New-York tribune., 1891-12-25
THE NAVAL COMMITTEE.
IT'S STRENGTH AND ITS WEAKNESS.
LARGE PROPORTION OF NEW AND uSTMED
yrNyEI7-sAIIsFACroRY APPOINTMENTS.

yrNBEI7-sATISFACToRY APPOINTMENTS
washington. Dec. "a tSpecian-It Is understood
,,., the appointment Of Colonel Herbert. of Alabama
=. chairnan and the assignment of Messrs Boutele.
,scc and Dolver members, OF the Committee on
val Affairs arc regarded extremely satisfactory
=. secretary Tracy and other officials OF the Navy
n.n.rtment as we'll by the officers Of the Navy
~ Colonel Herbert has been q member Of
s committee six years. during four Of which he was
ha,rman. Captain Boutellc has been member OF
,a committee eight years, during two OF which lie
,Aairu,an. Both of them. therefore not only feel a
..on Interest In Naval matters, but bring 10 their
s.,i,s a largo fund OF practical knowledge and ex-
rerepce They both warmly In favcr OF increas-
;c the strength and effectiveness Of the Navy In ships
- armament and also Of such legislation as may be
essary and practical to increase the efficiency of Its
oSonnel Mr.. Elliott, of South Carolina, Democrat,
chose service member Of the committee dates from
che organization of the Lth Congress- shares the views
:. uessr Herbert and Boutee in regard TO the Navy.
"a he ought TO be efficient and useful member.
7ro of the other Democratic members-Nessrs. Cunl-
,,,nss and Geissenhainer-are to the committee.
An, Mr. Cummings, as active member Of the Com
tine on Merchant Marine and Fisheries during the last
two congresses naturally became especially interested
,n the Navy and no doubt will prove useful member
oi the committee
The other six Democratic menbers-for nine of the
n,,,een who compose the committee are Democrats
arc new to the House we'll TO the committee.
,s doubtful II speaker Crisp justified in giving
- many places OF such importance 10 and untrled
..D who necessarily know little nothing OF the
,uuss which will devove upon them. Mr.. Daniel.
a, New Hampshire is paper maker by trade, and his
legislative experience has been confined 10 few terms
IN the LEGISLATURE Of that State. Mr. Meyer, OF
louisiaaa is a sugarplanter merchant and banker who
has had no legislative eXpcrientc whatever MI
Iavson OF Virginia, has been practising physl-
eian is u farmer and has served three termS Ill
,he legislature OF that State-sl Of them however
hssore the creation OF Vrgnia's famous oyster navy
WHY Mr.. Wise should have been overlooked, who had
..-ved az a member of the Naval Committee in three
Cngresses Is inexplicabe, except upon the assumption
,hat Mr. Lawson must know all about the needs of the
Navy because tho Norfolk Navy Yard is situated in his
dIstrlct Mr. McAleer of Pennsylvania who represents
the old Randall district, is -four merchant OF thirty
years' standing and his legislative experience has been
.orAned 10 a single Term in the state Senate. Mr.
p.r, ef MARYLAND is lawyer by profession, and has
had no legislative experience. Thus 1t Will DO seen
that whatever aptitude and ability for their dnues
=. members of the Naval COMMITTEES six of the Demo
,r.,s may possess yet remains TO be discovered.
or the three Republican members OF the committee
ho have not vet been mentioned, two, Messrs
,odgc and Doliver were members OF 1t In fsle las'
Congress and are thoroughly familiar VITA ue Iul
poant duties which they will be Ieged 20 nH nssSh 9hs
x5n support with zeal and Intelligence every meaeuv
seenpd or calculated to Increase the elnceIcy 0 te
Navy in all It's Departments THe oyer a hep%onS. nn w
Snmb,ess give good account Of himself. lie serveo
In the XLVIlth Congress as member OF I u,o Sooh !
mtiee on Agriculture, and IN the ALFlIn as q
member OF the Committee on Commerce, winch Wa
.S.n one of more importance than 1t has been since
he enactment Of the Interstate Commerce law