The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-17


ideas upon the subject According 10 prece-
dent, ex-Spesker Reed should DO one Of the two
Republican Members Of the Committee, but it
is said that lie prefers not TO be, in order to
have his hands freer as leader Of the opposition.
Col. ID. b. Henderson. of Iowa, aud Capt J. c.
Burrows, of Michigan, are also mentioned as
the Republican members.
49,
There is talk that the Speaker will sssuage
all the bitter memories Of the recent contest by
appointing Roger q. Mills Chairman Of the
Committee on Ways and Means, with Springer
as second. Then il the Texans elect Mills to
the Senate, Springer will succeed as Chairman.
Many Democrats urge that there shall not be
repetition OF the mistake rIade in the 5Oth
Congress, when the majority OF the Committee
on Ways and Means was made up Of Represent
atives from the old-fogy, non progressive dis
tricts Of the South, which had no manufacture
ing establishments more important than
country blacksmith shop and fouring-mill.
The result was the iniquitous Mills Bill, which
would have Frustrated the manufactures of tho
country. They will insist that if Mills goes on
the head Of the Committee its membership
shall DO increased from 10 to 10, and the manu-
featuring industries Of the rest Of the country
be properly represented.
s"s
The Committee on Invalid Pensions is the
one Of most interest to veterans. IL IS also OF
more than a little 20 the party managers, who
have an eye fixed on the soldier vote next
year The ranking Democrat on the Commit
tee in the last Congress who was returned TO
the present one is Edward Lane. OF Illinois.
But Lane, though young man at the outbreak
of the war, did not respond TO his cOuntry's
call, and remained at home, teaching school
and studying law. lie has therefore lack Of
fitness for the leadership of this Committee.
Augustus n Martin. of Indiana, was on the
tail Of the Committee in the last Congress, but
he may receive the Chsirmanship. lie was
born in lsi7, and was consequently only IL
years old AT the outbreak Of the war. July 3,
1868, be enlisted in Co. ], 5Sth Pa, and helped
capture John Morgan. Ho was discharged,
and afterward enlisted in Co. i, 18th Pa, and
served till the end Of the war. He is an enthu-
siastic Grand Army man, and has been con-
spicuous for his friendship for the veterans.
Other ex -soldiers mentioned for the position
are Mckinney, Of New Hampshire, and Haynes.
of Ohio.
-.
or course IL such an unheard-of thing as the
bursting Of steam-pipe in the hall Of the
House had 10 be, there was no place that il could
occur except in the neighborhood Of the sensa-
ton making Jerry Simpson. Fortunately Jerry
was not in the seat on Friday afternoon when
the explosion occurred under it, He has gen.
orally been successful in making great deal Of
noise in the world without much cost 70 him
SELF 1t was at FIRST thought the villainous
bomb. throwcr was getting in some muTderous
work, and there was an incipient panic in the
House, and most Of the 100 Representatives
and 1000 outsiders present started in frantic
rush for the doors, but some Of the cooler heads
saw what was the occasion of the noise and
steam, aud succeeded in quetiag tho others
down.
or course, the Pension Bureau Is to be In
yestigated. Everybody wants that; the DEM
ocrats, to keep up a show Of the reality Of tho
charges they have been making against IL, and
in the hopes Of manufacturing an immense
amount Of political capital for 1892; the Re-
publicans, because they are confident that the
Bureau will pass through the ordeal unscathod,
aud he able TO refutc the wholesale calumnes
| upon its management Cooper is, Of course,
on hand, bursting with impotence 10 get in
his resolution aud renew the exhibition he
made Of himself during the last Congress.
Representative Enloe, Of Tennessee, has also a
resolution ready to present, but he takes pains
TO Tepudiate in advance any imitation OF
Cooper's methods. He says that no has no inten-
ton whatever Of inquiring into Gen. Raum's
! private life or private business, but only into
the administration Of the Pension Bureau.
-.
Trouble is again imminent in the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing, Treasury Depart
ment The employees Of that Bureau are a
very close corporation, and usually run things
10 suit themselves. IL has only been a few
months since Secretary Foster was called upon
10 decide certain questions regarding tho work
ing Of the Bureau which had come mp between
the printers aud the Chief Of the Bureau in
which Samuel Gompers, the head Of the Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor Of the United States, and Mr..
Powdehy, head Of the knights Of Labor took
prominent part. After this conference between
Secretary Foster and these leaders Of labor
organizations Powderly denounced the Secre.
tary Of the Treasury as o.faced parsonage
in fact, said he had told a deliberate lie. This
Of course, did nat sit well on the Secretary's
stomach, aud when IL was thought advisable
20 substitute surface presses for printing reve
nue. stamps 10y Capt Meredith, Chief Of the
Bureau, in place Of the plate process, the
printers were Immediately alarmed aud hav,
held several very noisy meetings to pTOtes
against such action. 1t appears that any in
nogatiOn which the inventive genius of thu
Yankee Nation may make meets with decided
opposition from plate printers. They seem e
think that although the Rev. Jasper, the cele
brated colored divine Of Richmond, eau prov,
that the sun do move" the world does not
aud that processes which have been in opera
tion for printing revenue stamps and currency
for years cannot be improved upon. Til,
chances are that should the plate printers con
clude TO carry this matter by q general kick I,
the higher court over which Secretary Foster
! presdes, that neither Mr.. Gompers nor Mr.
I PowdeTly will be invited 10 attend aud presen
their views on the matter, but il will be settle,
: by the Secretary Of the Treasury aud YER,
? likely in the direction Of advanced ideas.
AROUT PEOPLE