The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-27

Prestige Ra National Leader Secured
Unusual Recognition In the senate and
From Speaker Reed.
Special Dispatch to the lntellIgencor.
WASHINGTON, ID, c.. Dec, 26,-West
Virginia has made a long stride forward
in the national councils since the assem-
bling of the present Congress, which is
due altogether to her alignment with
the Republican party. Her solid Re-
publican representation In the house
and the presence OF n Republican OF
commanding influence In the senate
have been recognized, and the position
the state now occupies should he
source Of pride and satisfaction TO every
citizen within her borders, irrespective
OF party,
There Is not single important inter-
est In which West Virginia Is concerned
that has not been subserved In the or
ganizatlon OF the present Congress,
Every West Virginia member OF the
house has been given position In
committee OF high standing, and ocnu-
pies place very much above what
might be expected to be accorded to
mon untried In national legislation. In
this respect the state has Jared much
better than many others OF larger area
and greater representation.
The same Is true Of the senate. 1t Is
not unusual for new senator to be ns-
signed 10 one leading committee, but II
rarely occurs that at the beginning OF
his career In that body man can COM
mRnd tho honor and reach the iniluen-
tial position so recently accorded to
Senator Elkins,
Was Successful.
Tho Intelligencer correspondent, soon
after the session opened, noted the fact
that Mr.. ElkIns' friends were striving
to have him placed ON the committee on
commerce. and II is privilege now TO
record that the effort was successful,
Notwithstanding his nomination to that
position upset the traditions OF that
body, patent for fifty years.
Having. as secretary OF war. executed
the provisions OF the rivers and hnrborS
act for more than two years, his accu-
rate knowledge Of our rivers. harbors.
lakes and sea coasts, was an indisputa-
bic argument In his favor, and he was
selected. He is therefore on the com
mlttee from whloh-WOre practical bene-
'iit to his state may be expected than
from any other.
In addition. he is member OF the
committee on territories, on military
affairs and Is chairman OF the commit
tee on geographical surveys. This as
slgnment In unusual. and Is very nat
tering for our new senator.
Then. take the house committees, and
note what nm influence may be exerted.
mittee OF the senate, on West Virginins
future. Every business man on the
Ohio, the Monongahela and the Knnnw-
ha-overy business man In the whole
"lnlRnd state" for that mntter-can cs-
timRte II at n glance.
Captain DovCner Is a member OF the
committee on rivers and harbots; Mr..
Dayton Is assigned TO the committee on
naval affairs. Mr. Miller to the commit
tee on privileges and elections No. 2,
and Mr.. Hullng to the committee on the
District OF Columbia. And there is not
one OF these that can be rated as COM
mlttee Of minor Importance. old repre-
sontatlveB, OF years OF experience, COM
sidering membership In any OF them as
a privilege greatly to be desired. IL
nny be Rnid, also, In repetition OF n for
mcr commentary, that nearly every
senator had more or less influence ut
work to secure his appointment to the
committee on commerce In that body,
West YIrgiulA's Failure.
This is not all the honor that has becn
accorded to the Republican representa-
tlon. II will be recalled that Mr., Day
ton is also a member OF the committee
on the revision OF tho laws, and Mr..
Miller of the committee on the militia
II should be remembered. also, that
the committees were announced ut the
very time when from sheer force OF cir
cumstnnCeg every one OF the assign
mertB was one OF Importance. ana that
the original draft was not altered under
tho changed conditions that confronted
the speaker on the dny the names were
made public md when renaslgnment
might have been made. II doomed neccs-
sary II was not necessary.
The state. therefore, owes Speaker
Reed n debt Of grntitude for prompt re.
cognitlon OF the interests OF state that
was the first to come TO the Republican
ranks from tho solid south.
West Virginia begins her career ms n
Republican state under the most favor
nbic auspices. and Ia attracting more
attention thnn over before. Her pres
tlRp nlronIy won In the house and SEN
ate should make her citizens proud.
The results viii be seen In the future
development OF the whole common
wealth, from which citizens, not pnrtl-
sans alone can take pleasure and de-
rive profit. Thoughtful men VIII treas
tire these fncts md bC hopeful OF the fu-
ture, mindful OF the immense RESOURCES
awaiting an outlet
II cnn bc said without injustice to
any one thut this state OF fnctn In due 10
the indnmnltnhlC energy and rcslBtlosH
influence Of senator ElkinH Knowing
how important II II TO the interests OF
the state that the delegation should
have good places On the committees, he
hhB given his entire time tO the accom-
pllahmcnt OF that object over since
Congress mot His ain md purpose
during hIa torn In The senate Will ho
primarily the building up OF the stntc Of
west Virginia Hnd developing It's ma
terlni interests.
rhe Bystcm uf wntrr ways On which
West Vlfglnln'B future property large.
ly depends Will bc Mr.. lilhlnH' chief cnrc
and II hla present plans cnn be carried
ont there viii bn gluclwntnr 10 Fair
mont aud free MOnungnhcln; the Ohio
river, now tho third ucntcnl IN the
United States In froli;ht carrying, VIII be-
Improved with u system Of locks nnd
damn from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati,
and the KAnnwhn interest VIII 10 coin.
piptcd M part M u Erentct, murc far
roncllng ayntcm tho possibilities 0f |
which cnn scarcely bn computed
our iii,tT imiprnycmtnL