The Washington times., 1895-02-17
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

A letter was received yesterday from Rep
resentative CogsweIi, of Massachusetts. who
has been i'll since the close Of the last session.
Gen. Cogswell went to Jamaica in December
last with view TO recovering bis health. Hs
is staying at a little resort in the mountains
few miles beyond the city of Kingston. Hs
writes that his condition is steadily improv-
ing. that his flesh has greatly decreased, and
that he hopes to return to the United States
next month.
Congressman Gear. OF Iowa. who has been
absent from the House for the past two
months on account Of illness, is occasionally
seen at the Capitol. He is still! unable to
perform his legislative duties, but his phy-
sician says that his recovery is assured.
Congressman Broderick. Of Earsas who was
largely instrumental in defeating in commit
tee the resolution to impeaeh Judge Rieks, Of
Ohio, and who was confined TO the house
during the earlier part of last week with the
grip, was at the Capitol, and barring a
slight feeling of nervousness is himself again.
So entirely satisfied are the Republican
members Of the House that Mr. Reed, Of
Maine, viii be unanimously elected Speaker
when the caucus meets in December next
that many of the number are already i'm
portuning him for ehairmanships and for
places on the important committees. To
LHtoc luo pfC-pScllFS OledkeE
turns deaf ear To one memter who spoke
to him yesterday Mr.. Reed replied that he
was in no position at present to speak intelli-
gently upon the subject.
Aside from natural feeling OF deIicaey at
making up his ''slate" before he shall be-
formally installed in Office, he feels that if be
began at this time the arrangement of the
committees he would have no rest during the
recess, but that his mail would be filed with
communications from members and their
friends directing his attention TO their
especial cases. II is understood thar be will
announce the important committees imme-
diately after his induction into Office. but hs
will not seriously begin this work until ths
latter part OF November.
Should the new Speaker follow the usual
custom OF selecting the chairman from th6
ranking member Of each committee his work
will be comparatively easy. But he will noE
be permitted 10 do this without a struggle.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, for example. is
naturally desirous of being placed at the
head Of the Appropriations Committee again,
which position he held in the Fifty-hrst Con-
gress. He was unfortunately defeated for a
reelection to the Fifty-seeOnd Congress, and
upon his return to the Fiity-third Congress,
he was again placed on the committee, but at
the foot.
Mr. Henderson. OF Iowa. stands first on
the list Of the Republican members, and his
friends entertain no doubt that the chairman
ship will be given to him. II it is not, thera
will be loud protest. not only from himself,
but from Messrs. Cogswell, of Massachu-
sets, and Bingham, Of Pennsylvania, who
now stand second and third, and who would
thus lose these places II another member be-
low them on the list were made chairman.
So far as the Committee on Foreign Affairs
is concerned. there is little doubt that it viii
be given to Mr.. Hit, OF Illinois. who was its
chairman in the Fiity-arst Congress, and
who has been a member of the committee for
a number of years. II IS also practically set
tied that Mr.. Daniels, OF Buffalo. n. Y, will
secure the ehairmanshipof the Committee on
Elections. and that to Mr.. Walker. OF Massa-
chusetts, the chairmanship OF the Banking
and Currency COMMITTEES will be given
Mr.. William A. Stone. of Pennsylvania, is
ambitious OF securing the craftsmanship OF
the Committee on the Judiciary, but he is out
ranked by hIr, Ray, OF New York, who not
only desires the craftsmanship, but who has
no doubt that his ambition will be gratifed
Mr.. Stone has given considerable attention
to immigration matters during the present
Congress, and by many of the members he Is
regarded as man who would make an ideal
chairman of that committee. II is not be-
lieved that he would accept it, but it is under
stood that he can have it If he wishes it.
Mr.. Boutelie, OF Maine, will undoubtedly
again receive the Craftsmanship Of the Naval
COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Curtis, of New York, is a strong sandi-
date for the craftsmanship of the Military
Committee, but it is not certain that the in
fluence OF his delegation will be exerted in
his behalf.
The agitation of this subject directs atten-
tention to the fact that many Of the most
prominent of living Americans began life as
telegraph operators. Andrew Carnegie served
his apprenticeship as an operator on the
Pennsylvania Railway for several years be-
| fore he laid the foundation for the greas
| fortune which has male him one OF America .
| milllonaires.
Thomas A. Edison, "The Wizard OF Menlo
Park" was, in his younger days, one OF the
most expert telegraphers in the business
| Mr. l.. C. Wier, the newly-eieeted president
Of the Adams Express Company, began his
| connection with that organization as an
| operator in the Cincinnati Office.
| Secretary Lamont graduated from the
s'key" on the Erie Railway and Senators Da-
Wis, o. minnesota, and Mantel, of Montana,
| followed the vocation Of telegraphy for q
number OF years
Representative Haines, Of Troy. n. T.,
| drIfted into the railway business, and Is now
| the president of a number of short lines OF
railway in New YORK, from the desk Of tsle-
| graph operator on the New York Central