Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-07
WASHINGTON.
Republican Senators Set Down on
Malone.
THE WEST VIRGINIA coNeREssMENs
Prospects for Good Places on the
House Committees-fitz John
Porter Again Pressing
His Cause.
.SpectaI 10 the Register.

WAsHINGToN, December cit is not
probable that business at the Capital will
amount to very much for the balance
of the month, except in the way
OF preparation. Both Houses OF Congress
have their committees 10 Strange, and this,
although matter of small difficulty in the
Senate, is work OF considerable magni-
tude in the House. The former body pro-
ceeds on the principle OF seniority almost
as rigidly as the regular army. II man
can hold on long enough he will get to be
Major General, as witness the case OF
Senator Anthony and some others whose
merit consists mainly in their staying pow
ers, OF course the Craftsmanship OF COM
mittees there as in the House, are deter
mined by the political majority OF the
body as a rule, barring compromise ar
rangemeuts when the vote is close, but
after that a man is expected to be rated by
his time of service without much regard
to his ability. So there will not be much
trouble in settling Senate committees. Inc
sub committee appointed Tor that purpose
will
II.
missions
and past service, proper promotions will be
made to fill vacancies occasioned by deaths
physical and political; the new members
will be tackled on TO the tails of committees
according to their SUPP osed fitness, and
the venerable machine will move on in It's
accustomed manner.
Reorganization of the body, so far as its
officers are concerned, is likely to be more
difficult. There is considerable opposition
even among Republican Senator'S 10 make
any decided change st this time. As tex
egraphed you some days since, Senators
Sherman and Logan want 10 put in North
Carolina editor named Cslnaday as Sc:
geant alarms. Cannaday WAS sherman
DELEGATE at Chicago, and his claim Is either
based on services rendered there, or SINH
lar services TO be rendered hereafter.
I'm the Caucuses Of Repu ublican Senators
this week both Sherman and Logan are
understood to have urged immediate action
i'm the matter of changing the Senate OH
GERS and Edmunds and Plumb are stated
TO have opposed such action vigorously.
EumUndS IS reported 10 have said in caucus
amCng other things that he should be very
sorry 10 see the Senate which had but re-
C, ,uIly expressed itself as fayoring the
principle of civil service reform be the first
TO reverse its previous action by general
discharge of its own officers whose hdellty
and trustworthiness had been fully tested.
He urged that as the incumbents had dis
charged every function Of their offices TO
the satisfaction OF the Senate their dismis-
sal could only be construed as an abandon
ment of ell civil service reform principles
aud a reatiirmation OF the old doctrine OF
Tothe Yictors ReI0ng the spoiis.
In this same connection il is stated that
a communication to the caucus from Seua-
tors Malone and Riddleberger, Offering TO
vote with the Republicans il George G.
GOrham was chosen as their candidate Tor
Clerk Oi the Senate, was promptly tabled.
If 'hese things are true it will be seen that
the new deal expected at that end 0f the
Cali.Oi is by no means certain. AnyhoS,
| the old employees there are resting good
deal easter than they did at the beginning
| OF the session.
over on the House side there are no
such questions of dignity or prOpriety IN
the way. The committees are likely To be
made Up with view to carrying out tne
policy OF the ma jority most efficiently and
members will doubtless find their places
on them arranged with reference TO that
end. OF course old members have the call
by virtue OF their supposed familiarity
with the public business, and there may be
some debts Of gratitude and personal kind
ness to be- repaid, but N the main the
placing Of sSan on the committees Is sup
some Gusge of HIS Ability and Useful
ness.
Hence there is q natural anxiety on the
part of members, especially OF the Demo
cratic majority, to get good places or good
committees, for while even IN the case OF
new member il is by no means certain that
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