. Few appoint
nents have yet been made, and they are good ones
Neil S. Brown, jr, of Tennessee has been reap
pointed as one of the reading clerks, and Mr.. An
coma, of Pennsylvania as stationery clerk Thomas
o. Towles of Missouri who has been printing clerk
for several years, will be promoted tomorrow to
chief clerk, taking the place of John Bailey, who
has held the place since the retirement OF
Clinton Lloyd.
Edward Mcpherson retired yesterday-the twen-
tieth anniversary of the day on which he first as.
sumed the Office of Clerk. At the expiration of
twelve years service he gave way toa Democrat
His entire service, covering a period OF fourteen
wears exceeded by three years that of any OF his
equalled him in efficiency. He retires from office
with the goodwill respect and esteem OF political
friends and opponents alike His successor was
besieged today, and his office was closed TO all
cOmeTs except Representatives ana thelr 1llehds
One of his callers was Mr. Randall, who besOught
him to give place to a friend. IL was rather
novel experience, doubtless, for the cX-Spcaker,
whose nod was for a long time sufficient to provide
Morrison and other Congressman were seated Ill the
room, each patiently waiting for his turn
HOW SUCCESS WROUGHT CHANGE.
General Clark has undergone a certain and we'll
defined change since Saturday. Then he was all
smiles, affability enshrOuded him like a garment,
and he was elusive in conversation To-day his ex-
preston was composed not TO say stern the smiles
had vanished, severe dignity sat enthroned on his
countenance; his words were carefully chosen and
non-committal Saturday he was hopeful, cheer
ful happy candidate: today he is an officer with
a burden of grave responsibility resting his
shoulders Then, he was enjoying the pleasures OF
authorization; now he is wrestling with great
problem, the elements of which are l0G greedy
Democratic Congressman; 196U more greedy
place hunters and nineteen small places in his gift.
REORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.