The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-09
INDIANA MEMBERS IN THE NEW
CONGRESS-

CONGRESS.
Washington dispatches indicate that the
Indiana delegation in Congress. at least
the Republican members of it. are likely to
be much i'm evidence in the organization of
the House committees. AS the business of
the House is all practically done and its
records made through committees, their
formation Is a matter of Importance to the
country and prominent committee assign
ments testify the speakers recognition of
able and deserving members. 1t should
therefore be gratifying to citizens of In
diana that the Republican members of the
delegation being selected for important
positions. The most important of these
will go to Representative Hemenway, of the
First district, who will be chairman of the
committee appropriations and Repub-
lican leader on the floor of the House. 1t
has been understood ever since Mr.. Cannon
was slated for speaker that Mr.. Hemenway
was his choice for chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations, and his appoint
ment is as good as made. 1t will be a
deserved recognition of his ability and pub
lie service and his excellent work as a
member of the committee. 1t will make
him, next to the speaker, the most promi-
nent member of the House and will enable
him to be of distinct service to the State.
The next most important assignment,
which seems to be practically assured, is
that OF Representative Overstreet to the
craftsmanship Of the committee on post
offices and post roads. This is an assign
ment much sought after on account of the
prominence and influence 1t carries with it.
A popularity Of Mr.. Overstreet's appoint
ment will be that he has not been a MEM
Der OF the committee, his last assignments
being on the judiciary, the banking and
currency and the expenditures in the De-
partment Of Justice committees. His trans
fer from either of these committees to the
Craftsmanship Of the postoffice and post
roads committee will be very marked
recognition of his fitness for the position,
and the dispatches say 1t will be cordially
approved by the House.
Representative Watson. who in the last
Congress. was a member of the naval
affairs. the militia and the private land
claims committees, is to become a member
of the ways and means committee. This
will be a promotion for Mr.. Watson which
he has fairly earned. Representative
Crumpacker is not seeking any change from
his last assignments, which were on the
committee on insular affairs. and the select
committee on census, and will probably OBJ
tain his wish of being continued on them
Representative Cromer has, it is said
made but one request, and that is that he
be continued on the committee on post
offices and postroads, though he will prob.
ably get some additional assignment.
Representative Holiday was on the COM
mittees invalid pensions and of wal
claims in the last Congress, and would bt
satisfied to receive the same assignments
The two Lands brothers will be assigned
according to their merits, though the
younger one, Frederick, being a new mem
! Der, must expect to take a back seat al
first. In the last Congress Charles B. was
on the committees on foreign affairs and or
| Pacific railroads
The two most important assignments will
be those of Messrs. Hemenway and Over
street, though some Of the others will bt
| a distinct recognition of the merits of tn,
members This recognition will be mainly
due to the fact that the continuous servic,
of the members has brought them to tn,
| front and enabled them to make a record
1t shows the wisdom of keeping good mel
in Congress. This was illustrated also il
! the case of Hon. George w. Steele, who, IL
the last Congress. was chairman of tn
committee on manufactures and a membe
of the ways and means committee. Thi
! was after serving eight terms. Mr.. Hem
enway is now serving his fifth term, Mr.
Overstreet his fifth, Mr.. Watson his fourth
Mr. Crumpacker his fourth. Mr.. Cromer hi
third, Mr.. c.. b. Lands his fourth and Mr.
| Holiday his second. Important com
mittee assignments generally go according
to length of service and demonstrated abil
ity for hard work. When the new com
mittees are announced 1t will probably b
found that no State has Jared better in pro
portion to its membership than Indiana.