The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-02
SETTLING THE WORK.
Washington's Representatives
in Congress to Be Busy.
THEIR PLACES ON COMMITTEES.
Congressman Wilson May Not Hold His
Position on River and Harbor Com
mittee-Senator Squire Well Fixed.

WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. Especial. THE
people of Washington are not so much inter
ested in the contest over the speakership of the
next House, about which the Democrats are
going wild, as they are in the committee assign
ments of the state delegation in the next con-
gress. Everybody knows that it is all important
for member or senator to be on the right CON-
mittees if his usefulness to the home people
is to reach a full development. In
the last congress the representation of
Washington had frst-elass assignments both in
Senate and House. There were no places given
to them on committees, like finance or ways and
means, where q national reputation can be
made-these "soft snaps" are always reserved
by the ''grave and reverend seiguors'-but they
occupied seats in those committees where
the business under consideration always
had direct and immediate Importance for
their constituents. Only one improvement
could be suggested, perhaps, aud that would be
place on the committee, in either House or
Senate, which has the arrangement and control
of the river and hsrbor appropriations. Tn
fortunately, this cannot be accomplished in the
Senate, as every Republican member of the
committee on commerce is a "hold over" and
none resign aud few die when occupying a
cushioned chair in this favored committeeman
The House would offer a iai-er fed for las
piratious holy OF the Washington member but
for one potent objection. But three of the eight
Republican members of the last committee on
rivers and harbors will be in the next
congress and as the minority always has six
men thereon there is a chance for a scramble
for those who would be among the elect Wash
ington's representative, though, is barred out
through no fault of his own. One of the mold
over members is Hermann, of Oregon and he
undoubtedly will want his old seat in the river
and harbor room. This cuts out Wilson, as each
section, such as the Northwest coast, is, by GUS
tom, allowed but one member on the committee
on rivers and harbors.
With this exception, however, Washington
viii be well represented on just those COM
mittees that deal with legis alton of local in
terest. Senator Allen will continue on the
committee that controls all legislation relating
to the public lands, but he will, most assuredly,
be open 10 engagements for other committee
work, as his other places are not of much
moment The Indian depredations claims COM
mittee, of which he has 0een a member, is
out of job since congress at the last ses-
sion gave such matters into the control
of the court of claims, and the COM
mite on woman suffrage will amount to
less than ever now that the special champion of
this particular hobby, Blair. of New Hampshire,
has gone out of the Senate. Senator Allen ia
also u member of the committee on claims, one
where dull and hard work is required, but of no
essential moment locally considered, as Wash
ington people have few matters coming within
its jurisdiction. AS said, therefore Senator
Allen can well reach out Tor other and more i'm
portant committee work.
Senator Squire is pretty well fixed, even with
present arrangements. He holds a place on pub
lie buildings, and SO many Washington cities
are after just such a prize: and on coast de-
lenses, q matter OF direct Importance to the
Puget sound country; and on immigration that
governs legislation relating 10 a problem among
the most important with which the government
now has 10 deal. In addition, he is a member
OF the committee on fisheries, which has 70 deal
with questions of present and great prospective
interest to the people OF the Northwest
There is one advancement in the senate which
will undoubtedly be made by one of our sen.
ators, but il is iUposs bic TO tell which at pres
ent. Owing 10 the fortunes of war, or the
Farmers Alliance, the ehairmanships OF several
senate committees are vacant and as Washing
ton has now none it is more than probable that
at least one viii be swardAdp TO il Which sen.
ator, as said, will be the lucky individual il ia
impossible TO say, az the committees are arranged
IN caucus and by election in open Senate
In the House Mr.. Wilson can do little better
under the circumstances than hold his own in
the makeup OF the new committees. He was
very eligibly located by Speaker Reed so an to be
Oh service TO his constituents. His assignments
included the committee on postoffices and that
on Indian affairs, both controlling an appropria-
ton Dill and dealing with matters of vital con.
Germ 70 the home people. Nothing much bet er
than these offer except the ways and means and
appropriations, and the minority places on
those committees are not sufficient in number
20 go around among the more prominent and
oiuef republican members in the next House