The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-19
Special to the REcoRD-UNroN.

SDeclal 10 Iu6 fECOlSD-O
WAsHIN GToN, Nov. 1S.-The House
committees which are expected to be of
the greatest importance III the next Con-
gress are the Ways and Means, Appro-
priations, Rules, Banking and Currency,
Rivers and Harbors, and Public Build
ings and Grounds. The first three named
always head the list i'll order OF I'M
portance The others are expected to
assume importance in the next Congress.
The Banking Committee will certainly
be one of the most important of the list,
to revise the currency laws and change
the present system. The Rivers and
Harbors and Public Buildings Commit
tees will have the delicate task OF provid-
ing for public Improvements, so far as a
committee of the House can accomplish
this work. With SO many new men as
there will be Oh the Republican side OF
Congress it will be necessary for them to
make a showing to their constituents.
There will, naturally, be pretty general
clamor for appropriations Tor postollce
buildings and river and harbor improve
ments. While the Republican party has
ALWAYS shown a disposition toward llD-
erality in public improvements, the low
condition of the treasury ana the iact
that a Presidential election will be so
near at hand will prove strong argu-
ments in this direction, as will the possi-
bility OF a Presidential veto.
The Republicans at present have six of
the seventeen OF the River and Harbor
Committee, and all the members have
been reelected except henderson OF llll-
nois. With henderson out OF the
way. Herman OF Oregon takes first
place in the Republican MEM
bership of the committee, with
Stevens of Michigan, Hooker of New
y York, Grosvenor of Ohio following in the
order named. 1t cannot, of course, be
known whether the next Speaker will
follow the seniority rule. Ii he should
MIR. Herman would become Chairman.
Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts is the only
Republican member OF the committee in
town.
Of the six Republican members of the
Committee on Coinage, Weights and
Measures, five have been reelected to the
next Congress. In the natural order OF
events, Hon j. c. Burrows Of Michigan
will become Chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee, with Mr.. Reed in the
Speakers chair; there is but little doubt
that he will be given this important post,
which carries with 1t the Republican
leadership on the floor Of the House.
With Reed in the Speakers chair. and
Mr.. Burrows in the Senate, there would
only be three Republican members Of the
present committee to chose from, Messrs.
Payne Of New York, DalZeu Of PennSyl-
vania and Hopkins of Illinois.
Henderson of Iowa is the ranking Re-
publican member OF the Appropriations
Committee, with Messrs. Cogswell, Bing-
ham, Dingley, Grout and Cannon OF Illi-
nois coming in the order named. 1t is
possible neither Cannon nor henderson
will get the place, for in the event of Bur-
rows becoming Chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee, the probabilities
are strong that the East will demand the
Craftsmanship of the next most import
ant committee, which would be the APP
propriations. In that contingency Con-
gresham Wells chances for being pro-
moted to the head of the committee
would be excellent.
If Mr.. Reed becomes Speaker Of the
House. the Republican membership of
the Committee on Rules will possibly be
composed of himself and the Chairmen
OF the Appropriations and Ways and
Means Committees. He pursued this
plan in the Fitty-first Congress, and
there is reason to believe that he would
revive it, rather than initiate Mr.. Crisp's
policy of distri buting the honors.
Democratic Senators who are at pres
ent in the city decline almost without ex-
ception to outline the probable course OF
the Democratic leaders in the forthcoming
session of Congress. The majority of
them content themselves with saying
that they have had no opportunity for
party conference, and they do not wish
at this time, to express personal opinions.