Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-24
THRICE WELCOMED
CANNON'S RETICENCE
SAYING NOTHING ABOUT COM
MITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS.
Men Will BE Selected Who Can Be De-
pended on to Garry Out the New
Speakers Policies.

Every time Representative Cannon comes
to town there is an effort on the part OF
many curious and interested politicians TO
discover If possible, whether the coming
sneaker has made up his mind in regard
to committee assignments, and If he has to
learn his intentions. To all such tnqulrers
s.UncIe joe gives a knowing look or a
shrug of his shoulders, with some kind ad-
vice, usually beginning with now, my
boy" and adding that the time to cross
a bridge is when the bridge is reached ana
not before
This is what happened during Mr.. can
mons latest visit here. If Uncle joe
would omen his heart to the curious amt
tell lust what he is thinking about as 10
the distribution of chairmanships and other
desirable committee places he would create
a sensation that would be apt to thrill
through a very large number of the mem
bers of the Fifty eighth Congress.
Has Maintained Silence.
Rut his closest friends assert that he mas
never divulged single thought that might
be interpreted as meaning who Will pe Sc
lected for choice places or what his generai
policy in making assignments Will De.
When Speaker Reed first assumed controi
of the House of Representatives ne eNer-
cised a great deal of liberty In making com
mittee assignments In accordance win VII itis =
ideas as to the propriety of designating TO
certain places the men he selected Prece-
dent counted only when in his judgment the
best man, or the one for all reasons conslo-
ered happened to be In line OF pre1erIneht I.
After Mr. Reed had once made committee
assignments he followed to very large ex-
tent matters of precedent In other house re-
ORGANIZATIONS Then as a rule lengtn OF
service and positions on committees counted
for a great DEAL
To Garry Out Policies.
Tn the case of Mr. Cannon 1t Is expected
NV those who know him best that he Will
to a considerable extent ignore the present
standing of members on committees. IL
will be a matter of securing certain WORK
done. He will need men on whom depend
ence can be placed in the carrying out OF
policies approved by him in a general way,
and also men who are both by their phys
ical endurance and inclination, likely to DO
the large amount of work that devolves
upon chairman, especially or the I'M
portant committees OF the House.
This will be particularly importan!
question in respect to the committee on ap-
propriations. General Bingham is the
ranking republican member OF that COM
mittee, and next to him is Mr.. Hemen- !.
way, There are some republicans who think
that there will be a good deal of discus.
sion over the relative claims OF these Two
members of the committee. 1t Will De
claimed that as Mr.. Cannon was chair
man, representing the state of Illinois, Mr.
Hemenway being from Indiana, should
have precedence over General Bingham.
who is from Pennsylvania. But geograph-
zeal claims of that kind will not count for
much. as service on committees is regarded
as far more potent than any other qualifi-
cation ability and disposition to do the
work being equal.
Many Doubtful Cases.
So all through the list there will be
doubtful cases that are likely to create a
good deal of feeling on the part of men
who find their claims of priority of service
turned down. OF course, Mr.. Payne, in
the capacity Of leader of the House, will
have a great deal of influence in an ad-
visory way about the makeup of the COM
mittees But Mr.. Payne, when this mat
ter has been discussed by his friends. has
maintained the same Sphynx-like silence
that has characterized Mr.. Cannon.
It is not expected that anything more
than speculation Of a very general oharac-
ter can be indulged in by those who are
anxious to know the makeup of House
committees until after Mr. Cannon is ac-
tually elected Speaker and takes up the
reins of Office. Before that time, If Mr..
Cannon has any program mapped out, he is
not likely to confide 1t to any one.