Nevada County picayune., 1891-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent. l

DC dDiC IO duuOuiCc tlic COiHIniJtCco of the House on the 23rd inst, if the Senate does not ask for an earlier adjournment for the holiday recess. Quite a number think it would be better to defer announcing the con- mittees until after the recess, as that would give the Speaker that much more time to consider the matter. It appears to be generally conceded that Springer will be chairman of the ways and Means Committee and that Holman will be chairman of the con- mittee on appropriations. In break ing precedent, which was usually made the chairmen of these two com mittees members of the committee on rules, and appointing Messrs McMillan and Catchings as. the Dem ocratic members of that committee, Speaker Crisp has pleased those members who believe. that the first named chairman have influence enou- gh over legislation as heads of their committees, without being also on the committee on rules.
 Representative Oates, of Alabama offered resolution, which was re- ferred to the new committee rules, providing for the appointment of a standing committee of fifteen, on order of business, of which the Speaker shall be ex-oflicio chairman, which shall have jurisdiction of the order in which business shall be con- sidered, having due regard to fair ness and equity among the several committees and to transaction of public business.
 It was this week announced that the treaty of commercial reciprocity which has been in course of negotia- ton some weeks between the United States and the British West Indies, and British Guina, had been con. cluded and that Presidential an nouncement of the details will be made Jan. |.
 The political status of Senator Ky le, of South Dakota, has been prac- tically settled this week, the Repub- llcan caucus left him out of its com mittee assignments, although it pro- vided for Senator Peffer, and some of the Senators said that Mir. Kyle had asked to be taken care of by the Republican caucus. This MT. Kyle denies. At any rate it was the Dem cratic caucus that gave him his committee places. In answer to . direct question of how he would vote on political questions Senator Kyle said: Shall 1 vote with the Demo crats? Well, 1 do not anticipate many situations here which will cal for straight party vote. l have not forgotten, however, that my election was brought about by Democrats and l want to honor those to whom honor is due.
 War with Chili is again being per sistently talked up by naval officers, These would be heroes are asserting with much positiveness that if the Government of Chili has not given g satisfactory answer to the demands of this Government by the time Con. gress comes together after the Christmas recess, MT. Harrison will send a special message to Congress reciting the facts and recommend, ing that war be declared in order to enforce our demands. The source from which men of this sort of talk emanates, raises the suspicion that administration is feeling the pulse ol the public on this subject.
 Senator Hill, of New York, was given just as good committee assign ments by his colleagues as if he had been here since the opening of the session. As he made no requests nor expressed any preference, it was presumed that he had no choice as tc what committee he was put upon
 Mir. Harrison did recognize the Democratic party in his nominations for six of the new Circuit Court Judgeships sent to the Senate this week, by giving it two of the judges Following are the nominations ; First district, Judge k. l.. Putnam of Maine, who was once Democratic candidate for governor of that State, and who was appointed member ol the Canadian joint fisheries commis' sion by MT. Cleveland second dis trict, Judge Nathaniel Shipman, of Connecticut third district, George Nj. Dallas, of Pennsylvania, who IS an able lawyer ana Democrat fourth district, Nathan Golf, of West Virginia, who was for while Secre- tary of the Navy under Hayes sixth district, w. H. Taft of Ohio, was Solicitor General of the Department of Justice; seventh district, Judge w. A. Woods. of Indiana, who as judge of the l.. $. District Court for the district of Indiana, earned 6 somewhat numeriops reputation on account of lns decision in the blocks of five case.