The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-07
John Sharp Williams Recognized
asLeader ofMinority in House
Of Representatives.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETS
There is an Informal Discussion,
But Nothing Definite is
Determined Upon.
Times Dispatch Bureau,
Colorado Building.

Washington, .. c.. Nov. 8.
Representative Hay. Of Virginia, chair.
man Of the Democratic caucus and Rep
resentative Robinson, OF Louisiana. sect
rotary. have called the Democrats OF the.
House to meet In the hall OF the House at
i o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
At that meeting Representative John
Sharp Williams. Of Mississippi, will be
unanimously nominated to receive the
Democratic vote for Speaker thereby con-
stituting him the leader or the minority.
Probably at this NEE ting there will be
some discussion OF politics. but the dispo-s
stion Of leading Democrats IS to post
pone definite action on policies until
later date. Democratic congressional
headquarters, by common consent. is Just
now temporarily established at the Me-
tropolitan Hotel, where Representative
Williams. the acknowledged leader Of the
minority. is stopping.
Mr.. Williams rooms were thronEed
throughout this morning and this aftsr-
noon with Democratic members OF tho
House Democratic plans were discussed
informally In preparation for the caucus
tomorrow. It was announced during the
informal conference OF to-day that thu
caucus had been definitely SGT for to-mor-t
row afternoon at ] o'clock. al
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Loudenslaser. OF New Jersey. sees
rotary Of the Republican caucus, has Is
sued a call for caucus tomorrow night
at = o. clock.
Representative Babcock Is to be pro-
posed as chairman Of the caucus to iii
the vancancy caused by TIL evacuation OF
Mr.. Cannon to the speakership. Mr.. Bah
cocks friends have been urging his So
lection since yesterday. although Mr.. Bah
cock himself did not reach town until late
this afternoon.
There was session Of the Finance
Committee OF tho Senate this morning.
rBenntor Aldrich, OF Rhode Island, and all
the other members of the committee. in-'
\ Guiding Senator Daniel, were present. AZ
tho conclusion OF that session. Senator
sAldrich dictated the following statement
to The Tim es-D Dispatch correspondent:
"The committee considered informally
questions pertaining to the collection and
deposit OF public money. No conclusions
were reached and no other discussions will
be had until after the vacancies In the
committee are filled"
In plain English the foregoing means
the committee discussed the dubject Of
currency legislation.
The vacancies alluded to by Senator
Aldrlch are those caused by the retire
ment Of Senators Vest. Jones Of Arkansas.
and Jones Of Nevada. Hanna, Elkins or.
Perkins will be the Republican appointed
to the committee, and the two Democrats
will proba bly, be- German and Bailey.
Hotels Filling.
Washington hotels are filled with sen-l
ators aud congressman. More than q,
quorum Of each house had arrived last
night. and the mem bers are coming In
by every train to-day. When the Ro-
publican caucus Ia held tomorrow night.
there will be few absentees. and the At
attendance at the Democratic conference
gto-Inorrow afternoon viii be fully as good
The entire Virginia delegation Is now In,
the city.
A feature OF the conversation ono hsars
on every side in tho hotel Hobbies Is the
fine mode OF the calling Of the extra
session. No Democrats and but few Re-
tpublicans think there was any good rea-
son for the assembling of Congress before
the first Monday In December. Hut Mr..
Roosevelt is specially DESTROYS Of having
the Cuban reciprocity treaty ratifad. 1t
will be. The Democrats are understood
to have changed front somewhat on the
treaty. They were not lined up against
1t at the last session, but many OF them
were opposed to It. They did not want
Cuban tobacco and sugar and molasses,
to be admitted TO this country duty free.
but several Of them. Including the Sena-
tors and representatives from louisiana.
are now for the treaty because 1t will
admit our cotton goods into Cuba free
of duty.
But tits understood now that o simple
resolution OF tho Senate will not rat,ty
the treaty in practical effect; bill will
have to pass both houses reducing or
abolshing the duty on articles Of Import
from Cuba mentioned in the treaty.
Ex-Governor Murray Crane. OF Massa-