Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-20
HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
Five Observation-Disclosures of the
Probable Appointments.

Representative Babcock who is again to
preside over the House committee of the
District of Columbia announced today that
as yet no steps had been taken looking to
"a reorganization of the committee as a
whole. The matter has been allowed to
60 over for the time being because the
program of the House precluded the con-
sderation of anything bur the Cuban re-
ciprocity bill and strictly routine matters.
Committee formation work will occupy the
time of the Speaker while the Senate is
considering reciprocity, for tie House will
meet only every day so to adjourn from
time to time.
There are present five vacancies on the
House District committee, with the proba-
bility that there will be a sixth if one OF
the members is successful in his effort to
be relieved from further duty thereon.
One of the most prominent figures in the
committee personnel of several years past
which will be missing is that of Former
braska. Mr.. Mercer's stirring fight for
reelection and his ultimate defeat by COM
bined forces are political history Mr..
MERGERS District committee work carried
with it the influence of his craftsmanship of
the committee on public buildings and
grounds. and he was tabled to accom-
plish much for the betternent of the cap
ital city. One of Mr. Mercer's last acts
was to secure the passage of the bill CIV
ing to the District "a municipal building
befitting the dignity and resources. of the
community -
Former Representative Asbury c. Latimer
of South Carolina who was last session on
the House District COMMITTEES. has taken his
place in the Senate as one of the represen-
tatiyeS of the pdtmetto state in the upper
body.
The third. vacancy was caused by the de-
feat of Representative SPENCER Blackburn
of North Carolina. and thefourth by the de-
feat of Representative James A. Norton of
Ohio. The fifth vacancy was created by
Representative John a.; Stewart of New
York. who was not a candidate in the con-
gressionaI elections of last fall
Representative w. s. Cowirerd of Mis-
souri, owing to a press of tither matters and
obligations. has expressed his desire to be
relieved from the Distfnf committee, but
whether or not the chairman and the Speak
er will agree with him is Of course problem
atical.
With the exceptions above noted 1t is be-
lieved that the committees will remain the
same as during the Fiftyasevenfh Congress,
the mepbers forming thu majority of the
new committee being:
Joseph w. Babcock of Wisconsin. chair
man; Sydney E Mudd of Maryland. John
of Michigan. Amos l.. Alien of Maine
George a. Pearre. of MARYLAND, James w.
Wadswerth of New York. Edward dev.
Morrell of Pennsylvania Adolph Meyer of
Louisiana. James McAndrssws of Illinois and
Thetus w. Sims of Tennessee. Mr. Harry
w. Barney will continue ais clerk
So far as can be learned at present the
only candidate for membership on the COM
mittee openly in the field Is D. l.. Gooch of
Kentucky.
Despite the fact that tho. District commit
tee has not been organizs,d for the special
session. there have been d large number of
bills affecting the District introduced In the
House through the surviving members Of
the COMMITTEE Most of these bills are those
in which the citizens of the District have
taken the initiative and they win come be-
fore, the COMMITTEES for consideration and
report during the regular session which be-
gins next month. "a