The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-13
PIT OYER IRE ISLANDS
InSuIar Committee the Most
important One
OF THE PRESENT CONGRESS
Kansas Boy Who Is Bound to
be a Soldier.
]F THE PRESENT CONGRESS

Especial Correspondence to The Eagle)
Washington, Dec. E.-The most import
ant committee in the Fifty-sixth con-
gress is the newly-created one on insular
affairs. This committee will have more
work to do, and its work will have more
connection with the future history of the
United States than any committee that is
in this congress. 1t will deal with our
foreign possessions which have come as
the result of the war with SPAIN and
with Cuba. A place on the committee is
a prize worthy to be sought. The crea-
ton of this committee was brought about
largely through a recognition of the fact
that the committee on territories, with
its duties already large, would not be able
to attend TO the vast deal of work in
connection with the government of the
new possessions. The new committee
viii have to do with everything in con-
nection with the insular possessions of
the country excepting revenue and APP
preparations. These things will come I'M
der the supervision of the committee on
ways and means, and appropriations
The new committee will have seventeen
members. There is already a rush for
place upon it. The chances are that Mr..
Tawney Of Minnesota who introduced
the resolution for the creation OF the
committee, will be chairman. Judge
De Almond of Missouri, late candidate
for the position OF leader Of the house
minority. will probably be the leading
Democratic member. 1t would be hard
to tell who will comprise the balance Of
the membership, but it is the intention
of the speaker to fill it with the best
timber in the house. Indeed, he has al
ready declared this to be his intention.
The committee on merchant marine
and fisheries has also been raised to sew
enteen members. This is another i'm
portaut committee, though not as much
so as that on insular affairs. Usually
the committee on ways and means is the
most important house committee but this
congress there is neither raising nor ow-
ering of tariffs, hence the committees
work is not greatly important. So the
honor, as far as this congress is con-
cerned, falls to the committee on insular
affairs, and the country will eagerly
watch its makeup and its work.
Twenty-three years ago last Friday
Senator Teller entered the senate. Only
three senators who saw him sworn in are
still his eagues-Allison of Iowa, Cock
ren OF Missouri and Jones of Nevada.
In the intervening twenty-three years
over a hundred senators have died. But
and ten, is still strong and vigorous. Age
sits lightly upon him. Teller had had
no experience in public life when he en-
tered the senate in 1876, the year Colo
RADIO was admitted to the union. He had,
however, taken part in political cam
paigns and in the first state election had
put his shoulder to the wheel and had
thus helped to insure a Republican vic
tory. His people sent him to the senate
with practical unanimity. When he took
his seat great questions were being dis
cussed, for the problems growing out of
the civil war were unsettled. Many
memorable scenes has Mr.. Teller wit
messed in the senate during his quarter
of a century experience, but, after all
not one Of them equalled in dramatic in
terest the episode in which he was the
chief fgure-his withdrawal from the Re-
publican party at the st. Louis conven-
ton. Mr.. Teller first visited the senate
in 1865 thirty-three years ago. AS he en-
tered the gallery as a spectator, a red
bearded man was standing in the aisle
and talking. It was Senator Stewart,
making a speech on silver.
Mrs. J. ". Spindler, whose husband
has been superintendent of the Winfield
city schools for many years and who
is a member OF the Kansas state text
book commission, is in the city. accom-
panied by her son, Frank ". ZOok, late
private in company A. Twentieth Kan
s3s. Mrs. Spndler's mission is to secure
the appointment of her son as a second
lieutenant in the regular army. Senator
Baker is lending her all the assistance
in his power, as are influential Wash
ington friends. Young Zook was so eager
to get into the army that he paid his
own fare from his home in Winfield to
San Francisco in order to enlist in the
Twentieth Kansas after it had been or
dered to Manila. lie made a fine record
in that regiment and now declares that
he Will enlist as a private In the regular
army if he cannot get in any other way.
R H FANON