Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-20
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Representative Henderson Will Not Disclose
to Members His Intentions
4 REFORM Proposed ns to Election
Contests-Nr. AIdrich Thinks Nor
gan VIII Be Defeated

Representative Henderson Is adhering 10
his Determination not to disclose to the
anxious members Of the House what com
mittee assignments ne has decided on for
them. 1t IS believed that he viii be ready
to make the committee announcements al
most as soon az elected. but, As matter
OF delicaCy he does not feel like making
any declaration. even to the men most con-
cerued before his actual selection to be
Speaker.
The anticipate rush Of members Of the
House to Washington Immediately upon
the arrival Of the man who j. 70 be Speaker
mas not materialized. While there were a
good many callers At the Normandie to see
Cen. Henderson, there were comparatively
few members Of the House in the alb
Sence of a Speaker9hip contest. and with
the knowledge that little mole than has al
ready been done to secure committee as
signments wanted can be accomplished.
members seem to be taking their time
about coming TO the capital.
Election Contests.
one matter of interest stated is that there
will be a reform in this Congress in the
matter of election contests. There has
been Il questionable practice Of delaying
these contests in many cases almost until
the close of the Congress, thus depriving
the contestant, If entitled to a scat from
part of the term. 1t is now proposed to
make a special effort to have all contests
disposed Of as speedily possible and
70 make their consideration the first thing
in order after the committees arc ready
with their reports The theory Of this pol
| icy is that one of the first duties of the
House is to know how its membership is
constituted.
Probably the first legislation of import
aEce will he the passage through tn. House
of the financial measure which has already
he
This will not be accomplished without
contest. but little doubt is expressed Of
the measure getting through the House.
Mr.. AIdrich Here.
EX-Representative AIdr1ch of Alabama
who is a contestant for the seat in Con-
gress which he has in other Congresses
secured after contest. is in Washington
! locking after his interests. with the hope OF
having his case decided early In the ses-
sicn, He says that there Is period of the
greatest activity and prosperity in Ala
harna. and that he sleVes ma iOrity OF
the people Of that state are in favor of ex-
parsion. Their" is a growing sentiment In
favor Of protection in the state. also he
says.
senator Morgan May he Defeated.
The democrats. ne says are having a
lively contest among themselves. and he
thiaks it quite probable that Mr. Morgan
will be defeated for the Senate There are
eight candidates for the senator's seat and
at least two OF them have the advantage
OF him in the matter of local organization.
| The senator Mr.. Aldrich says, has got cut
of touch with the de mocratic party ma
chine in the state because he has been de-
voting SO much Of his attention TO larger
nationa! questions and not much to the
minor matters of state interest EX-Gov-
ernOr Oates, who * candidate. has the
advantage of the local rganizatiou conse-
| quent upon his having been recently gov
eTnOr of the state. and Governor johnson,
who also is candidate, has. Mir. Aldricu
! says, a very perfect organization and has
the state political machinery in his hands;
:" that the prospects Of Senator Morgan
| succeeding himself are not bright