The Charlotte Democrat., 1891-10-02
Charlotte Democrat.
CHARLOTTE. N.
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1891.

The contest for the Speakership is
assuming great Importance. Under the
rules of the House the Speaker frames the
Committees. By the unwritten law,
when the political complexion of the
House is changed the Craftsmanship of
the Committees goes to that member OF
the minority who was first named on the
list of the former Congress. Thus. IN
Committee of eleven formed by Mr. Reeo,
there would be five Democrats and the
first Democrat on that list, under this
unwritten rule, is entitled to be ChaIr-
man of that Committee in this Demo
cratic Congress. And that is where the
trouble comes. Out Of the hfty-tour
prominent committees, under that rule,
thirty-nine of them would go to Southern
Democrats. Ways and Means, the hrst
and most important Committee; would 90
to Mr. Mills; Elections, to Mr.. Crisp; APP
preparations, to Mr.. FOrney OF Alabama;
Judiciary, to Mr.. CuIbersOn Of Texas.
These are considered the most important
of the Legislative Committees; then
comes Rivers and Harbors, to Mr.
Blanchard of Louisiana; Foreign Affairs,
TO Mr. McCreary Of Kentucky; Agricul
ture, to Mr.. Hatch of Missouri; Military
Affairs, to Mr. Wheeler Of Alabama ;
Naval Affairs, to Mr.. Herbert OF Ala
bama; Post office and Post roads, to Mr.
Blount of Georgia; Public Buildings and
Grounds, to Mr.. Bankhead Of Alabama !;
Pacific Railroads. to Mr.. Grain Of Texas !;
and under this rule, Hon. John 5. Hen
derson of North Carolina, an ex-Con-
federate, would be Chairman OF the Com
mittee of Pensions. All Of the important
Committees would 60 South. Texas
would secure six Committees: Ways
and Means, Judiciary, Pacific Railroads.
Militia, Enrolled Bills and Irrigation OF
Arid Lands. If Mr.. Mills should be
elected Speaker none of these gentlemen
could expect, at least not moro than one,
to have a Craftsmanship. Mr.. Culberson,
Mr.. Turner Mr.. 5Sayers and Mr.. Lanham
would have to be retired. IT Mr.. Crisp
is selected, Mr. Blount of the Post office
and Post Roads Committee, and Mr.
Grain of the Commerce Committee,
could hardly expect the Speaker from
that State to secure those two important
Committees Again if Mr.. Hatch should
be elected he has Mr. Dockery, who
wants the Appropriations Committee, Mr.
Bland the Coinage Committee, Mr.. Heard,
who would like to be at the head OF the
District Committee, Mr.. O'Neill, who
wants the Labor Committee, and Mr..
Mansur the Committee on Claims. These
gentlemen could not secure these posi-
tions with Mr.. Hatch in the Chair, and
yet they are all working for him. If Mr..
Bynum should be selected, Mr.. Holman,
Mr.. Browne and Mr.. Shively would be
retired In Illinois Mr.. Springer's cleo
NJ nd
two or three other Illinois members,
while Mr.. McMillin has only one col,
league, Mr. Richardson, who is entitled
to Craftsmanship. 1t may be that these
facts will make the gentlemen, who ex-
pect to be Chairmen of Committees, in
Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois and
Indiana not very urgent in their support
of the candidate from their respective
States, because while the rule has been
generally adopted it certainly could not
be in the present instance. This would
increase Mr.. McMiIlin's chances very
considerably for the Speakership.
Quite number of the prominent lie
publicans are suggesting quietly that Mr.
Wanamaker will relieve the Administra-
ton from some embarrassment it he
would return TO the bargain counter in
Philadelphia.
It is now conceded that Gen. Raum
will have to follow Tanner and retire
from the Pension Office before the investi
eating committee of a Democratic House
can get hold of him. Raum's financial
embarrassments have placed him at a
great disadvantage, and his sons actions
have rendered the case much worse.
Assistant Secretary Grant Of the War
Department, now acting as Secretary,
has decided that the Chicago Exposition
is run by private corporation and that,
therefore, he cannot send engineer officers
to examine into the safety Of the build,
ings which have been said to be very
unsafe. Congress will probably arrive at
the same conclusion and refuse to give
this private corporation $5,OOO,OOO Of the
peoples money.