The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-20

shown by the Places Accorded Its Rep.
resentstives in the Important Com
u;ttee1 of the House.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, May "a man sat next tt
me in the gallery Of the house. Where is
the New York delegasion2" he asked
Estate lines are obliterated here" said t.
the inquirer, Sin so far as the arrangement
of seats is concerned"
(Which one of the states has here the
most influential delegation" asked the
visitor.
This was question which could not be
satisfactorily answered at a moments no.
tice. But when hazarded a guess my in.
quisitive acquaintance promptly asked the
name Of the leader Of that delegation.
Again ventured an opinion.
And now" said he, 81 have heard that
the legislation Of the house is really in the
hands of two or three dozen men. Who are
they7"
my friend, replied, you are of an
inquiring turn Of mind I see. But you
want to know more than can be told up
here In the gallery, where the rules forbid
conversation. Give me your address and
IL man you reply IN Ia4l
This was no easy task which I had vol
UNFAIRLY assumed. But as soon as / had
set about it l was impressed by the re-
markabIe influence welded by the newer
America, the great west, in the affairs of
state. There is no better criterion of a
congressman's importance than the con-
mittees to which he has BEEN assigned, the
committee chaiTTnanships which he holds.
There are in the house sixty committees,
standing and select. Thirty Of these are
important-the big hoPpers into which the
Grists of legislation must first go for the
grinding. The chairmen of these thirty
committees, with the speaker and a few
others, are masters Of the situation. No
fewer than twenty of the thirty chairmen
Of important committees are from the
west, counting Ohio as n western state
Illinois leads with five chairmaaships,
Ohio, Kansas, Iowa and Michigan having
three each, and Nebraska, Missouri and
Montana one each. IL is a little remark
able that the only New England state
which has an Important standing chair
mdnShip Is Maine, which has also the
speaker. New York has four chairman
ships in the list Of thirty, but rot one of
them is of prime importance. OF the three
chaiTmanships held by Pennsylvania only
one Is Of first RANK.
There arc seventeen committees through
whose hands pass foUI-lfths Of the i'm
porJant legislation. These are elections,
ways and means, appropriations, judiciary,
D2nkIng and currency, coinage, weights
and measures, rivers and harbOTs, agri-
culture, foreign affairs, military affairs,
naval affairs, posto.lce and post roads,
public lands, territories, public buildings
and grounds, patents, and invalid pensions.
Only three Of these potential chairman
ships are held by eastern men.
On this showing Illinois is clearly the
mo5o important delegation on the floor of
the house. Its representatives preside over
i've Of these great committees. No other
state has such a firm hold upon the bust
ness Of the house. The leader Of the Hi
uOis delegation Is unquesJionably Joe Can
acR.
As member of the committee on rules
he helps control ali the business OF the
house, and as chairman Of the committee
Oh appropriations be holds the key TO the
national cash drawer, and holds it vigi-
l2nUly and with full appreciation Of his re
sponsibility. Capt. E1wcl, chairman of
the committee on elections, s.t5 in judg-
IEeut on questions Of highest privilege
the right Of members to their seats. Gen.
Henderson, As chairman Of rivers and har-
bors, controls one of tbs largest Of the regu-
lar appropriation bills. judge Payson,
enc Of the strong men Of the house, and a
possible senator FROM his state, presides
over u committee which Tor many years to
come viii he Of prime Importance public
lands. The courtIy and able Robert Hit,
Secretary Blaine's friend, is chairman of
The committee on foreign affairs
These five men are among the ablest and
most influential in the house, else they
lould not hold such places. But they are
By no means the only important men of
his delegation. Mr. Springer is leader
ca the Democratic side, and one of the vet
Grams Of the house. Mason, of Chicago, is
recognized as one of the best orators and
brightest wits. Adams, of the same city.
Is a polished debater and a man of great
information and usefulness.
The next most influential state delega-
ton is that from Ohio. The Buckeye State
in William Mckinley, Jr., the Napoleon of
protection, is master OF the greatest com
mittee Of the hOuSe-ways and means. OF
course AIcHinley is the leader of the dele
cation He was its candidate for speaker.
be Is a member of the committee on rules,
he Is a possible RepU blcan candidate for
the presidency, and he is the recognized
Republican leader on the floor Ben But
terworth, bright and genial, orator and wit,
is chairman of the great committee on
patents.
Ezra B. Taylor, the successor of Garfield,
Dresides over the committee on judiciary.
ne Ohio delegation is a very strong one.
Besides these three it has Gen. Grosvenor,
vino is not excelIed as debater; Gen Ken
uedy, one of the fighters of the war and of
the commons; Judge Thompson, popular
and influential man; Judge Caldwell, a
hard worker and rising statesman; Judge
Seney, who was chairman of an important
,rmnEttee under Democratic rule, and Mr.
n-Jawaite. a ready Gebater sld close stu
cent, who always commands attention
when he takes the floor.
ne third strongest delegation is that
from Iowa. Gen. Henderson, the one
le--ed soldier and orator, IS it, leader. He
chairman of the committee ou militia
Hnuy onn Nnno