Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-12-17
WHAT HAS NEWLANDs DONE ?


Congressman Newlands by the Demo-
cratic press of the State THAT thrift
may follow fawning.'
One would think, to read these iourn-
ais, that the fact that Newlands has
been appointed on the Ways and
Means Committee in the House that
he has almost as much influence in af-
fairs of government as President
Roosevelt himself.
Indeed some Of them endeavor to
convey the idea that MIR. Roosevelt
got his ideas on some great National
questions from MI. Newlands.
The Newlands organs seem to think
that the appointment Of Mr.. Newlands
on the Ways and Means Committee
by Speaker Henderson is sufficient to
land him into the Senate, but If they
do they seriously underestimate the in
telligence Of the people of this State.
In the first place the people general
ly know that Mr.. Newlands' appoint
ment on the committee is Of very little
significance. They know that the
minority is always allowed a certain
number Of members on all committees
and that the minority generally select
their own members and that such Sc
lections are recognized by the Speaker,
$50 in all probability Speaker Hender-
son never selected Mr.. Newlands on
the committee at all.
In the next place Mr.. Newlands' po-
sitIon on the committee is of no sig
~RIficance, for he has about as much In
fluence in the shaping Of the legislation
handled by that committee as q ''snow
ball in Hades."
Every school by who takes any in
terest at all in the affairs Of his country,
knows that all important legislation that
goes before Congressional committees
is first taken up by the members of the
Committee representing the dominant
party and In the absence of the minority
members, and that the minority men,
bers are not consulted until after the
majority members have fully agreed
upon the legislation. when, as q matter
af form, it Is submitted to the entire
committee. and the minority members
can either agree to 1t or make min
GRITTY report" just as they see fit, and
they generally make minority re-
port" and do what they can to impede
the legislation Of the party in power.
Senate.
So, as a matter of fact. Mr.. New
lands position on the Committee Of
Ways and Means is not one of such
wonderful influence and power as our
Democratic friends wonld try and make
US believe.
About all that Mi. Newlands can do
on the Ways and Means Committee
during the present Congress will be to
concur in minority reports" This
was all he could do during the last
Congress. and If there is any reason
for expecting more at this time we
would be obliged If 1t we're pointed out.
That Newlands' position on this COM
mlttee cuts 70 figure is shown by his
failure to get passed by the House the
Bill giving Reno a seventy thousand
dollar public building which Senators
Stewart and Jones passed through the
We think the Newlands press will
have to get something more tangible
upon which to base the election OF
Newlands to the Senate next winter.
We would suggest that they tell US
about what Mr.. NeWlands has accom-
plished during the ten years he has
represented us. There have been nu-
merous inquiries upon this point and
there are many who cont know.