New-York tribune., 1889-12-24
THE CHOICE OF COMMITTEES
rur SPEAKERS SELECTIONS BASED ON
ABILITY AND FITNESS.
xo ATTEMPT TO REWARD HIS FRIENDS OR
PUNISH HIS ENEM1Es-1MpoRTANr PLACES
GIVEN TO MEN WHO OPPOSED
HIM IN THE CAUCUS.
tHr rELsGRArH TO THE TRBUSI.1

fRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBBUNL1
washington. Dec. e3-of course the Democrats are
M, satisfied with the composition of the House
Committees, and they are already trying to foment
d,scord in the Republican ranks. That is Demo-
,,aiic craftsmanship. One of the Democratic state
nens is that the speaker has sought 10 reward his
friends and punish the who voted against him
!, the caucus. The fact is that about ons-han Of
,he ffiy odd chairmanshps have been allotted to men
uho opposed Mr. Reed not only in the caucus, but
before that body met. some Of whom were foremost
IN the effort 10 defeat him by appeals of sectional
feeling other committee assignments have been
made on the principle. Moreover, among the
ehairmanships given TO men who opposed Mr.. Reeds
election are less than fourteen OF the most desirable
and important in the entire list.
The first and one Of the most important committees
m the list is that Elections, at the head of which
has been placed Mr.. Rowell, of Illinois, stanch sup
porter of Mr.. Cannon Among the other Republican
members of the committee are Judge Houk and Mr.
COOPER who ardent Mckinley men. and Mr.. Lacey
who was an equally supporter of Colonel Hender
SON AZ the head of the Ways and Means Committee,
,he chairman of which Is both nomnally and actually
The leader of the majority in the House, is Major Nc
Yinley. who Mr.. Reeds strongest competitor and
who has among his colleagues Mr.. Burrows, another Of
Mr. Reeds competitors, and Ex-Governor Gear, of
iowa who Colonel Hendersons chief lieutenant in
the speakership contest At the head of the important
Committee on Appropriations is Mr. Cannon, another
candidate for the SpeakerShip, with whom are asso-
eiated Colonel Henderson, another candidate. Major
Butterworth, who one of Major McKinleys active
supporters; Mr.. McComas, who supported Colonel
Henderson: Mr.. Peters, who ardent Cannon
man. and Mr.. Brewer, who supported Mr.. Burrows.
II thus happens that two-thirds of the Republican
membership of this most important committee is COM
posed Of men who opposed TO the election of Mr.
Reed.
Al the head Of the Committee on Manufactures,
4ha ipnn0 MT
dealing with any legislation affecting trusts" is Judge
YeIev who stood by and voted for Major Mckinley,
although nearly all the other twenty Republicans rom
the keystone state supported Mr.. Reed. one of the
most important committees of the House Is that on
the Judiciary the chairman of which is Ezra b. Taylor
Of Ohio, who supported Major Mckinley. OF no less
importance is the Committee Foreign Affairs at the
head of which is Mr.. Hit, who voted for Mr. Cannon
Another Cannon man, General Henderson, has been
annointed 10 the chairmanshiP Of the Committee on
Rivers and Harbors which is regarded by many mem
hers as the most desirable one III the House sun
another Cannon man. Judge Payson, receives the char
manship of the Committee on Public Lands, the I'M
portance of which is generally appreciated 1ourth
supporter of Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Dunnel, OF MIME
sofa goes to the head of the Census Commltee'
General Vandeveer of California, who also supported
Mr. Cannon gets the chairmanshp Of the new ouI
extremely important Committee on irrigation OF Arlu
Lands Mr. COnger, of Iowa, who supported Colonel
henderson goes 10 the head of the Committee on
Coinage Mr.. Struble, another Henderson man, p5 3
coes chairman of the Committee Territories wich
,,II no called upon TO deal with the important subject
Of the admission of Idaho and wyoming, as Wei a.
with many other important matters ,,r,.
The craftsmanship Of the Committee on MlItary
Affairs goes to General Cutcheon VINO supPGTnen
rets the charmanship of the Committee on EduGaton
which will be required to deal with the Biair OllI W
some like in which large part ol lile oouiS
feels interest. 49, Ian horor
1t cannot be said of the men who have been here e
named as of other who have received cnalr.
manships or important committee assignments ta'
they have been rewarded on account OF ther OpPoSr
tion Ia support the successful candidate iOr speaker
The appointments have been made on GROUNDS %
ability fitness and experience and as every impdren 11 @
man will admit who has been familiar WIN the pro
ceedinrs OF Congress during the last fifteen years
tbe list as a whole, will compare most favorabIy
with the work of OF speaker fSeeos Picuoeo'''
hnfnc that period.