The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-03
sr1x* CONoREss AoAIM
II AT THE OLD S7AND

OF Philadelphia, Is an exceptionally
conscientious workman. although noe
a. protege of John Wanamaker. Nor
is that eminent stoier. William II.
Moody, of Massachusetts. a whit he.
hind him. although he has been charged
with trying to run an engine with an
empty boiler. Another expert is this
Hon. William w. Grout, of Vermont,
Grout is to leave his job at theend of
the session in search of another that
has already escaped him. Hemenway.
OF Indiana. and Barney, of Wisconsin,
are first -class worltmen under Cannon.
while the apprentices, Henry c. Van
Voorhis of Ohio; James r.. McCleary,
of Minnesota. and Lucius N. Littauer.
or New York. are progressing slowly
butsurely. Cannons committee is the
best drilled force In the house, and
Cannon himself the best drillmast ster.
Cannon's crew manipulate the greatest
engine in the south wing of the cap-
tol. 1t makes its own plans and spec-
f1cations without competition. and Is
marvellous in design and construction.
If 1t had appeared among the govern
ment exhibits at Paris it would UNI
doubtedly have excited the admiration
of the worlds greatest savants. No
triple expansion engine ever ran more
smoothly, accurately, and effectively.
Cannon himself is an expert in me-
chanical congressional specialties. He
can match cogs, oil a gudgeon. line u
shaft, bush socket and perform the
thousand and one infinitesimal duties
so necessary to the safety and thor
oush working of a perfect machine. At
times he turns his attention to other
congressional machines and OCCASION
ally evinces disposition to usurp the
prerOgatives of brother engineers. On
the whole, he Is a wonderful computa-
tiOn. Joseph has been valued EN-
ploye OF the house for twenty-six years,
and appears to be a permanent candi-
date for United States senator.
The ways and means and the com.
mittee on appropriations are undoubt.
edly the most wonderful legislative
machines on the American continent.
One controls the revenues of the ma
tion ana the other it's expenses. With
two exceptions. all other congressional
machines pale into insignifcance in
comparison with them. These excep-
tions are the committee on military
affairs and the committee on naval af-
fairs. The assistant engineers In
charge of these useful Legislative me-
charisms, unlike Payne and Cannon.
are young in years and service. John
A. r. Hull. who holds the lever in
the committee on military affairs, Is
five years younger than Cannon in
age and sixteen years younger in SER
vice. George Z. Foss, acting assistant
engineer of the congressional naval en-
gine, is sixteen years younger In aga
and twenty years younger in service
F'Oss has certainly had remarkable
career in politics. A graduate of Har.
ward, he left country town in Ver-
mont and began the practice of law in
Chicago. He had been there only SIX
years when he was elected to the
house. He was then thirty-one years
old. Tom Reed assigned him tn thu
committee on naval affairs. Death
and politics gave him rapid advance
ment. He was near the top OF the
committee at the beginning Of the
present congress, when the illness Of
Charles A. Boutelle opened the way
to the new promotion. Foss has all
ready proved himself careful ami
trusty engineer. He has made himself
his machine and works it like vet
eran. An attempt to poach on his pre-
serves at the late session met with
signal failure. He wears the jean
jumper of a true congressional me.
chanic and his overalls are spotted
with legislative oil. His engine has
been carefully overhauled and is al
ready in good working order. His
oilers and cleaners are at work in ear
nest and there is little doubt that
they will labor to the satisfaction Of
the country.
Assistant Engineer Hull has also not
baen idle in the engine room Of the
committee on military affairs. He
started his machinery few days ago,
and it's wheels and came are running
smoothly and without friction. At the
late session he had considerable
trouble. In racing parlance. the ma
chine picked up a nail sent from Idaho.
It's cogs were bent and it's winches
were cracked. The wipers and oilers
of the minority were evidently not In
sympathy with the efforts of the as
sistant engineer to repair her, and the
machinery creaked horribly. There
were riotous scenes in her engine
room. The trouble attracted the at
tention of the nation. Hull, however,
held the lever with firm land, AMI
turned out work that seemed accept
able To the country, judging from the
result of the late election. The mech
anism Is now said to be in excellent
order. 1t ought to be so, for its capa-
biiity will be strongly tested this win
ter. A bill for auadrupling the per-
pnnpapt forra of the regular army will
undoubtedly be reported To the house,
and stormy scenes will ensue before
its passage. Hull however, is used to
such scenes, and is fully able to cope
with his enemies. His nerve is admir-
able, and his judgment unquestioned
The minority of the committees rum
ming these machines are forced to con-
tent themselves by uttering their pro-
tests on the floor of the house. Their
opposition in the engine-room is al
ways ineffective. There is Il bare
chance for them to retrieve themselves
on the floor Radical measures re-
ported from committees are at times
toned down by the deliberate action of
the house. but the chances are few and
far between. In the next congress the
minorities of the great committees will
probably each be shorn of member,
as the majority of the house has been
nearly tripled i'm strength.
When steam Whistles and ringing
bells announce 'the midday hour on
Monday, David Il, Henderson, the en-
gineer-i n-chief of the house of repre-
sentatives, will deposit his crutches be-
hind the speakers chair and seize the