Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-15
The House Committees.

Speaker Carlisle's list of House commit
tees, as n whole, is abont what was e,-
pected by both Republicans and Demo-
cats. II anything, the make up of the
committees is more favorable to the Re
publican party than was generally antici-
pated. While, of course the Democratic
members predominant, Mr. Carlisle has
put some OF the ablest Republican mem
Ders of the House on the princ-
pal committees, where their infu-
enCe will almost, if not quite
match the superiority in numbers of the
Democrats. On the important committee
of ways and means Mr. Carlisle has placed
five Republicans, four of whom-Messrs.
Kelley Hiscock, Reed and McKinley-are
among the abest Republican members of
the House; but, of course, the votes of
the eight other Democratic members who
are free traders to a man, will more than
offset the influence of the Republican
members foe protection. AS was to be eX-
pected, a large proportion of the members
OF the different committees are from the
Southern States. Indeed, if Mr.. Carlisle
he'd not drawn principally from the South
EN- members, he would have had some
ditliculty in finding a sufficient number of
Democrats to go around. The speaker
has given twenty six cbarmapships to the
Sou,h. seventeen to the West and but
seven to the East. New England has but
one chai"mauship-tnat of the unimpor-
(aut committee on patents, given to Mr.
Mhcbell of Connecticut.
Mr.. Carlisle Will be seriously criticised
OF course, for putting Mr.. Bland again at
the head of the committee on coinage. Yet
this IS 10 less than might nave been eX-
Eected OF a man who is himself strongly
predisposed in favor of unlimited silver
coinage, and whose party, as IA whole, is
opposed to the repeal of the compulsory
coinage law. This is question, however,
which will not be decided by the favorable
or uufavorable report of any committee
1t is the great question of the present ses-
sion, and must be fought ont on the floor.
Mr. Randall has his old place at the
head of the appropriations committee, bat
the committee under the new rules has
lost most of its former Importance. The
committee on foreign affairs has at its
head, siugulary enough, a man who has
hitherto displayed his eminent unftness
for that position by his peculiar views on
diplomatic questions-Mr Belmont
The judiciary committee has Il pretty
conservative and able man at its head Mr..
Tuckerof Virginia Mr.. Curtin of Pennsyl-
Vania is chairman of the committee on
banking and currency. The river and har-
Dor committee is made up of men
who will evidently put through
ali the Jobs they can, at the expense of
the government. The committee on pos
tai affairs is Democratic to the core, and
will doubtless report unfavorably upon
any bills intended to assist the American
steamship companies Mr. Steward of
Vermont has place on the committee
on the judiciary, aud Gen. Grout is
/ placed on the hard worked committee on
/ the District OF Columbia and on the
/ committee ofinprovements ofthe Mississ
/ ipp river.
On the whole, if the Democrats are
suited, the Republicans will not complain
of the composition OF the committees.