The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-29
SERVICE IN CONGRESS-
STATES ERR IN MAKING FIRE.
QUENT CHANGES OF MEMBERS.
AMOS CUMMINGS TELLS WHY.

Well for "a similar Reason, and
Likewise the SOuth-Iowa Also
shines With Peculiar BriIliancy.
Washington, Dec. 2S.-Term of serv-
ice is the real source of power in both
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives The state or the city making the
least change in its congressional repre-
sentation reaps the advantage in legis-
lation. With rare exceptions, the PLACES
on important committees are given to
the most experienced in legislation.
They ascend in grade, the same as an
officer of the army or the navy, in pro-
portion to their years of toll and use
fitness. 1t is unwritten law, rarely dis
regarded by the speaker in making up
his committees. In the Fifty-fourth
and Fifty-fifth Congresses Maine WELD
ed more influence in legislation than
any other state in the Union. Owing to
their terms of service her senators and
representatives dominated the leading
committees. Aside from this she had a
controlling influence in the House
through the selection of Thomas b.
Reed as Speaker selection due to
Mr.. Reeds tact and experience as a
member. The delegation had served
sixteen years contii 0iousIy. All were
made chairmen of important and infiu-
entail committees. Nelson Dingley, Jr.,
was at the head of Ways and Means,
Seth Milliken of Public Buildings and
Grounds, and Charles A. Boutelle,
chairman of the Committee on Naval
Affairs. These influential honors in the
L.
service. In the Senate the state was
equally we'll fixed. William p. Frye
was chairman of the Committee on
Commerce and a member of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, on Fish
cries, and on Pacific Railroads. Eu-
gene Hale was chairman of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs and second en-
the Committee on Appropriations.
Frye had spent twelve years in the
House and seventeen years in the Sen
ate. Hale had added seventeen years
of service in the Senate to ten in the
House.
Through the efforts of her expert
enced congressman and senator's mil
lions upon millions had been appropri-
ated for the improvements of the rivers
and harbors of the state, and there was
hardly a town of any size within its
boundary that did not contain A public
building erected at the expense of the
United States. Kittery Navy Yard, on
her western boundary, reveled in appro-
priations. Her lumber, granite quar-
ries, and her lime and cement were
protected by the tariff, and ner ship
yards supplied with government work
and fortified with legislation. She even
levied tribute upon the ocean ar the OK
pense of her sister states. A law was
enacted that prevented the netting of
mackerel until the schools reached her
coasts, but every effort to protect the
menhaden off the Jersey coast failed
Maine fishermen and others melted
them by millions for bait and oil. Her
sardine factories were protected by
heavy duties on the French product
and genuine Finden haddies were
driven form the American market to
give place to the inferior product dried
on her shores.
Due to Continuous Service.
OF the forty-fve chickens nesting
under the broad wings of the great
Federal fowl Maine drew the most
warmth and sustenance. 1T was al
due to the continuous service of her
senators and representatives. Sud
denly there came a change. Milliken
Dingley and Boutelle died in harness
and Tom Reed went to New York tc
practice law. Only two years have
elasped since the Fifty-fifth Congress
expired. and Maine has lost the lead
Iowa has usurped her place. The ex-
perienced delegation from the Kenne-
bee, Penobscot and An1roscoggin has
given place TO one entirely new. None
of its four representatives has spen
more than one term in the House lT
proportion to its numbers it is proba
ably as sparkling a deputation as any
in the House. but it has no longer the
touchstone of power-length of service
Tvs in 1an 70
has been so much increased by the re-
election of Senators Hale and FRYE
that it may retain many of the ad
vantages CLEANED by the old delegation
Let us see how their successors are
placed; Llewellyn Powers, who entered
the Forty fifth Congress with Ton
Reed and then dropped from nationa
view, has just returned. He stands No
in the Committee on Territories
Charles F. Littefield haloed with ora
tory. is sixth on Elections No. 2,-sev
enth on Judiciary. and eleventh OF
Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Edwin
c. Burleigh, treading in the footsteps
of his predecessor, Seth Milliken, il
fourth on Public Buildings and
Grounds and sixth on the Census
Amos L. Allen, Reeds private secre
tary and successor, is sixth on the Dis
trict of Columbia, seventh on Reform
in the Civil Service, and third on tn,
though placed on a comparatively un
important committee in the last Con
gress. has done the most for his nativ,
state. Despite the watchful opposition
Of its veteran chairman, Albert ]
Hopkins ingenious mathematical
huggermuggering SO changed the con
gresSional apportionment bill that tn
Pine Tree State retained her four rep
resentatives, although entitled to onl,
three, as provided in the original bill
1t thus requires less population to rep
resent a Congress district in that stat
than 1t docs in either New York o
Texas. Such was the result Of Bur
leigh's landing on the Census Commit
tee. In his first term he outwitted
veteran who had eighteen years expe
rience in legislation. 1t is an indica
ton that when Burleigh becomes wei
seasoned he will equal If net surpas
any of his predecessors in advancin,
the interests of his state.
Philadelphia Set an Example.
Maine probably drew her inspiration
from the City of Brotherly Love. Phila
delpnia awoke to the Importance {
keeping her representatives continu
ously in Congress before the war. Sh
held Samuel j. Randall. Charlie
ONeill, William d. Kelley and Alfre,
Harmer in the House of Representa-
tives twenty-eight years. All died Il
Office and all We're buried at the ex
pense of the United States. She place
Gen. Harry Bingham in the House owe
twenty years ago and has kept hir
here ever since. So vital 10 the inter