The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-12-22
i Therefore Col. Henderson was disap-

pointed.
There is an old saying that "excep-
tons prove the rule" and it is we'll
known that there are exceptions to all
most every rule of human action. Thus
it happens that an exception has arisen
and this custom of geographical con-
sideration has been swept aside COM
pletely by strange circumstances. and
the greatest power in the congress has
been confided to one state. to two men
in that state, who reside in the same
city, and are near neighbors.
When Speaker Reed announced last
June that he would not continue to
serve in congress there began at once
an active canvass for the selection of his
successor, and, early in August, it was
decided that Col. Henderson, of Iowa,
should be selected. This advancement
of Col. Henderson has placed him in
higher authority than would have been
vested in him if he had been appointed
chairman of the committee on appro-
priations. 1t makes him the most po-
tential factor in national legislation, on
all topics.
At the same time, Senator Allison is
chairman of the senate committee on
appropriations, chairman of the repub-
lican caucus and chairman of the re-
publican steering committee, thus be-
ing virtually as controlling a factor in
the senate as Speaker Henderson is in
the house of representatives. And
these statesmen live in Iowa, in Du-
buque county, and the city of Dubuque.
They have been close friends and neigh
bors for more than 30 years.
In 1898 there came to Washing ton for
a New York newspaper young man
who wrote and published criticism of
the vice president for appointing GER
tain chairmen of senate committees;
when, as matter of fact, the vice pres
ident has absolutely nothing to do with
the appointment of committee chair
men. In the senate the caucuses Of
the democratic and republican parties
have meetings, In separate places, and
they decide upon the membership Of
the senate committees, including the
chairmen. Representatives of those
caucuses then meet, and all arrange
ments are quietly completed. Then.
in open senate, the party leaders intro
duce resolutions providing that certain
committee assignments be made; and
the resolutions are adopted by unani.
nous vote of senators of both parties.
Thus it is that the senate appoints its
own committees and it's own committee
chairmen.
In the national house of representa-
tives that power is committed to tho
man who is chosen for the speakership;
and it is power second only to that
welded by the president. The speaker
appoints all of the chairmen of commit
tees. and also all of the members of the
committees, and they must serve exact.
ly where he places them. To the credit
of our republic it must be said that this
tremendous power has never been
abused.
After the speaker shall have an.
nounced the committee assignments of
the $50 members of the house of repre-
sentatives, he will rule the house
through special committee called ''the
speaker wants a certain bill passed, in
stead of automatically announcing it
as his will, which the house must obey,
he wells his power by calling together
his committee on rules. Under his bid.
ding that committee provides a rule
that, on certain day, vote shall be
taken on the pending bill; and this in.
dependent rule is adopted by the ma.
jorlty of the house. Thus it would seem
that the house is dominating it's own
affairs; but, as matter of fact, through
the committee on rules, the speaker is
dominating affairs. This condition has
been particularly brought about by the
methods of the late Speaker Reed.
whose capacity for ruling was equal to
his passion for power.
Moreover, before. certain older. mem.
bers are appointed to certain chair.
manships. they are informed by the
speaker what he desires to be done, and
what left undone, by their committees.
Thus. even when the speaker is not
known or seen in the matter. he is quiz
city dominating every committee, and
no bill can become law by action of
the congress without his knowledge
and consent. You may well imagine
what power is thus committed to one
man by his elevation to the speaker.
ship. 1t is high Office, worthy the am.
bition of any man.
Col. David r. Henderson, who has
been thus honored by the representa-
tives of the people, was born in Old
Deer, Scotland, March IA, 1910, and is
therefore almost so years of age. Hav.
ing been born abroad, he is ineligible