The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-08-11
WAsHINaToN LETTEl

Crisp every saw his looks belied him,
and he must differ from the average
man. His first election to be Speaker
Of the House-an Office only second
in authority and dignity to that Of
President-was the end of one Of the
bitterest contests ever waged within
party lines and now, after being un-
animously nominated for the position
by the party caucus he is for the
second time elevated to the honorable
position. 1t was personal triumph
of which any man might well be proud,
and which few men have attained.
The following officials were also elect
ed by the House Clerk, James
Kerr, of Pennsylvania (re, electedD
Sergeant at Arms, Herman c. Snow,
lex. Congressman of illinois Door
keeper, A. B. Hurt, of Tennessee
Postmaster, Lycurgus Dalton. of In
diana, (re-elected) Chaplain, Rev. S.
w. Haddaway, Of the District of Col
umbia.
Vice President Stevenson presided
over the opening session of the Senate,
which was short one, as President
Clevelands message will not 60 in un-
til tomorrow.
There were several good reasons
why large attendance was not ex.
pected at the opening of the extra
session. There was no contest over
the Speakership and many members
Of the House took no interest in those
over the other officials still, the per-
centage of members present was about
the average for the first day of ses-
sion. All the members have been
heard from and they will all be in
their seats before the House is ready
to get down to real business, which it
cannot do until Speaker Crisp has
completed and announced the CON-
mittee assignments, for the very sim
pie reason that none of the bills intro
duced can be acted upon until then.
Speaker Crisp is loosing no time
and just as soon as he can get the
committee assignments completed he
will announce them, but there is not
much probabi ity that it will be earlier
than next week. The proposition has
been made that Mr.. Crisp follows the
example set by President Cleveland,
in announcing the members of his
cabinet as fast as they were selected,
and announce the committees as fast
as they are made up, so that they may
get to work on the bills as fast as they
are introduced; but the suggestion is
hardly practicable. There is SO much
dove-tailing necessary in assigning the
members to committees that the COM
mittees are all practically made up at
about the same time.
Some one has proposed and the
proposal meets with favor from many
members, that an entirely new COM
mittee, to be called the committee on
Coinage and Currency, be added to
those existing in the House, and that
to it be referred all bills relating to
coinage and currency. The reason
tor this proposal is the constant clash.
ing between the committte on Coinage,
Weights and Measures and that on
Banking and Currency, as to the refer
ence Of bills. Should the proposal be
adopted those two committees would
be less important, as the first would
deal only with comparatively insight
flcant bills relating to Weights and
Measures and the latter only with bills
relating to Banking. The new COM
mittee, If formed, would rank with the
Ways and Means and Appropriation
committees in importance.
President Cleveland returned to
Washington Saturday afternoon and
spent Sunday quietly at his suburban
residence. He says he never felt bet
ter, and he certainly looks to be in the
most robust health. He is very con.
fident that the legislation OF the extra
session will be satisfactory.
Treasury officials say the scarcity of
small bills which is now prevailing is
no fault of theirs, as they have plenty
OF small notes and gladly furnish them
to banks which apply for them in ex-
change for notes Of larger denomina.
ton. A Congressman speaking of
this, said: "There seems to be a
screw loose somewhere, when business
men of New York pay premium to
get small notes when by sending to
Washington, only six hours away, they
could get all they needed without pay
ing anything. This matter ought to
be looked into.'
The administration proposes to do
its part in helping the National banks
to increase their circulation, and the
bureau OF Engraving and Printing is
now working extra time printing small
notes to supply the demand expected
to be made b the banks.