The Penn's Grove record., 1892-01-01
Washington Letter.

W nkn1nktOu Letter.
Washington, Dec. 30, 1891
Texas has the honor of having sen
young man to Congress-Representa
tive Bailey-who has, before his Con
gressional service is a month old, sug.
gested a reform that is worthy of being
adopted. 1t is that the House com
mitters be in future selected by Il party
caucus, instead OF by the Speaker.
That the idea did not occur to Mr.,
Bailey until his candidate, MI. Mills
had been defeated Tor Speaker may bt
true, but that does not detract one iota
from its excellence. The Senate has
always found the caucu methods OF
selecting its committees satisfactory,
and there is no good reason why the
House would not have the same ex'
perience.
But the principal reason why the
Texans idea ought to be adopted is,
that it would deprive the Speaker Of
the House of the autocratic power lie
now wields through his ability TO CON
troll and direct legislation by mean OF
the make up Of the various committees,
without the concurrence Of which ne
measure, however important it may be,
can be even got before the House. This
is a greater power than any one nan
should WELD in this country.
1t is now admitted that President
Harrison has fully made up his mind
to send al ultimatum to Chill, and that
unless it he satisfactorily answered lie
will send a special message to Congress
urging an immediate declaration of
war. Public opinion, as represented
by Congress, appears TO be with the adj
ministratiou on this subject, if upon 10
other.
Speaker Crisp and his late opponent
are both i'll with the grip. MI. Crisp
intended to have spent the recess at his
home but he was too sick to travel, so
his wife WAS telegIaphed to, and came
here to spend the Christmas with him.
Mr.. Mills has been ordered to Fortress
Monroe by his physician. Secretary
Foster is slowly getting better.
A gentleman identified with the
cause of labor said, speaking of the new
House committee on Labor: Gee
graphically considered the committee
could hardly be improved. Tarsney,
its chairman, from Missouri; Wilcox,
from Connecticut; Dixon, from Mon
tana; McGann, from Illinois, who
stands well with the working men of
Chicago; DUNCAN, from OHIO; Bunting,
frou New York; C~apehart Of West
Virginia; Causey Of Delaware, and
DAVIS, OF Kansas, who he ng all alliance
mau may naturally be counted as a
strong friend ni the man Who earns his
bread by the sweat OF his brow, wheth-
er that man labors IN fed or factory.
make up the majority of the committee.
Its republican members are: Buchanan
of New jersey; B~iosius, of Peunsylya-
mia, Haugen, of Wisconsin, aud Wilson
OF Washington. Now | do not wish to
criticIse the committee before it has
had All opportunity to show What it il
disposed TO do, Id yet, l confess, that
i expect very little from it,"
Your correspondent: asked Mr.. Tars.
ney, the chairman, what he thought
the committee would do and he replied:
I'VE have not held a meeting, 50 | eau
only speak for myself. | will support
any measure looking to the actual bet.
termeut of the laboring classes who are,
in the true sense of the words, the pew
pie of this country. But | Misl it IN
derstood that l shall oppose all dem
agogic labor measures; l shall also OPP
pose any attempt to have Congress
legislate regarding the employment of
convict labor in the several States, be.
lieying that to bea question with which
the general government has nothing to
do" There is a wide difference in
opinion between Mr.. Tarsney aud the
labor leaders OIL the last named subject
1t is a pleasure to hear So bitter a
partisan as e~x-Speaker Reed say a good
work for Speaker Crisp, when that gem
tleman is being abused by members Of
his W party because of the way he
distributed the House committee as
signments. Said Mr.. Reed: The PEG
pie now engaged in critieisipg The
Speakers selections for committee places
do not begin to appreciate tie difficult
ties under which they were made: his
party has II very large majority IN the
House, and an Unusual number Of them
sought, as vas the privilege of every
member, for places where they might
have an opportunity to distinguish
themselves; some of these are men
whose ability is generally recognized.
but there are others, however able they
may actually be, who have failed to
impress their colleagues With their
craftsmanship. No man could have
satisfied the ambitious ~longings OF all
these men, Mr. Reed knows from
experience whereof lie speaks.
Some of the Alliance Representatives
got better committee assignments than
s. me Of their democratic colleagues,
although none of hem were put upon
what are reRhru d a. the big commit
tees.
aackicn's A~teA >aIye
The Be'T Salve III the world for c..
bi"''NS Vim Lirer, salt t.AeunL Ie,..
NF St.