Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-31
TWO HOUSE CHAIRMANSHIPS
Dingley of Maine to Head the Ways and
Means Committee.
Why Mr.. Reed Will Select Him-Hcn-
derson of Iowa the Ranking Menu
ber ON Appropriations.

It is reported that Representative Ding
ley of Maine will be chairman of the ways
and means committee of the House under
the new organization. He is probably not
seeking the appointment, but he is reccg-
nized as one Of the best qualified men in
the House for the place. There is strong
rivalry fer this position between Dalzell
Payne and Hopkins. If either of the three
gets it there will be apt to be some resent
ment felt by the friends of the other two,
whereas the appointment of Dingley would
give little cause for grumbling. He is
thoroughly familiar with the tariff ques-
tion and was the member of the ways and
means committee chiefly depended on for
technical information when Mckinley was
chairman of the committee in the Fifty
first Congress. He was then regarded as
better informed than Mckinley himself
In the examination of experts at the hear
ines and during the debate in the House
his questions were more pointed and pene-
trating than those of any other member of
the House. and his statements commanded
the respect accorded to absolute authority.
Safe and Well Informed.
He is generally regarded as one of the
safest as we'll as one of the best informed
men in the House. 1t has been suggested
that it would be too much for Maine to
have the speakership and the craftsmanship
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 members are as scarce
IS they will be in the next there is every
good reason why capacity should be avail
ed 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 well satisfied to have it pass
him by. Circumstances rendering his cleo
tion to the speakership almost necessity,
it is recognized as being due to Mr.. Reed
that he be permitted to SO frame the organ
iZation as to insure greatest success to his
administration. These considerations rem
der the selection of Dingley as chairman of
the ways and means probable, unless he
prefers not to have it.
Chairman of Appropriations.
Henderson Of Iowa will probably be chair
man of the appropriations committee He
was the ranking republican on the COM
mittec 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 ana
thoroughly familiar with the work of the
committee. He is good debater. discreet
and popular, and thoroughly familiar with
fiscal affairs. MIR. Cannon of Illinois, who
also is a candidate for this craftsmanship,
was chairman of the committee during the
Fifty-hrst Congress, and is also familiar
with the question OF appropria tions, but he
has been out OF Congress since then and
this break In his service put him last in
rank on the 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 selected, and
his personal relations with Mr.. Reed being
extremely friendly, the assumption is that
he will get the appointment.
In this view of the committee assign
ments it is believed that Dalzell will be
chairman of the judiciary committee.