The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-27
He Reviews and Comments ON His Work
in Making Up the Commiftees-rhe
Points He Had to Consider-Ho Thinks
Buckner and Bland Will be Reasonable.


'rThe first thing that did in the formation of the
committees" said Mr.. Carlisle, Twas to learn all
that could of the 1T new members Of the House,
ascertain the antecedents of each of the new men.
his age, occupation previous legislative experience
etc. had to call on the old members of each dele
cation. put the names of every new member up
the margin of wide sheet of paper and opposite
the name filed in all could learn about tn, man.
Then blocked out the committees in number OF
instances, choosing the chairman tirst and filing In
the membership afterwards, although often had
the members of a committee written out before the
chairman was selected. Well, / had TO 90 over
these lists scores of times before reaching final
decision. Oftentimes l would find that the geo
graphical representation seemed bad when the per
ica representation vas correct the personal unit
ness of the arrangement seemed manifest Often the
change of one man involved as much as three
hours labor in symmetrically filling the vacancy
caused by the transfer. At the outset / saw that
there we're So Democrats who could only be given
places on one committee, and "A Republicans who
must fare in like manner. The minority represen-
tation of the Republicans of course made it easier
for me to discriminate there
There is a custom here, which, by long usage has
almost become law, that old members shall be given
the chairmanships. have no doubt that some Of
the new members would have made more efficient
chairmen than several of the older ones selected
STILL had broken the rule in one instance beyond
giving Mr. Reese of Illinois the chairmanship Of the
committee on enrolled bills, place which is Of no
inn ort2nce as giving the chairman clerk, no
new member received a chairmanship. There was
Southern States, as rule, elected old members and
to the old members the charm tnship had to 60.
see that criticised for giving the South twenty
eight out of fifty five charmanships IL my critics
will pause to compare the proportion Of Democratic
representatives from the Southern States with
those of the Democrats from all tho other sections OF
the country, think they will find that the South
has by n omeans been favored. Take for example,
Alabama. 1t has eight representatives, all OF whom
exceptine Pryor, we're old members and he is an
ex-member of the Senate. Remember that the rep
resentatives having previously served in the House
were those from whom the list Of chairmen had
be made. Now, let us take the State OF New York.
Of its twentyone Democratic representatives all but
nine were new members, and gave the State seven
l chairmanships. Alabama received two. and len
nessee has three. Pennsylvania has four, and tho
proportion of old members in the Pennsylvania del
egaton is much less than In Tennessee So 1t Is In
| almost every case.
'You are criticised for having made Buckner
chairman of the banking and currency committee,
| and Bland chairman of coinage, weights and meas
ures, the impression being that Buckner Is hostile
to the national banks and Bland In favor of contin
1 uing the coinage of the buzzard dollar"
81 do not think the country need be alarmed BY
the assignment of those gentlemen to the positions
they hold" answered Mr.. Carlisle. 81 talked with
| both of them before they were appointed, and
know how they feel on financial subjects. Neither
| Mr.. Buckner nor Mr.. Bland will do anything hos
tile to the financial interests of the country. Mr..
Il Buckner was first made chairman of the banking
and currency committee by Mr. Randall, in the for
1 ty-ftth Congress- when the Greenback rage was at
/ its height and do not remember that the 'busi-
| ness interests complained. He was re-appointed by
| Mr.. Randall in the Forty.sixth Congress, and IL
refuse to follow the precedent thus established.
| feel quite sure that no legislation hostile to
L the national banking system will be reported
| from the committee on banking and currency, Be
fore made up this committee / read in the New
1 York Commercial Bulletin interviews with many of
the most prominent bankers and hnanciers of that
city in relation to the best Of perpetuatng
| and relieving the national banks. was surprised
to find that the widest difference of opinion prevail
L ed, and imagine that the members of the banking
i and currency committee will not recommend any
legislation this subject until they learn from the
II what is the Wisegt fOliouw
l Mr.. Bland's appointment does not necessarily
mean the continued coinage of silver either. Both
Mr.. Buekner and Mr.. Bland will act conservative
.
The speakers idea of the true way to relieve Tho
| national banks is to lower the duties ON IMPORTS
thereby cutting on the revenue and stopping the
| rapid payment of the public debt. He things the
| ways and means committee is organized u,on a
| conservative revenue reform basis and the only
| member of the committe who will be willing to 20
1 to extremes is Mills of Texas Mfr. Hurd has de-
cded not to introduce bill for free wool that he
| prepared at the beginning OF the session. How
sweeping is tn. tariff bill now 0eing written by Mr.
Morrison no one can tell. All the reductions to be
1 recommended by the committee VIII be in one sin.
gle bill which viii have the unanimous support OF
| the maiori v of the ways and means committee The
nrooramme also is to have the united support of the
majority the House for the committees bill and
| to vote down all amendments that may be offered
| by the Republicans Mr.. Carlisle tonight in speak
irg of the solcitude of members for places on the
4 several committees mentioned the fact that In the
| Forty-ffth Congress he was not given place on q
| single standing committee, being member OF the
select committee on ths ventilation of the hall and
presidential court. In the Forty-sxth Congress he
he still held his place on the ventilation comm
tee