The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-08

Assignment TO ways ana means
When He First Came to Congress.
weaving the Legislative Net.
Washington, Dec. Nets enmesh-
ing legislation in both Houses are the
committees. They are the real law
making power. Nothing can pass
aoither House without consideration IN
committee. Their chairmen are the
rulers of legislative principahties. The
Senate weaves its own net of legisla-
ton, but the House delegates this work
to its Speaker. And thus it is that
David B. Henderson, a representative
from the state of Iowa, is now sitting
in his room in the fourth story of a
fashionable Washington hotel acting
as a crochet needle for the House of
z Representatives. There are many
meshes in his great net. 1t catches
everything, great and small, in the
way of legislation. David's power is
absolute. From it there is no appeal.
He simply announces the committees,
and that is the end of it. If a member
is dissatisfied, he either smothers his
Chagrin or curses the Speaker and asks
70 be excused Heartburnings innum-
trable are sometimes caused by the
assignments. John G. Carlisle once
mortaIIy offended andrew Il. Curtin
by dropping him from the chairman
ship of the Committee on Foreign At
fairs. substituting Perry Belmont. 1t
was change that astonished the coun-
try and caused much indignant COM
ment. 1t struck Gov. Curtin to the
heart. Retiring from Congress not
long afterward. he died protesting
against the injustice. II must be con-
fessed however. that the grandson of
Commodore Perry made an excellent
substitute. While chairman of this
1 committee he subjected James G..
Blaine to an examination so close,
searching, and brilliant that 1t became
historic.
When Thomas B. Reed succeeded
aCarlisle as Speaker he made a break
nearly as bad. He transferred Alfred
c. Harmer of Philadelphia, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs to the In
dian Committee. The veteran con-
gresham had been member of the
Naval Committee for many years and
was welded TO its duties. His removal
sincensed his friends and created much
bitterness. What made the change pc
culiarly significant was the fact that
Hsrmer in caucus had been a stanch
supporter of William Mckinley against
Reed in the struggle for the Speaker
ship. Aside from this, by his failure
to vote for the caucus candidate for
chaplain of the House, he had aided
in the reelection of the celebrated blind
preacher, William H. Milburn. renom-
mated by the Democrats. Nor was he
alone in this. Six other Republicans,
including Ben Butterworth. followed
suit. In the Fifty-fourth Congress
Reed apparently tried to mollify Har-
mer by making him chairman of the
- lc 7 s1-v.a,- H.rVS e. . Irx
Of his death the genial old Quaker re-
scented his treatment.
While weaving his legislative net It
Is not probable that David 8. Hender-
son contemplates any such abrupt
changes. Seven of the chairmen Of
committees in the last Congress failed
of reelection. One. Marriott Brosius,
Of Pennsylvania. died after reelection.
This leaves eight vacancies to fill. Bro
sigs vas chairman of the Committee on
Banking and Currency. AS the COM
nittee stood when Congress expired,
Charles y. Fowler of New Jersey, was
the ranking member If he seeks the
promotion and the speaker follows the
unwritten law. he will get it. Two
terms ago it was committee of great
Importance. Joseph II. Walker, of Wor-
cester Mass, was then its chairman
Its members were continually in hot
water and were unable to agree. Its
Jurisdiction was finally hogged by the
Ways and Means. Under the watch
full care of Brosius, who, by the way.
z was another Quaker. it became sedate.
ornamental, and useful Although rep
resenting a Jersey district. Fowler was
born in Illinois. He graduated from
Y ale College twenty-five years ago and
afterward took a course at the Chicago
Law School. In a tilt with Mr.. Lit
nf IL "
ed signal ability. He is an active
man on the floor and is said to have
made a speciality of banking and cur
Tency.
There are two vacancies in the
chairmanships of the three Committees
on Elections. Walter l.. Weaver of
Ohio and William s. Mesick of Mich
igan. passed into the dread hereafter
in the congressional elections of 1900.
Precedent calls for the appointment of
Marlin Z. Ornsted. of Pennsylvania.
and OF Ernest w. Roberts of Massa-
chusetts. as their successors. Assign
lnents 10 these committees, however,
are not particularly desirable. They
are regarded as a sort of Congressional
Botany Bay. In the old days. before
the single committee was split by
Thomas 3. Reed, the chairman was Sc
lected from among the brightest men
IN the House. Inc seat OF speaker Gar
Isle was contested in the Fiftieth Con-
E gress by George H. Thobe, a labor
candidate. There was a strong impress
sion that Thobe was entitled to It. 1t
was alleged that on election day he
went on a still hunt ami caught the
mountain friends of John G. mapping.
Supposing there was no question OF the
return of their favorite they did not
take the trouble to vote and disaster
followed. Mr.. Carlisle, however. re-
ceived the certificate and was re-elect-
cd Speaker. As his seat was contested,
he refused to appoint the committee TO
which the reference would be made.
Each political party chose its members
in caucus. The Democrats named
Charles F. Crisp for chairman. He sac
rifced the craftsmanship of the Com
mittee on Pacific Railroads in obedi-
enoe TO the request of his party. II was
thought at the time that he had made
a great mistake. but in the END IL made
him a recognized leader and elevated
him to the speakership. Thobe made
an eloquent appeal in his own behalf.
but Carlisles title was confirmed after
a four days fight. The Republicans
refused to vote, thus leaving the House
without a quorum.
There is also vacancy TO MI in the
Committee on Pacific Railroads. Its
chairman for the last six years. Judge
Powers, failed 10 return to the Cap
itOl William u Ehaftuc of Cincin-