The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-16


Puzzled in the Disposal of His Trinkets
Before-Stin Talking of the Bayard-
Barrett Affair-Old Enemies of the
Administration Had to Defend the
Ambassador-More Senate Chairman
ships.
Washington, December 14-It is prob
able that the committees of the House
will be announced about December 81 or
25. just before the House adjourns for
the holiday recess. This will be fully as
early as the average; and considering the
difficulty of examining the new ma
terial viii be early enough. 1t may be
that Speaker Reed will surprise everyone
by al. Earlier announcement; but that
Is hardly probable In the 41st Congress,
tees eleven days after the session began.
In the 42d Congress there was an extra
session which began March 4th, imme-
diately after the adjournment of the 41st,
and lasted until April 20. There was an
attempt made on the part of some of the
lAGWk0I6 VI GLo liOuSd W COIIlp6l NIL
Blaine to appoint his committees during
this extra session, but it did not succeed.
Mr.. Blaine stated, during the argument,
that in the preceding session he had
made up the committees in eleven days,
and that that time was too short, causing
him to make mistakes in selection which
he regretted. But when the second ses-
sion of the 42d Congress met on the first
Monday of Decembe Mr.. Blaine had his
committees ready and appointed them
on that day. In the 43d Congress, Mr..
Blaine, having been already two terms
inSthe chair, and having large number
of old members returned, announced
his committees December 5, or within a
week of the assembling. In the 44th
Congress, Speaker Kerr announced his
Congrsss there was an extra session
which began October 15, and Speaker
Randall announced his committees Octo-
ber 80. There was also an extra session
in the 46th which began March 49, Mr..
Randall got his committees ready April
II. In the 47th Speaker Keifer's COM
mittees were given out December 81; in
the 48th Speaker Carlisle's December "a.
In the 49th Mr.. Carlisle did not announce
the committees until January z, or after
the holiday recess. In the 50th, he also
delayed until after the recess, announc-
ing them January 5. In the 51st, Speaker
Reeds committees were ready December
81. In the 52d Congress Mr.. Crisp's
committees were announced December 23
The SD Congress had an extra session,
which began August z. Mr.. Crisp an.
nounoed his committees August II.
OF course each census brings a new ap-
portionment, and by the last one the size
of the House was increased, thus in
creasing the labor of making up the COM
mittees.
; Pending the announcement of the COM
mittees the House is doing no real work,
although by unanimous consent several
matters have been disposed Of Mr.. Bar
rett got his resolution relating to Ambas-
sador Bayard before the House as a mat
ter Of privilege. This did not give any
one opportunity to object. The rules pro-
vide that matters of legislation shall first
be referred to committees before they are
debated in the House and unless there is
unanimous consent theA rule cannot be
infringed upon. But with questions of
privilege it is otherwise, and the preced-
ents of the House make..a proposition to
impeaoh an cffoer of the government
privilege. Mr.. Barrett studied out the
situation very carefully in advance, and
when he got the floor, was able to prevent
his measure from being switched onto
side track by the devices known to the
older mem bers