The Washington times., 1903-12-06
Old Chairmen ReaSSign-
ed to Positions on the
House Committees.
LIVERNASH SET ASIDE
Conspicuous Absence of
MarylanderS on District
Committee.

The House viii begin business tomor-
row, the first day of the regular ses-
sion. with a fun list of committees,
something which is unusual The an
nounceyaent of these committees was
made yesterday.
The assignments are based largely
upon the committee list of the last
Congress, with few changes other than
those made necessary TO provide places
Tor new members and TO nn vacancies
caused ~ the retirement OF old mem
bers Practically all of the members
Of the present House who had chair
mansnips in the F'ifty~seventh Congress
have been reassigned TO their same posi-
tons IN the Fifty-eighth Congress, and
amons4 the older members the changes
from one committee TO another are few.
Surprises Are Few.
There were few surprises and perhaps
less than the usual amount OF disap-
pointnent and ''cussing." The Repub-
ncans. whether they are saiehed or not.
are Obliged 10 appear so, but in fact
nearly all OF them are The Democrats
can protect. but II viii afford them no
comfort 10 do so Individually. the
DEMOCRATS are obliged to be content.
since Speaker Cannon was more uborai
than most Speakers when he called Mr.
Williams, the minority leader. into con-
sultation and asked him tn make recon-
mendations Of Democrats for places on
committees.
Not al Of his recommendations were
adopted by the Speaker. but a majority
Of them were, and, accordingly, If the
Democ rats Protest against their assign
-
pursued by their own leader. TO a large
extent
Mr. De Almonds Complaint.
The grievance which the Democrats
have. as ssoiced yesterday on the floor
b. mr.. DE Arnond. VINO assumed the
minority leadership in the absence Of
ar. Williams. is the usual minority
grievance. That Is. that not enough
places have been accorded 10 the
DEMOCRATS. Mr.. De Almond pointed
out that there are sixteen important
committees Of the House, each COM
prised II seventeen membors, whereon
The minority representation is not pro-
porsioFate with its numbers in the
House. On these committees the Re
publicans have eleven members and
the Democrats but six TIE Republican
majority IN the EzOuse IS only twenty
six.
Mr. De Almond protested -tgainst this
arrangement as unjust and unfair, and
arraigned the Speaker for rs course IN
this resH ct. lie o1TeF5d a resolution
10 the tdIa'ct that the Democrats be ac-
corded one additional member on each
OF these sixteen commit ses.
Defended the Speaker.
Mr. Payne replied defending the
Speaker and maintaining that the Re
publican majority Was responsible 10
the country for legislation. and there
fore IL was necessary that they not /
only have majority on the commit |
tees, but Furthermore a good working 1
majority. he thought the minority rep
resolution was fair, and compared 1t !
with The representation accorded the /
minority in former Congresses. both I
Democratic and Republican. he char /
acterized AIr. De Almonds complaint as 1
a case of scolding.
The man on the Republican side whose
feelings are perhaps most injured by the 4
committee assignments is Representa-
tive Hiu OF Connecticut. lie was left
OF the Committee on Banking and
Currency. on which he served for eight
years. ana where ne has taken a deep
Interest in currency legislation, and has
already this session introduced an i'm
portant currency bill intended to relieve
the money situation. he is made mem
her OF the Committee on Expenditures
IN the Treasury. a body which never
meets. and has no business 10 transact
although he holds his important place
on the ways and Means Committee Mr. !
Fowler. chairman Of the Committee on
Banking aI.d Currency, fs also somewhat
chagrined by the loss Of Mr. tiill. whose
views OF currency questions coincide
largely with his own
Hemenway Advanced.
Dir. Hemenway Of Indiana, succeeds
Mr. Cannon as chairman Of the Com
Inittee on Appropriations. going over the
head Of Representative Bingham Of
Pennsy ania although this was done
with the fun consent and approval Of
Mr.. Bingham, who did not want to ac-
cept the responsibility Iowa this session
gets a member OF this committee in the
person Of Mr.. Smith Of that State.
The Committee on Postofices and Post
Roads. which is likely 20 be an impor-
tant one this session, is somewhat re-
organized. with Mr.. Overstreet of Iu-l
diana its chairman. Ia order to get
this chgirmanship. Mr. Overstreet was
also cut from the Committee on Bank \
ing and Currency. but this is entirely
satisfactory 70 him. The Committee on
Labor IS also Overhauled somewhat
Mr.. Hearst OF New York who is con-
spicuous as labor's candidate for the
Democrats nomination for President.
made an effort 20 gef on this com
mittee ara succeeded,l Air. Livernasn
and Mr. Wynn unloI5 labor partisans.
Of san francisco. we not placed upon
this committee.
The District CcmT ittee is one which
should give entire 8 stisfaction- IL con
lCoutinued On Fifth Page)