St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-11
Mr.. Speaker Going Very Slow
in Selecting the Commit
tee On Rules.
Listening TO Arguments as to
Various Plans Touching
It's Makeup.
Springer Outlines a Policy on
the Subjects Of Tariff and
Manufactures.
RuSSia'S Inhuman Treatment
Of Hebrews to Receive
Attention.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-About two
score members of congress were in and
about the house of representatives this
morning answering correspondence,
chatting, listening to appeals for Office
and considering the notwithstanding
topic of committee assignments. The
house not being in session, it was CON-
Daratively an idle day for the members,
but for the new speaker it was one of
arduOus and unremitting toll.
His private room just outside the
house lobby was never deserted, and
consultations with party leaders on the
policy to be pursued during the con-
gress. and the fittest men to carry out
the work to be done were almost con-
tinuous, and such time as remained was
devoted to an accumulation of cor
respOndence, or to persons who desire
the speakers assistance in one way or
another TO attain some object they have
in view.
The speaker this afternoon had not
yet decided upon his colleagues on the
the rules committee. and the probabili-
ties are that no conclusion will be
reached until the house reconveneS Sat
urday, aud probably not until next
week.
Selection Is Difficult
The speaker has given some consider
alton to suggestions which members
have offered him in favor of a recur-
renee to the former policy of choosing
the members of the committee, the ma
iOrity of whom should be in close per-
sOnal and political relations with the
speaker. The matter has not yet gone
beyond the stage of informal discussion.
Mr.. Carlisle, when he became speaker,
departed from the prior custom of Sc
lecting members of the committee on
rules regardless of their committee as
signments and made its membership go
as matter of course to the chairmen of
the two most important committees,
namely, ways and means and apprOpria-
tons. Speaker Reed followed the same
course. The previous speakers, MeSSrs.
Randall and heifer. had selected the
ruleS committee with regard to other
considerations, MesSrS. Blackburn and
Alexander II. Stephens being the
formers associates, and having other
wise no special committee prominence.
a number Of Democratic congressman
urge a return to this policy. and repre-
sent that its effect would be to strength
Ell the speaker.
E1OuOF EnOuSns
The ways and means and appropria-
tiUns committees now have prior rights
under the rules over other committees,
and with their respective chairmen on
the rules committee, which is the guild
ing or steering body of the house. the
result is represented TO be disastrous to
other committees, whose business may
be important. Membership on this rules
committee, it is urged. should be high
enough honor. without other committee
assignment, except of a very ordinary
character, such as the chairmanship'
perhaps of some minor committee.
Moreover, as the chairmen of the two
principle committees would be the man.
ayers of work originating with their
committees, the speaker would have
these men as his active lieutenants in
fiscal and revenue affairs, and the rules
committee members as lieutenants in
other proposed legislation, and alto
gether would have an excellent OppOr-
tunity to keep thoroughly in touch with
his party.
1t has been presumed that ex-Speaker
Reed would be one of the minority rep
resentatives on the rules committee, but
under this policy such perhaps would
not be the case, as Mr.. Reed might pre-
fer to lead the minority of the committee
on ways and means.
Listened TO Arguments.
There are two sides, however, to the
proposed method of constituting the
rules committee, and the speaker heard
the objections that were urged against
the plan. 1t was represented that the
appropriations and the ways and means
committees were the most important of
all committees and that their work
would be the feature of the session. 1t
was urged that the chairmen
of these two committees should
have representation on the rules
committee for the reason that otherwise
their policy might be blocked by the in
PRODUCTION of special orders having pre-
cedence. It was also urged that it was
to the interest of the harmonious work
ing of the house to have the order of
legislation in the hands of those directly
concerned in the chief measures to be
brought up.
Mr.. Crisp listened throughout the day
to arguments on this and other matters
relating to the policy of the party in the
house in this congress. subsequently
he said nothing had been definitely de-
cided upon as to the committees. and
that he was unable to say whether or
not he would be able to announce them
before the holidays.