The Portland daily press., 1895-11-02
HOUSE CHAIRMANSHIPS.
DingIey Of Maine to Head the Ways
and Means Committee.
so THE WASHINGTON POLITICAL
GOSSIPS SAY.

Why Mr.. Reed VIII Select Him-Hender-
SrAson of Iowa the Ranking Member on
Appropriations.
| Washington, November 1.-The Star to-
day says cit is reported that Represen-
tative Dingley of Maine will be chairman
of the ways and means committee OF the
House under the new Organization. He
is probably not seeking the appointments,
| but he is recognized as one of the best
qualified men in the House for the place.
There is a strong rivalry for this position
between Dalzell Payne and Hopkins. Ii
either of the three gets it there will be
apt to be some resentment felt by the
friends of the other two, whereas the ap-
pointment of Dingley would give little
cause for grumbing. He is thoroughly
familiar with the tariff question and was
the member of the ways and means COM
mittee chiefly depended on for technical
Information when Mckinley was chair
man of the COMMITTEES in the Fifty Fir st
Congress. He was then regarded as better
informed than Mckinley himself. In the
examination of experts at the hearings
and during the debate in the House, his
ting than those uf any other mem Der of the
House, and his statements commanded
the respect accorded to absolute
authority.
He is generally regarded as one of the
safest as well as one of the best inf ormed
men in the Ho use 1t has been suggested
that it would be too much for Maine to
nave the speskershlp and the chairman
ship of the ways and means committee
too, but this objection will not bear
scrutiny. There are only four members
from the state, all are Of long experience.
and in a HOUSE where experienced MEM
bers are as scarce as they will be i'll the
next there is every good reason why
capacity should be awaited of Moreover,
in the Fifty first Congress Maine received
almost as great recognition as this would
involve, and no objection was raised.
Then Reed had made contest for the
speakership. Now that office will come
to him without his seeking, when he
would probably be as we'll satisfied to
have it pass him by. Circumstances
rendering his election to the speakership
almost necessity, it is recognized as be-
ing due to MI. Reed that he be permitted
to frame the organization as to insure
greatest success to his ADMINISTRATION.
These considerations lender the selection
of Dingley as chairman of the ways and
means probable, unless he prefers not to
have it,
Henderson of Iowa will probably be
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee. He was the ranking Republican
on the committee in the last Congress,
and all things else being equal, this
would suggest his selection. But besides
being the ranking Republican he is a
very capable man and thoroughly
familiar with the work of the committee.
He is good debater discreet and popu-
lar, and thoroughly familiar with fiscal
affairs. MIR. Cannon Of Illinois, who also
is candidate for this chairmanship, was
chairman of the committee during the
Fifty first Congress, and is also familiar
with the question of appropriations, but
he has been out of Congress since then
and this break in his service put him last
in rank on tho committee during the last
Congress. This difference in their rank
marks the difference in the force of their
claims There being no known reason
why Gen. Henderson should not be
slected,, and his personal relations with
Mr.. Reed being extremely friendly, the
assumption is that he will get the ap-
pointment.
In this view of the committee assign
ments it is believed that Dazell will be
chairman OF the judiciary committee.