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

AAooJ th6AeS' Detter known as PEN
sion nights, he was the most conspic-
uous figure in the House. Alert am,
resourceful in discussion. he was MS
systematic in argument as in the work
OF his committee. He carried great
weight on the floor. and made the
weikin. ring with music where the In
terests OF the veterans were Mt stake
The work of his committee was sus.
tanned with scarcely an execution.
Aside from his industry, Ray is an or
ator OF no mean ability. He has more
than held his own in many political
emeute, and he handles the parlia-
mentary rapier with the skill of a fenc
ing master. Mr.. Ray was a private in
the Ninetieth New York Volunteers and
saw much service under Sheridan in
the valley. He is tall, easy In manner.
frequently seasons his argument with
pepper-sauce, Is man of uncuestioned
integrity. and n favorite In the House
In his youth he is said to have been
the best jumper and QUOT pitcher In
>the Chenango Valley. He outdid oil
competitors at agricultural fairs and
town meetings. This may account for
the fact that the Republican nomina-
ZION falls to him without competition
and 1t Is rare that the Democrats run
candidate against him.
Another new chairman is the Hon
James Fl. Southland. of Ohio. He repre-
sents Frank Hurd's old district and "a
serving his third term. Southland Is a
good talker and q conscientious worker.
he mas been member of the Conn
mittee on Coinage, Weights and Meas
ures since he first entered Congress.
and succeeded Charles w. Stone NJ
pennsylvania, as chairman. Southland
was member of the Committee on
Naval Affairs in the last Congress but
declined reappointment, preferrlnr a
workmanship. One result of the an
pointment Will probably be the passage
OF bill adopting the metric svsse.n
or weights and measures after July l.
i9o2. Twice has this bill been brought
before the House and defeated. While
not an ardent supporter of the meas
ure IN previous Congresses, it is I'M
derstood that the new chairman ia
vors the passage of such bill.
Southland has a hard time in reconcil-
Ing the English language with the va
rious terms used in the metric system.
Such words as kilos, deciton. grams
liters, Kilograms. 10th. centesimal and
decimeters continually stare him in the
face. They are the stumbling blocks
In the BILL Such words would mystify
the farmers and possibly the citizens of
Ioledo. Aside from understanding
Them the average American citizen
would have difficulty in pronouncing
them. Southeard is magnificent stump
speaker. and is a great favorite among
the workingmen of his district, where
he is popularity known as Our Jim"
The metric system is n hard NUT to
crack. but If any man can crack 1t and
get the meat out of it, Southland is the
man to do it. The fact that 1t has al
ready been adopted by most Of the civ
ilized nations of the world is strong
argument in its favor. 1t seems to be
an Initial step to the Introduction of q
universal language.
Probably the most noted Of the new
chairmen is the Hon. Marriott Brosius,
of Pennsylvania, the successor of that
able financier Of the Quinsigamond,
Joseph II. Walker, of Massachusetts.
BrosiuS represents the Lancaster, bet
ter known as the Quaker district"
once represented by Hon. Thaddeus
Stevens. Although Quaker-llke in man.
ner and bearing, he uses neither the
words thou" nor thee" nor does he
wear either a broad -brimmed hat or
shad-belly coat. He fought bravely in
the war for the Union, and was one Of
the assaulting column on Fort Wag-
ner. At Bermuda Hundreds he received
a severe wound, from which he has
Deen a lifelong sufferer. He was COM
missioned second lieutenant for bray
cry on the field of battle. Mr.. Brosius
is one of the orators of the House. His
speeches show that he has been a close
ShakcspearIan student 1t is doubtful
whether he ever made a speech in his
NE mat was not sown with quotations
from the greatest of English dramat-
lists. In the last Congress Brosius was
chairman of the Committee on Civil
Service Reform. A determined assault
was made upon his lines by rabd parti-
sans on both sides Of the chamber
Brosius repelled the assault with an
energy that must have quIckcned the
pulses of Carl Schurz and Dorman r.
Eaton.
Speaker Reed seemed to take a mali
cious delight in the composition of the
committee on Banking and Currency
1t was Familiarity known as the Xii
kenny committee. Feline wrangles were
the order of the day, and the atmos-
phere was full of fur.
MephlstopheleS himself could NOT
nave thrown more homogeneous intel
iectual elements together. An accurate
report OIL all the discussions in this
committee while the Hon. joseph II
Walker was its chancellor of excheouer
would astonsh the financial world in
Guiding Jacob Coxey and the Roth
schilds Whether Speaker Henderson
is equally fortunate in his selection of
the members of the committee the flu
ture must determine. 1t Is certain that
MIR. Brosius will preside over it's de-
alterations with all the placidity. mod
estly and SAVIOR faire so characteristic
of Mr.. Walker.
These are only few OF the new
chairmen of committees. There arc
others we'll worthy of mention. but
these few will undoubtedly create
breeze sufficient to bring the House out
OF the doldrums.