The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON d. c.. Dec. 25 1891.
Speaker Crisp played Santa Claus for his col
leagues by announcing the Committee assign
ments. To say that every body is satisfied would
be as great misstatement as that made by the
republicans in saying that the dissatisfaction
is great enough to cause serious disseption in
the party. That there is some dissatisfaction is
true. but it is little if any greater than that
which always follows the action of new Speak
er. and unprejudiced men agree that MIR. Crisp
has not shown disposition to punish those who
voted against him, to any marked extent, by
putting them on obscure committees. Ofcourse
some of the gentlemen who did not get just the
places they wanted will charge that the reason
of it was their opposition to MIR. Crisp's nomi-
nation in the caucus. By the tine Congress re.
assemblies on the 9th of January, it is not prob
able that any traces of disapI ointment will be
visible. and it was the expectation that such
would be the case that caused NJ r Crisp to work
night and day. although ill enough to be in bed
in order TO announce the committees before the
Christmas adjournment.
A glance at the list of committee chairmen
below will show that all sections are well rep
resented: Elections. O'Ferrall. Va Ways and
Means, Springer. Ill. Appropriations, Holman,
Ind Judiciary, Culbertson. Tex Banking and
Currency. Bacon. N. Y; Coinage. Weights and
Measures, Bland, Mo. Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, Mills. Texas; Rivers and Harbors,
Blanchard La; Merchant Marine and Fisher
les, Fowler, n. j.: Agriculture, Hatch, Mo. :;
Foreign Affairs, Blount, Ga; Military Affairs
Outhwaite. Ohio Naval Affairs. Herbert, Ala ;
Postoffices, Henderson. N, c.; Public Lands
McRae, Ark; Indian Affairs, Peel, ARK Ter
ritories, Washington. Tenn; Railways and
Canals, Catchings, Miss; Manufactures, Pa ge
R. l.: Mines and Mining, Cowles, N. c.; Public
| ID. dc
cific railroads, Riley, Pa Levees and improve
ments in Mississippi river. Robinson La Ed
ucation. Hayes, la. ; Private land claims Fitch,
Patents, TilTman. S c.; Invalid Pensions, Mar
tin, Ind Pensions, Wilson, NO. Claims Bum
N. c.; War Claims. Beltzhoever, Pa District of
Columbia, Hemphill. s. c.; Revision of laws,
Ellis, KY; Expenditures State department
Lester Ca; Expenditures Treasury department
Brickner. Wis.,; Expenditures w ar department
Montgomery. KY; Expenditures Navy depart.
ment. McClelland, Ind; Expenditures Post
office department. Oates. Ala; Expenditures
Interior department. Owens. O. Expenditures.
department of Justice, Allen, Miss; Expendi.
lures department of A gricuture Edmunds Va.
Expenditures for public buildings Youmaps
Mich; Library. Cummings, N. Y; Printing,
Richardson. Tenn; Enrolled bills, Warwick
o.; Reform In Civil Service, Andrew. Mass :;
Election of President and Vice President. han.
m an, Mich. !; Census. Wilcox. Conn; Ventila.
tion and Acoustics. Stahlnecker, N Y: Alec.
holic liquor traffic, Haynes O.; Irrigation. Ian.
ham. Texas; Imm1gr alton and naturalization
Stump. Maryland; Columbian Exposition, Dur.
borrow. SIll.; Accounts. Rusk. Md; Mileage
Castle, Minn.
Membership of the Ways and Means and AID
preparation Committees is considered equal tc
e minor craftsmanship. Following are the
Democratic mem bers, exclusive of the chair
men, of those two Committees: WAYS and
Means McMillin, Tenn; Turner, Ca; Wilson
| w. va; montgomery, KY; Whiting, Mich.
Shlveley, Ind; Cochran, n. Y; Stevens, Mass
Bryant, Neb. Appropriations-Forney, Ala
Sayers. Texas; Breckenridge. KY; Compton
Md O'Neill, Mass; Livingston, Ga 49,
AS far as the formation of the Committees car
indicate the policy of the Democratic party in
the House of Repres entatives the outlook i,
most decidedly favorable 10 tariff reform and 6
marked retrenchment in public expenditures.
Ihe policy is to attack the Mckinley bill in de
tail by repeating the most obnoxious of its
schedules. If the Republican Senate refuses to
agree to this or the Republican President vetoes
II. should 1t pass the Senate. the people will
know where to place the blame.
Although the Committee on Coinage contains
nine members. including its chairman, who ia
vor the free coinage of silver against four who
areiopposed to it. there is no certainty that a
Tree coinage bill will be reported from the Com
mittee- Ono of the members said to your cor
respondent: I'VE favor the fir ee coinage Of
silver, but we shall do nothing that majority
of the party in Congress does not fully endorse >
Senator Sherman has reintroduced the Mic
aragua Canal 100000. 600 scheme in the Senate
1t looks now very much as if the United States
would have to give Chilli scare, if it does moi
actually go to war with her. tits either that o,
square backdown unless there is decided
change very soon.
Speaker Crisp is very iii in this city.