New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-10
SURPRISING THE HOUSE.
SPEAKER REED ANNOUNCES THE MAKEUP
OF THE LEADING COMMITTEES.
JUDGE KELLEY wITHDRAwS FROM WAYS AND
MEANS AND M'KINLEY BECOMES CHAIR
MANTLE OTHER Committeeman
THE sPEAKER's PROMPT
NESS COMMENDED.
IBY TELEGRAPH Io THE TkIBUNE.i

fBf TELEGRAPH TO IHL 1kiBCNE1
Washington, Dec. 9.-The announcement to-day
by Speaker Reed Of four of the leading committees
of the House was surprise not only 10 nine
tenths OF the Republican members, but 10 all the
Democrats who had not been provided with places.
That the appointment o! the Committees on
Elections on Ways and Means, on Appropriations
and on Manufactures at this stage of the session
was wise as well as eXpedent admits OF no ques-
tOn. The majority in Congress ls charged with
the duty OF revising the tariff, and therefore tle
Ways and Means Committee, taking up the ques-
tion where the Senate left il in the Lth Congress,
will find much additional and necessary work 10
do As to the constitution Of this committee,
nothing but commendation he offered. 10
represents not only the older manufacturing
States OF tine East, but includes the agricultural
regions of the West, as well the Pacific Slope,
and the South is not neglected. The Solid South.
which controlled the committee as it was organ.
lied in the last Congress, will not control 1t in
this one, and yet it is represented by such
strong and able Southern men ex-Speaker Car
Isle, eX-Charman Mills, Benton McMilhn, OF Ten
nessee, and Clifton f. Breckenridge, OF Arkansas.
Speaker Reed, more generous than his predecessor,
decided TO give the Northern Democrats strong
representative in the person of Roswell p Flower,
of New York. In passing it may not be amiss 10
observe that while New York had no representa-
tive whatever on the Ways and Means Committee
of the last Congress, she now has two strong
representatives in tue persons Of Mr.. Flower,
Democrat and Mr.. Payne, Republican. In place
OF Mr. Reed, New-Enel land is represented by eX-
Governor Dingley, of Maine, thorough student
of economic questions Mr. Burrows. of Michigan,
and Mr.. Bayne of Pennsy lvania, will also lie
found this committee.
! The placing at the head of this committee Of
Major Mckinley, of Ohio after the voluntary and
patriotic withdrawal Of Judge Kelley, is an assur-
ance that the high standard of committee work
under Republican administration Will be main
tanned 1t is worth while TO give the correspond
ence between Judge Kelley and Speaker Reed on
this subject. 1t is as follows:
Thomas b. Reed Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
senatives.
! Dear Sir: Your eectlo, to the speakershp has de.
upon you many delicate and important duties n-
eparable from the complete organization Of the House.
/ have noticed that my name has been frequently con.
neced by popular suggestion with the chamanshp OF
the Committee on Ways and Means. In view Of my
having served that committee for the unexamped
period twenty consecutive years surprised
that my should again be associated with the dis
nguished position Of Chairman OF that committee, which
had the honor to hold during the XLVIIth Congress.
however deem it my duty TO frankly advise you that
desire be relieved from further service that com.
mee advancing years and increasing inrmtes have,
in my judgment, unified me for the performance
Of its eXacng duties
the chairman OF committee the functions
which closely related business interest al
country demand the constant employment Of the in
teect OF experienced statesmanshp and the physical
yfgor ripened manhood There are mnons our Re-
publican the House many who these
qualities in a high degree, any Of whom would
acquit himself promote the best interests OF the
country and reflect honor upon the party TO which
belong.
Desiring therefore most earnestly the continued
prosperity OF the Republican party and the complete
adD of viii
you have been chosen. It is wish that should
not consider NY in connection with assign.
ment to duty the Committee WAYS and Means.
with assurances of my continued respect and estceu
remain yours very truly,
WILLIAM D. KELLEY,
Speakers Room. House of Representative.
70 Hon w d. Kelley NJ. c.
Dear Sir: Your letter has been received by me. as
it will be by whole country with profound regret
circumstances which retirement from
the Committee Ways and Means. During almost all
your long and conspicuous which has been
inconsiderabe part OF the history of great epoch in
National life. name has been inseDarably
associated with the greatest committee and almost the
first House Of Representatives in which
already rendered the longest service OF all the
living and OF all the dead.
Your declination service that committee Is
in the history of the country as well as In the
history Of your life. 1 do not trans
gress the bounds Of either propriey or truth when
assure you the regard Of all the members Of the
and their wish and hope that returning health and
strength may enable you TO aid with your
and counsel for years. Very truly
Washington D. C.. Dec :. 1889. T. REED.
There are three new men on the Republican
side of the committee who will challenge atten-
ton. They are Mr. LaFollette, of Wisconsin;
Ex-Governor Gear of Iowa, and Mr.. Mckenna, OF
California These three men represent in a large
degree the agricultural interests of the West
using the word agriculture in its broadest sense.
The appointment of Mr.. La Follette of Wisconsin,
shows that Speaker Reed is in thorough sympa-
thy, not only with agricultural interests in gen.
eral but with the desire to repeal, if practicable,
the tax on tobacco. In the last Congress Mr..
IaFollette challenged Speaker Carlisle in debate.
and in the general estimation, overthrew him.
For the first time the Pacific Slope has a member
of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr.. McKenna.
Now, as to the Committee on Elections which
in this Congress is TO be of the most important.
At the head of il is placed Mr. Rowell, OF Illinois,
one of the soundest lawyers in the House. With
him, the Republican side, are Judge Houk, OF
Tennessee. who represents the Southern element
in the committee, and Messrs. Cooper, Of Chic;
Ilaugen, of Wisconsin; Lacy, of Iowa; Dalzell. OF
Pennsylvania Bergen. of New-Jersey CIR 'enhalse
of Massachusetts, and Comstock. of Minnesota
Four of these are new men, but each of them is
an accomplished lawyer, with the habits Of n-
dustry and investigation acquired in his profession
As for Mr. Dalzell, he is new acquisition 10 the
committee, but he showed his metal in his contro-
versy with Baron" Scott in the last Congress.
The Democratic side of the committee conslsts
of Messrs. Crisp, who was chairman oi the Eiec-
! tions Committee in the last Congress; ferf"i.
of Virginia Cultivate, of Omo; Maish' %
Pennsylvania and Moore. OF leNas-"ns
were also members of the old commits ,' -
Scott wike. Of Illinois. an o.. Old .,, mem. ?,
Z
Dei, ~"o m"o committee. and its judgments oaghs
TO command DmS the confidence OF members OF both
!