Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-17
CAPITAL CHAT.
The ''Westernizing" Process
in the National House.
All but Few important Committee
Chairmanships Held by Westerners.
Congress Is Anxiously Watching the
Venezuelan MIDDLE.

Washington. d. c.. Dec. 16.-(Spec-
| iaD.-The 'westernizing" of the House
| OF Representatives has proceeded more
rapidly in the last decade Of Republic
can administration than very many
people are aware of. The change is
very marked at present as compared
| with the period when Mr.. Reed. re-
presenting the Portland district in
Congress. began to WELD the gavel.
The West has increased its influence
tremendously in the popular legisla-
tive branch and that influence is still
increasing and probably will not reach
a stationary period for several de-
cades to come.
1t has been common talk in the last
month and Il half about keeping the
Speakership in the West. which was
one of the factors that enabled I'm
Gle Joe" Cannon to win easily, al
though his calling AMI election were re-
garded as sure from the start by men
who had familiarity with House poll
ties. But the chairmanships of the
House. places Of influence on the House
organization and In the legislation.
have been steadily going farther and
farther west. In that connection call to
mind the successors of the former
Maine representatives in House chair
manships. Capt. Boutelle was sue
ceeded by Mr.. Foss Of Chicago: Mr..
Milliken. ds chairman OF the public
buildings and grounds, was succeeded
by Mr.. Mercer of Omaha: Mr.. Dingley
was succeeded as chairman Of the
committee on ways and means by Mr..
Payne of New York, and Maine and
New England lost one good place on
that committee; Mr.. Reed was sue
ceeded as Speaker and as chairman
of the committee on rules by Gen.
Henderson. Three Of the places went
to Republicans living in the Mississippi
valley or westward thereof.
The great chairmanships of the
House do not change often, unless
there be some change Of administration
in the House. but there are recent in
cidents which illustrate the same ten
dency. Mr.. Ray of New York. as
chairman of the Judiciary. one of the
very desirable committees OF the
House. where numerous Speakers have
received their early Congressional train
ing. has been succeeded by Mr.. Jenkins
rof Wisconsin. New York state was
pONcI III Tic HititteI VI tudiIIIlstilSIllpS
when the late Mr.. Reed fiourished but
there are now left only two of inn
portance-Mr. Payne and Mr.. Sherman,
who is chairman of Indian affairs. The
craftsmanship of appropriations will be
vacated in the next Congress by Mr..
Cannon. It will go to an Indiana man.
Mr.. Hemenway. The rivers and har-
bors Craftsmanship was long held by a
Western New York Man. Three or
four years ago it went to Mr.. Burton
of Cleveland. When the craftsmanship
of merchant marine and fisheries was
vacated by Mr.. Payne, soon after the
death Of Mr.. Dingley. it was filled by
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio. the present
-encumbent. At present nearly all the
important committee chairmanships.
except the two or three instances al
ready noted are filled by Republicans
in the Mississippi valley.
There is one reason. beyond that of
the great development of Republican
majorities in that section, which is re-
sponsible for this growth OF the West
in legislative influences. Years ago
few states followed the practice OF
Maine and other New England states
of keeping their men in office. That
practice. however. has steadily ex-
tended westward and districts insist
ing on rotation are rapidly becoming
the exceptions. Within the next 10
years it will probably well nigh dis
appear. Therein one of the advant-
ages. which Maine and New England
had to dominate in legislation is rapid
ly disappearing and will not much
longer he factor. provided men OF
good abilities can be prevailed upon to
go to Congress from Western states
quite as much as they can from the
East.
Still another disadvantage. constantly
growing greater and greater for the East
ern states, is the shifting of population
westward. The fight Maine had to retain
four members of the House In still vivid
ly in the minds Of many people Of the
Pine Tree State. a lesser fight was had
10 years before that but there is no es-
Gaping the handwriting on the wall.
watch Is that probably after 10 years
more. POSSIBLY after % years. Maine will
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