The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-08

man of the Committee on Immigra-
ton and Naturaliza ton. Possibly. but
not probably, he would prefer the old
place to the new.
The Committee on Patents presents
another opening. The chairman OF last
year Winfield s. Kerr of Ohio has re-
tired from public life. Walter Reeves
of Illinois is next on the list. There
is certainly no reason why he should
be jumped by those below him. A man
of weight and influence in the House,
he came very near being the Republi-
can candidate for Governor of Illinois
not long ago. Reeves is trim in ply
sique and attire and difident in man.
ner. He is long and we'll knit and has
light hair and complexion. Although
slow in movement there is every in
dication that he will reach the United
States Senate before either Joe Can
non or Albert J. Hopkins. This is his
fourth term in Congress. and in age,
appearance. and experience he is wen
fitted for advancement.
Another vacancy worthy of the atten-
ton of Gen. Henderson is found in the
Committee on Manufactures. George
". Faris of Indiana, its late chairman,
has disappeared in the smoke of battle
and has beeen followed by William b.
Baker of Maryland, and Joseph Z.
Thropp of Pennsylvania, the next in
line. This leaves an opening for John
K. Stewart of New York. He has own
ed knitting and paper mills and is now
the sole proprietor of hosiery mill.
He is also a director in bank and a
gas company, and was one of the orig
inal sewer commissioners of the city OF
Amsterdam. With such qualifications
there can be little doubt of his appoint
ment. Twelve years ago this commit
tee was a prominent feature of the
House. OF late years it has fallen off
in Importance, and now presents very
little business for consideration. Stew
art is forty-siX years old. He is just
beginning his second term in Congress,
but this will hardly handicap him in
the eyes of the Speaker.
And now, facile and silent, Burleigh
slides TO the front Although only four
years a Congressman, the door of The
Committee on Militia is yawning to re-
ceive him as chairman. That unique
figure from Illinois, Gen. Benjamin F.
Marsh, has retired. leaving a vacancy
not only in the committee, but in the
House His voice will be missed by
his old associates. 1t was used on the
slightest provocation. To hear him In
the throes of discussion was like hear
ing the subdued roaring of lion while
crushing the bones of fresh quarry.
Having spent seven terms in the House
he always seemed to feel as though ne
was on his native heath. Burleigh Is
far different. He is as smooth as the
oil from the jaw of a porpoise and
equally as soothing. Representing the
old Augusta district in Maine, he has
all the political acumen of a. James u.
Blaine Like Blaine, he dabbles In
Journalism, but he lacks Blaines e&-
uberance of temperament and Volubillty
OF speech. Fifty-eight years old, he
carries weight for age. Three years
governor of his native state, he is said
to be about the slickest statesman
evolved down East for many year.
You may be sure he is destined for
higher honors.
The most intricate of Speaker Hen
dersons work is to dovetail the new
members into acceptable places. Nearly
all are looking for perches on promi-
nent committees. Old representatives
are burdened with appeals to use their
infience with the speaker to aid them.
They are waylaid at every turn, ana
Henderson himself is dogged night AND
day. Some cast longing eyes upon the
vacancies. Every possible wire in the
political subway is being pulled to Sc
cure them Two Republicans and one
Democrat oozed from this committee
into private life at the last election.
Rarely do new birds attain such lofty
perches. Yet there is one remarkable
exception. William j. Bryan flew to
Washington from the prairies of Ne
braska in 1891 and folded his wings
4, s,. nd
was shrewd political play. He voted for
Crisp at a critical period in the fight
for the speakership and was not forgot
ten. There are no such exigencies to-
day, and adventurous fowls Will I'M
doubtedly be compelled to settle on
lower limbs The older birds invaria-
bly, assert what they claim to be their
rights. and they usually secure them.
In the last Congress the states
south of Mason and Dixon's line re-
ceived only two chairmanships out of
sixty-fve. In the Fifty-fifth Tom Reed
allowed them three. and in the Fifty
fourth the same number. There are sad
signs in the minority for the days of
yore.
AS for committee assignments in the
Senate, the Vice President is power
less. The committees are formulated in
caucus. The minority are allotted
fair percentage and select their own
men. Precedent rules. Senators climb
to power according to their rank in
committee. The President would un-
doubtedly be pleased to have Henry
Cabot Lodge the successor of the late
Cushman Is. Davis as chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, but
Senator Cullom precedes him on the
committee and that settles 1t. Prece-
dent wins. Amos ]. Cummings.
Copyright, 1901. by Amos ]. Cum
mings.)
QUEER WILLS OF THE RICH.