The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-09-06
A Sectional Party.
Flon the In,srocs

from the Inter Ocean
The Democratic leaders in the North q We
labored for many years 10 show that they
belonged 70 a National and not sectional
party. They convinced many voters Ofthis
fact last isll but he first Congress to Assem-
Die after that great Democratic victory gives
A ias denial 20 these assertions. The dis
tiuguished ticorgia Democrat elected Speak
er Of this Fif,y- third Congress in his list Of
committees expresses his confidence in the
Democracy OF the south. Hegiyes 10 South
ern Democrats thirty Of the chairmanships
and bat twenty-five 10 Northern Democrats.
OF the FOUR most important committees he
gives the absolute control into the hands of
Southern men. both as 20 chairmen and ma
jorities. There are thirty-seven committees
that have Southern msiOrities in the Demo-
cratic membership and only fourteen that
have Northern Democrats in control.
This may not be sectionalism as TO the or
ganizaiion Of the committees as 8 whole. but
it does place the Democracy Of the North
back where it was before the war, as a very
insignificant tail to the Southern DemOcra-
cy, and only able 10 assert its own rights
when il appeals 20 Republicans for help.
The Southern Democrats viii be able to con-
troll every important COMMITTEES except that
OF invalid pensions, if the Democrats and
Republicans draw party lines. for the South
ern men have a majority Of the Democratic
members Of ali these important committees.
The South controls the following COM
miIiees as reported By Speaker Crisp, Of
Georgia Ways and means, coinage, weights
and measures, banking and currency, appro-
priatiOns, interstate and foreign commerce.
rivers and harbOrs, foreign affairs, pensions,
elections Judiciary, naval Affairs, postOhices
and post roads, agriculture, public lands.
merchant marine, railways and canal, private
land claims, public buildings and grounds,
Pacific roads, education patents, reform in
the civil service, election Of President, Vice
President, and members Of Congress, immi-
grafton aad naturalization. claims, war
claims, District Of Columbia, revision Of the
laws. expenditure Of the State department,
expenditure of the War department, exPen-
diture Of the Navy department expenditure
of the POstOfiice department, expenditure Of
the Interior department, expenditure Of the
Agriculture department, expenditure Of the
Department of Justice and Printing.
The Northern Democrats will be able TO
control the following committees Invalid
pensions, military Affairs, militia, Indian
affairs, Territories, manaiacture, mines and
mining, alcoholic liquor traffic, irrigation Of
arid lands, ventilation and acouticss, exPen-
diture of the Treasury department, eNPendi-
ture on public buildings, and library.
There IS not question coming before
Congress on which the North and South
may have different interests at stake where
the Northern Democrats can dictate or pro-
tect themselves but by an appeal to the Re-
publicans The South can dictate as 70 the
tariff legislation, the coinage and currency
question, the appropriations, pension, inter
state commerce. river aud harbOr improve
men,s, and everything else touching legisla-
ton. The Northern Democrats have 10 thank
Speaker Crisp for giving them control Of
sixteen committees, but Oneofwhich touches
legislation, and tine majority Of them rarely
called together.
If the Democratic party is not sectional
party then Speaker Crisp has beef laboring
under q misrepresentation. The distinguish
ed Georgian made up his committees as did
Democrats before the war, when the South
was in tie saddle and Southern gentlemen
looked upon Northern men, as mudSii.s.