The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-05
THE SOUTH IN TIE HOUSE.
Row She Maintains Ger Strength IL
Committees.

From the Philadelphia Record.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA dispatch to the
New York Sun contains the following:
Thirty-two Of the f1fty-seven chairmen of
committees in the House OF Representatives
are southern democrats. This, despite the
fact that for the first time in many years
majority of representatives come from north
of Mason and Dixon's line. These berths as
in the Forty-ninGh and, Fiftieth congresses.
are filed by men entitled TO them by their
length Of service in the House.
NOTABLE EXAMPLES.
William Henry Hatch OF Missouri, chair
man OF the committee on agriculture, has
been fourteen years In congress.
Silver Dollar Bland was made chairman
Of the committee on coinage, weights and
measures by Speaker Crisp. He has been
member for twenty years.
John J. Hemphill Of South Carolina,
chairman of the committee on the District
of Columbia, is credited with ten years
service in the House.
Col. Charles T. OFerraIl of Virginia,
chairman Of the committee on elections, has
served ten years.
John NJ. Allen of Mississippi. chairman of
the committee on expenditures in the
department Of justice, has represented the
Itawamba. 0ktibbeha and Tishomingo dis
trict for eight years.
Gen. Oates, chairman of the committee
on expenditures in the postoffics depart
r1ept, has been twelve years a member OF
the House
Alexander B. Montgomery of Kentucky,
chairman of the committee on expenditures
in the war department, has served six
years.
James q. Blount of Georgia, chairman of
the committee on foreign affairs, has
been twenty years q member OF the House.
Ca Y.aI De IS lab ,hnf.
Of the committee on Indian affairs. has
served ten years.
George ID. Wise of Virginia. chairman of
the committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, is serving his sixth term.
David b. Culberson of Texas was made
chairman OF the committee on judiciary.
He has been prominent member OF the
House for Eighteen years.
William b. II. Cowles Of North Carolina,
chairman of the committee on mines and
mining, has served eight years.
Hilary A. Herbert OF Alabams, chair
man of the committee on naval affairs, has
been sixteen years in congress.
George d. Tillman Of South Carolina,
chairman OF the committee on patents, has
represented his district fourteen years.
James d. Richardson OF Tennessee,
chairman of the committee on printing, has
represented the Murfreesboro district for
eight years.
Thomas G. MoRae of Arkansas, chair
man of the committee on public lands, has
also served eight years.
Thomas c. Catchings Of Mississippi,
chairman Of the committee ON roll ways aud
canals, has been in the House eight years.
Newton G. Blanchard of Louisiana,
chairman of the committee on rivers and
harbors, is G member Of twelve years
standing.
Samuel W. T. Lsnham Of Texas, who
represents ninety-seven counties, and is
chairman Of the committee on irrigation of
arid lands, has been in congress ten years.
INFLUENCE AND LENGTH OF SERVICE.
Influence in the House depends largely
upon the length of service of a member.
TIE south has heretofore welded great
power. The committees cut out the work
and the chairmen of the committees usually
have charge Of bills upon the floor.
In the next congress- II precedent is to be
followed, the south may lose some of its
prestige. Many of its old and experienced
members are to retire. Georgia lost some
| good men in the Fifty-first congress, and
has lost more in this one. This year North
| Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama,
| Arkansas aud Texas suffer severe losses.
The nation suffers as well as the state
when such men az James Blount, Hilary A.
Herbert, william H. Fornsy. William II.
Ii. Cowlee, John j. Hemphill, George D.
| IlllmaQ, Samuel W. Eeels CaLlueA W. A.
Lanham, Charles Stewart, aud l.. w.
Moore retire from service.
THE NORTH is LEARNING.
The north is learning what the south lie
| forgetting, that its interests are maintained
aud orwarded by retaining its members
until their experience and length OF service
give them weight and power in the House.
! This is especially true OF tue great Cities
| The exigencies of politics have heretofore
seemed to require that member should
serve no longer than two terms. This idea
still controls In many rural districts. 1t Is
a mistake, however. Two terms In con-
gress is simply an apprenticeship In the art
| of legislation. The new member rarely
reaches q position where he can DO OF serv-
| ice TO his constituents. With experience be
gravitates into place and gains influence
proportionately.
|. PHILADELPHIA's SHOWING.
Philadelphia has always recognized this.
| Although strong republican city, she kept
samuel ]. Randall in the House OF Repre-
sentatives twenty-eight years. William D.
| Kelley served thirty years. 10th died IN
service. She hos sent Gen. Harry Bingham
| from the First district fourteen, Charles
| O,Neill from the Second district twenty
| eight years and Alfred O. Hsrmer from the
| Fifth district twenty years. All have been
reelected. Portland, Ne, has Kept Tom
| Read In congress sixteen years. But no
| citv has done 30 well as Philadelphia. New
| York city hos just elected three BOT her niue