Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-30
THE HOUSE commlrrEEs.
Work Cut Out Already for the NIo.t
Important.

d :
Washington, Nov. 524.-While there is
general understanding as to the more
important committee assignments, on
ly one man has been actually notified
by Mr.. Henderson that he will be APP
pointed to a craftsmanship. Hesis said
to be Mr.. Barham, of California, who
is to be chairman of the committee on
accounts. This committee will be. an
nounced as soon as the speaker is cleo
ted and takes his office. 1t will deal
with the settlement of the mileage ac-
counts of the members and other ac-
counts of the house. Members are al
ways eager to secure their mileage,
which in a number of cases amounts to
considerable sums.
One of the committees of the house
which will get to work earliest in the
coming session of congress will be the
committee on elections, which will set
tie the contested election cases against
members ofAthis house to be brought
at this session. There are eleven seats
in contest, the greater number of them
from the south. istsi
1t is given as the policy of MI. Hen
derson that he will urge the election
committee TO pass upon the contested
cases earlier in the session than has
been the rule in the past. There has
been great complaint from time to
time, occasionally tinged with scandal,
over the diiatoriness of the house COM
nitfee in acting upon contested cleo
tion cases. There have been instances
where men were kept out of their seats
until near the close of the session
through the procrastination, often in
territorial, of the elections committee.
1t is said to be Mr.. Henderson's desire
to inaugurate reform in this direc-
ton. He thinks that the contests
should be settled on principles of JUS
tice and as soon as possible.
Moreover, there would be utility in
such a course. The republican major
ity in this house will be comparatively
still margin of but thirteen men, with
all hands present. This will be in
creased by the unseating of some DEM
ocrats who have; gained their election
by palpable frauds in the south and
the seating of republican candidates
who should have received the certifi-
Gates.
Some of the cases were so notorious
ly fragrant that it should not take long
to settle the contest. Such, for in
stance, as the, case of Bellamy, from
the Wilmington, N. c., district, where
frauds of the most outrageous charac-
ter were perpetrated. There is little
doubt that Dockery, the republican
candidate, will be seated. There are
pt1 COG. lacs. 90 "A
action, and Speaker Hcnderson's pur-
pose to secure early consideration OF
them is generally commended. In the
last three congresses it was necessary
to appoint three committees on cleo
tons but the work can be done this
year probably by two committees. All
of the testimony in the contested cases
has been taken and filed with the clerk
of the house.
Mr.. Payne, of New York, will be
chairman of the committee on ways
and means, which leaves vacancy al
the head of the merchant marine and
fisheries, a committee that promises to
be prominent in legislation this con
gress. The agitation of the question
of building up the American merchant
marine has reached such a stage that
the republican congress can NOT refuse
to take action. The bills before the
senate and house in the last congress
will be reintroduced with slight chang
es as soon as this congress convenes,
and in the house this measure will go
to the committee on merchant marine
and fisheries. Representative Hopkins,
of Illinois, stands next to Mr.. Payne
on the old list of members, but he has
not been regarded as a very enthusi-
astic advocate of the subsidy bill. 1t is
now believed that Representative Gros-
venor, of Ohio, is likely to be put in
charge of the measure, in the passage
of which Senator Hanna is deeply in
terested.
rrs.o,.-- icran,pSo6