Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-11

Copyright, 1900 by Amos ]. Cummings)
washington, D. c.. Feb. 10.-The
House entered the doldrums early In
January. They usually occur just after
the holidays The committees were ap-
pointed on the eve Of the holiday recess.
1t takes them two or three weeks in
which to thoroughly organize and get
their looms in operation. When this is
done. and the wool Is woven into the
warp. the fabric Is thrown into the
House and dealt out to the people. The
Committee on Appropriations promptly
wove Its first deficiency bill, and the
House disposed Of 1t without much de-
lay. Joseph G. Cannon, chairman of the
committee on Appropriations, was ex-
tremely gracious in the general debate
preceding it's consideration. He allowed
the political skrmishers of the two
parties to come to an engagement, and
for long time made no effort to stop
1t. The skirmishers made 1t right lively
Tor secretary Gage. Aguinaldo, Joseph
Z. S1b1ey, Mark Hanna and other
prominent patriots. Sibley, in return,
dubbed his musket and made 1t warm
Tor some of the skirmishers. Meantime
MIR. Cannon rubbed his hands and
smiled as only Cannon can smile. He
wanted time to prepare other leEisla-
ton. The slirmishers were doing his
work In consuming the time of the
rouse. Meantime his own committee
we're weaving the pension appropra-
lion Dill. Albert J. Hopkins. chairman
OF the Census Committee, was also at
work at little piece of legislation of
some Importance to the Census Bureau.
me House accepted the pension fabric
after hot time In committee of the
whole. MIR. Hopkins fabric was not so
satisfactory. They tore out some
threads involving organized labor, and,
to use the expression of an Illinois
member, threw Chairman Hopkins
forty feet in the air." With memorial
addresses upon dead members. this
wore out the week.
On the following Monday the House
acted as board of aldermen for the
District OF Columbia, and on Tuesday
the question of how to get rid of the
Hon. Brigham H. Roberts was thrown
into the legislative hopper. This con-
sumed several days. and the weel, was
wound up with more eulogles.
All this time three Committees on
Elections were ut work with their
machines. and General Grosvenor was
working his loom, the Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries. for oil
It was worth on the Payne Hanna sub
sidy bill. Mr.. Hepburn, of the Inter
state and Foreign Commerce. was also
running his Nicaragua Canal machin-
cry, and Its product will soon be thrown
INTO the current of legislation. While
the house is masticating this food Mr.
Cannon will prepare sundry other an
preparation bills for It's consideration
mus economizing the time of the Fifty
sixth Congress.
1t requires an expert navigator to
handle vessel In the doldrums AM.
pooy can sail before the wind. and an
average seaman. with the use of a lib
may come about and begin lacking. bur
=. iequires true expert to make head
experts are found in all CONGRESSES
Ihey ofliciate at the Committee IN
rules. In this House they rank ne fol-
lows: David B. Henderson contoin.
John Dalzell, executive officer and
Charles III. Grosvenor, boatswain lac
II. Richardson and joseph w. Rails,
are the crew OF this little cathoof
ihelr maritime skill is universally ac.
knowledged. but, like all other crews
'hey are never consulted by the officers
Meanume' all the committees are
tie are In full play. These committees
play the part Of Eous. They create n
breeze. which eventually carries the
cra1t out of the doldrums into the Cur
rent or legislation. Where the chair
man OF a committee Is an old hand
like Joseph G. Cannon, he drives his
work through with will. He realizes
the situation and works with prudence
as well as with rapdity. He knows the
routine work and is perfectly at ease
in his committee room. Not so how
ever. with men who run the loom for
the first time. They are more or less
uneasy. and work with great care and
caution. knowing that if their product
is not perfect in texture it will be torn
10 pieces in the House In most ;n.
stances the new chairmen have served
several terms in the House, but in some
cases they have never been members
even OF the committee over which thew
preside.
Probably the most conspicuous OF the
new chairmen Is the Hon. George w.
Ray. OF New York. successor of David
B. Henderson as presiding officer of the
Committee on Judiciary. He has fairly
earned his promotion, for he has been
a member Of this committee ever since
ne entered Congress. over eight years
ago. Ray is one of the leading lawyers
of his native State. and recently refused
an appointment to the Supreme Court
In New York. preferring the life of a
Congressman. In the last Congress Mr..
Ray was made chairman of the Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions. He was
an entirely new hand there. having ne
yer served a day upon the committee
until he was appointed its chairman.
This committee however, never had "a
batter presiding officer. Ray systema-
tized it's work, laid down rules and
regulations, swerved not jot from
them himself. despite fearful pres