Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-27
Daily yelr,.sbff Journal.
Augusta. Thursday Hsmine. Dec. 81.
The Committees

most dissatisfied with the speaker are
members Of his own party. The republic
cans expected little. and are content to ac-
cept what fell TO them after the exciting
scramble among democrats for the best
places.
The composition of the Ways and
Means Committee is favorable to the tree
traders. Morrison of Illinois. the chair
man. is an avowed free trader, and seven
Of the eight democrats upon the commit
tee will follow his lead. Kelley Of Penn
sylvania, with five other republicans. rep
resent the protectionist minority OF the
committee. Mr.. Hewitt Of New York is
among the democratic members. Several
years ago he was classed as moderate
protsctionist, but it is now understood
that he favors reduction Of the tariff and
will vote generally with the free trade
majority.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, who by
courtesy should have been placed at the
head of the Ways and Means. has been
. consoled for the loss of that position on
account of his protectionist principles, by
being given the craftsmanship OF the Com
mittee on Appropriations.
As far as the Maine members of the
House are concerned, they are very well
placed considering all the circumstances.
Mr.. Reed is placed at the head OF the
minority upon the Judiciary. He is also
a member of the Committee on Rules.
Mr.. Dingley is member of the Commit
tee on Banking and Currency ;also men,
Der of the Select Committee on American
Ship Building and Ship Owning. Mr..
Milliken is placed upon the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds; and upon
the Committee on Education. Mr.. Bou-
telle is appointed upon the Committee on
Naval Affairs. We cannot complain that
our State has been unfairly treated. All
members of the delegation are as respect
ably placed as was perhaps possible by
Mr.. Carlisle under the immense pressure
made by his hungry democratic friends
for the best positions.
1t is when we look at the disproportion-
ate number of chairmanships awarded the
South that the prominence of that section
in controlling the democratic party comes
into view. Twenty-eight of the fifty-two
ehairmanships are placed in the Southern
States, where there is but "A small fraction
of the population, business, wealth, enter
prise and ability of the country. Demo-
Gratis of the North of national reputation
and well established character and ability
have been obliged to take subordinate
positions under men of no experience and
without national reputation. simply be-
cause the sectionalism OF the South
asserted its power in the election
and control of the Speaker. Two
hundred Of the five hundred and fifty-one
places are given to the South. The great
beehive Of the North, with all its varied
and important interests, its industries of
manifold forms. its grand loyalty to flag
and country. is thrust into the back ground
by an accidental democratic majority in
the national House of Representatives. and
obliged to accept the leadership of men
without ability to control. and who but a
few years ago were in arms against the
government. These facts. as they stand
out in Speaker Carlisle's committees, are
the important and notifying ones in the
appointments. The complaints of individ-
uals about being placed in humble posi-
tons, or In places. which they
are not adapted TO fill. are
''trifes light as air" compared with
che sectionalism so potent and prominent
in the makeup of the committees. We
have here foreshadowed the consequences
which would follow the election of DEM
ocratic President and Senate. Should the
North supinely consent to permit the con-
troll of the government to pass into demo-
cratic hands, the grasping sectionalism of
the South will then be exerted as much
more largely than il Is in these appoint
ments IS that opportunity will exceed the
limited power of the Speaker of the House.
The New York Times says: 1.-The num-
4 e