The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-01-02
Washington News.
Special to GAzErrE.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a.

1lO1i1d. DioNhStl NSSu, SPEAK
er of the hoase sud candidate for
president of the Unlte. States, IS
evidently not looking VIII. a
coquettish eye toward the votes
| the Pacific coast will have in the
republican national convention.
When the committees were ar
ranged hail of indignation went
up from the coast congressman,
the echoes of which will not die
away for many months. Not
Pacific coast member can be
found on the great committees on
appropriations, ways and means,
rules, banking and currency COIN
age, weights and measures, mill
tary affairs, mines and mining, or
agriculture.
The treatment of Mr.. Her
mann in particular has caused
great indignation. If rank
counted for anything, if expert
ence aud service counted for any
thing, he should have been
appointed chairman Of the COM
1nittee on rivers and harbors. He
has served on the committee six
years and was the ranking repub-
lican member. He represents a
state with hundreds of miles of
sea-coast, and many splendid riv-
ers; his appointment was request
ed in writing by all the senators
and congressman from five west
ern states, and Notwithstanding
all this, Mr.. Reed appointed over
his head young Mr.. Hooker, of
New York, who is just begin
ming his second term and repre-
sents district with one lake har-
Dor in it. 1t is much to be feared
that his presidential aspirations
have spoiled Mr.. Reed. But one
important craftsmanship has been
given to the Pacific and adjoining
states, while all three of his col
leagues from Maine have been
given important committees; and
the appointment of Mr.. Hooker
is regarded as part of the price
Mr.. Reed is paying for the
expected support of New York.
Mr.. Hermann still retains his old
rank on rivers and harbors; the
sole representative of Pacific
coast interests.
In the senate the coast, in Ore
gon particularly, has been more
fortunate. This is largely due to
the fact Senator Mitchell was
elected chairman of the commit
tee of nine appointed by the re-
publican side to reorganize the
committees. This put him in a
position which, without absolute
power, was analogous to that of
the speaker OF. the house so far as
the committees are concerned.
As ranking republican member,
he had the choice of any of three
important chairmanships: Privi-
leges and elections, pestohces
and post roads and claims. He
was also entitled to a place on the
committee on foreign relations.
He relinquished the latter to Mr.
Cullo1n and was thereby enabled
to secure a place for Sem
ator Mcbride on the commerce
committee, which in the senate
has control of all river and har-
Dor improvements, and to other
wise secure for Mr.. Mcbride the
strongest COMMITTEES assignments
ever given new senator, includ-
ing Craftsmanship of transporta-
ton routes to seaboard, and
places on committee ON public
lands, coast defenses, Indian dep
relations, and select COM
nittee on international exposi-
tions. Senator Mitchell is chair
man of privileges and elections,
which by reason of the fact that
it has jurisdiction of all questions
relating not only to the seats of
senators, but all questions. affect
ing the election of senators in the
| various states, is second to none
in the senate. He also has a lead
ing place on the committee on
rules-which manages things in
the senate-postohces and post
roads, claims and judiciary He
also had a new special committee
formed on construction of the
Nicaragua canal. Senator Nor
gan (dem.) q strong friend of the
canal, will be chairman. 1t will
have a republican majority of
friends of the canal consisting Of
Mr.. Mitchell, Squire, of Wash
ington; Hawley, of Connecticut
and Sewell, of New Jersey. It
can be seen therefore that Oregon
is represented on every commit
tee that relates to her interests.
F. A. PELTRET.