The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11

that he wanted something to do. Cannon
often remarks that Hemenway said on that
occasion: Il did not come here to ornament
the House. / want work 10 do" That re-
mark impressed the plain, hard working
man from Illinois and from that day
Hemenway rapidly advanced on the COM
mittee. Since Mr. Moody retired from Con-
gress he has been the chief assistant of
Chairman Cannon, relieving him of much
of the drudgery that necessarily goes with
the work of the committee. Hemenway has
come TO feel that it is necessary to refuse
further honors. Mr.. Cannon said to him
three months ago that he intended to make
and the spokesman of that committee on
the floor of the House. But Hemenway
does not want the place: Mr.. Cannon still
insists that he shall take it. but the final
decision need not be reached until the two
meet here In November
A RAPID ADVANCEMENT.
Few men have risen in Congress so rap
idly 1t is the duty of the chairman of the
committee on appropriations to know where
all the money goes, and why it goes. He
did not go to the front through brilliancy or
speech but rather by impressing his per-
sonality on his associates in the House and
on the committee, chiefly in an apparent
determination to master the details of the
business that came before him. He did not
ask for the craftsmanship of the committee.
After Mr.. Cannon, as a candidate for the
speakership, had secured pledges from rep
resentatives of several Western States he
came to Washington by invitation to attend
q dinner of the Pennsylvania representa-
tives. After the cigars had been passed the
PennsyIvanians preached the speakership,
and in the end announced that II Cannon
would appoint Representative Henry III.
Bingham, of Pennsylvania, the ranking
member of the appropriations committee,
to be its chairman, the delegation would
support the Illinois man for speaker.
Gentlemen" said Cannon, IF am
elected speaker | shall appoint Hemenway,
of Indiana, chairman of that committee. L
need him. He's worker" The Pennsyl-
vania delegation acquiesced in the plans OF
the prospective speaker. They understood
the wisdom of the preference. however
strong their desire to compliment one of
their own delegation, and the father of
the House at that.
This is the second time i'm recent years
that southern Indiana has been honored
with the craftsmanship of the appropriat atoms
committee William 5. Holman, who be-
came known the country over as the watch
dog of the treasury. was chairman of the
committee i'm the F'ifty-second Congress.
He was guarding the finances of the govern
ment when Hemenway entering state
politics at home. Holman was thus known
long before he served the committee as
chairman. When some one asked him once
in what respect he resembled a watchdog
bark at my friends
Hemenway, in his capacity as purse
string nOluer, VIII display many OF the quail
tiles of Cannon, under whom. he has re-
ceived his training. That means close scru-
tiny of efforts To get money out OF the
treasury-and in these days OF unrivalied
prosperity the schemes To get at the treas
ury surplus are legion. He is already in the
habit of saying, Cant you make IL less?'
and Ii may be that in time he will have ac-
quired the reputation OF William $ Holman.
of whom this story is still told in the rooms
of the committee on appropriations:
While Holman was chairman OF the COM
mittee il became Incumbent on the COM
mittee TO buy wedding present for the
daughter of one OF the members The
affair was discussed in committee one day
during the absence of the chairman, and an
ARRANGEMENT reached whereby each one
! WAS 10 contribute $40. n gentleman OF ma g