Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-13
FILLING THE OFFICES.
Minor Places at the Disposal of Con-
greSSmen to Be Settled on
GEOGRAPHICAL LINES STRICTLY.
Mr. Mills Once More Makes His appearance
in His Old Haunts.
SECRETARY FOSTER MUCH IMPROVED

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 1.-THE ses-
sion of the House to-day was merely a
formal one. The Speaker announced the
appointment of the following committees:
On Accounts-Messrs. Rusk, OF Maryland;
Cooper, of Indiana; Dickerson, of Ken
tucky; Moses, OF South Carolina; Seerlev,
of Iowa; Pearson, of Ohio; Quackeubush,
Of New York; Griswold, of Pennsylvania,
and Cutting, of California. On Mileage
Messrs. Castle, of Minnesota; Crawford, of
North Carolina; Kendall, of Kentucky:
Caldwell, of Ohio, and Flick, of Iowa. An
adjournment was then taken untl Wednes-
day.
Speaker Crisp, after the adjournment of
the House, listened for several hours to
members who called to express their views
on party policy or TO state their committee
preferences This makes four days which
the new Speaker has devoted to the task of
Rscertaining the opinions and wishes of his
party colleagues, and he has heard perhaps
the greater number of the Democratic men,
bers of the House, though some of them in
their interviews did not express any indi-
vldual preferences.
NO Chairmanships Yet Promised.
Messrs Springer, McM1llin, Hatch and
Wilson, of West Virginia, are Representa-
tives who were regarded as possible Speak
ers, and who have called on Mr.. Crisp. The
Speaker heard the views of all his callers,
but has not reached any definite conclusions,
nor has he as yet offered Chalrmanships to
any persons. He desires to visit his home
Tor few days, as soon as convenient, but
will be unable to leave Washington before
the latter part Of next week. He said this
afternoon that he was afraid he could not
complete the organization of the commit
tees before the Christmas recess, though
some of his friends think that the work can
be done in few DAYS after he gets started
on the actual work.
The failure of the Speaker to announce
the Committee on Rules to-day, was dis
appointment, for it was generally supposed
last night that he would settle the matter. |
II is understood that Mr.. Crisp desires to |
consider the selections more carefully. He |
has had list before him that contains a |
half dozen names of Democrats and there |
are only two to be appointed on this i'm
portant committee.
Some Embarrassing Features.
Many Of the leading Democrats have been
urging the Speaker to promptly settle the
matter by appointing Messrs Springer and
McMillin on behalf of the majority, and
Messrs. Reed and Burrows on behalf of the
minority, but until Mr. Crisp makes up his
mind as to who will head the Committee on
Ways and Means and Appropriations, he
cannot overcome some embarrassing features
Of the situation.
The matter is in a chaotic state and prob
ably not until Tuesday evening will Speaker
Cusp be able to make up the Rules Com
nlttee. The opinion is strong, however,
that Mr.. McMillin will be one of the Demo-
cratic members of this committee more on
account Of his knowledge of parliamentary
tactics and activity on the floor than with
reference to assignment of that gentleman
on anv other committee
There are from four to ten applicants for
each office und r the control of the House
of Representatives, and this afternoon
Clerk Of the House Kerr. Sergeant at
Arms Noder and Postmaster Dalton held
10 consider the distribution of
patronage with the view of making il as
nearly equal as political geography will
permit. Doorkeeper Turner was to have
been present, but was detained
Several Appointments Already Made
Mr.. Kerr has decided to appoint Walter
H. French, of Massachusetts, file clerk,
vice Ferris Finch, of Illinois, resigned.
The place is worth So 800 wear, and was
held by Mr. Finch for number of years
Frank II. Hosford, OF the Detroit Free Press,
will be tally clerk, and J. f. SNYDER, of
Pennsylvania, disbursing and confidential
elerk-two places paying good salaries
Henry Lyle for many years page in the
House, has been appointed clerk to the
Committee on Accounts; Ike Hill, of Ohio,
Deputy Sergeant at Arms; j. T. Yoder,
cashier Of the Office of Sergeant at Arms
Noder, and William Hennel, of Ohio, book
keeper Of the same office. Henry L. Bal
lentine has been retained by Mr.. Yoder as
teller
The aspi-auts for the Office of Reading
Clerk Of the Fiftv-second Congress were
given a practical test in the hall of the
House Of Representatives this evening. for
rh" purpose of demonstrating their ability
10 fiji the position. There are two reading |
clerks appointed each Congress The
places pay well, but the work is difficult
aud irving. 1t is proposed that each eandi-
date shall prove conclusively his capability
before appointment. The announcement of
the hour when the trials will begin was
made this afternoon about half hour after
bv John A. Reeve, one of the
reading clerks in the last Congress, who
gave effect to his announcement by adding
''tO take nv place"