New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-02
CANNON'S COMMITTEES.
Probable Changes Among Chairmen
Interest IN Filling Vacancies.

IRON The TRIBUNE BUREAuI
Washington, Nov. with the exception of
the committees on Ways and Means on Mileage.
on Accounts and possibly that Rules. the
membership of the House committees for the
LvIIIth Congress will hardly be announced be
fore the Thanksgiving recess. Vacancies exist
in many desirable chairmanshps and intense
interest is manifested in the selections to be
made With politics supposed to be the chief
legislative contention during the next session.
and with the minority bent making issues
out of the Investigations which the admins
tration has been conducting into the affairs of
several executive departments Speaker Can
non will without doubt, bestow great thought
on the makeup of the particular committees
which have jurisdiction over the subjects inves-
tigated. The Committee on Postoff1ces and
Post Roads calls for careful consideration: the
committee i'm charge of Indian affairs is to be
bereft of IT'S chairman. II rumor is correct that
Representative Sherman, of New York, has de
cided TO de"ote the major portion of his time
to q New-Iork company and will resign the
Craftsmanship that he may the better do SO. In
this case. Representative Curtis, Of Kansas.
who has Indian blood coursing through his
veins, will in the order of precedence fall heir
to the craftsmanship Nj Curtis has been in
the Indian Territory recently. informing him
self for the winters fray The Public Lands
Lacey. Of Iowa. is sure to be one of the storm
centres Of the session. Mr.. Lacey. however, is
an old and experienced legislator and is be
lieved TO have the subject of public lands we'll
in hand He will be looked TO. with the aid
perhaps. of little blood Of the right kind
70 strengthen his committee. 70 take care Of
any situation which may be put up to him.
By the elevation Of Representative Cannon to
the Speakership, the House Committee on APP
preparations not only loses efficient chair
man, but it will be deprived Of the services Of
a skilled debater and an astute parliamentarian
who has been uniformly successful in securing
the legislation desired by his committee Rep
rasentative James A Hemenway, Of Indiana.
who is slated for the craftsmanship. held
third place on the committee during the last
Congress, being ranked by General Bingham.
the father Of -he House" The latter. however.
believing the needs Of his Philadelphia con
tituents demand all of his energies. declines to
avail himself Of this order of precedence and
is unwilling TO assume the added responsible
ties Of so important craftsmanship. Mr. Hem
enway is serving his fifth term in Congress and
is stanch advocate Of economy in govern
ment appropriations lie mas a well earned
reputation for hard. conscientious work in COM
nlittee. handles himself we'll the floor and
commands the confidence and respect Of his
party associates and the opposition as Well
Other than this the personnel of this commit
tee will remain practically intact.
Ways and Means will again be headed by
Serene E Payne, o. New-York, and its chairman
ship carries with it the leadership of the House
Hopkins of Illinois: Long, of Kansas, and New
lands, OF Nevada, all members of the commit
tee during the LVIIth Congress have been pro
NOTED to the Senate and a lively competition
has developed for their desirable assignments
Great pressure has been brought to bear OH Mr.
Cannon by the friends OF the various candi-
dates to gain for them the coveted honOrs
Richardson. of Tennessee, another member of
the committee and the House minority leader
has announced his intention of resigning his
seat III Congress and Mcclellan. of New-YOrk
another Democratic member Of Ways and
Means. is candidate for Mayor of greater
New York
be made on the reappontment of John J. Jen-
kins chairman of the judiciary Committee.
While his legal attachments are appreciated by
his colleagues his influence has been weakened
by his open advocacy Of government owner
ship during the recent coal strike controversy.
Parker of NeW-Jersey now second on the com
mittee desires the position. In view OF the
fact that all House antitrust legislation or
iginates here 1t is highly important that a safe
conservative man be appointed chairman. Lit
tlefeld, of Maine, has been eliminated as a
chairmanship possibility. but Ovcrstreet, of In
diana, and Warner, of Illinois, will contest with
Parker for the honor. in the event of the retire
ment of Judge Jenkins.
Eugene F: Loud was defeated for reelection
TO the LNIIIth Congress, insuring a vacancy
a the head of the Committee on PostoffiCes
and Post Roads. General Ketcham Of New
York, is the ranking Republican member and
next in line Of succession, but il Is understood
that the condition OF his health will cause him
TO waive that advantage. There will be a
spirited contest for this chairmanship. and il
is not at all positive that Mr. Cannon will make
his selection from the present membership The
Postoftlca scandals and the possibility of a
Congressional investigation give TO this COM
mittee an Importance il has not hitherto
Joyed- In his selection Mr.. Cannon viii be
guided by the qualifications of the man rather
than the influence Of the politician.
The fact that a statehood bill will again be
introduced at a comparatively early date makes
the selection OF the Chairman Of the Committee
on territories which reported favorably on the
admission or the Territories in the LNIIth Con-
Knox. its late chairman will not be a member
or the next House Hamilton Of Michigan, the
ranking kepuDlcdn member. who has served IN
the House continuously since the LNth Con-
ereSs Is IN the lead for the honor. though the
names Of Brick, of Indiana, and Cushman Of
Washington, are also under consideration.
Charles ". Gillett Of New York, is bly,
regarded for the craftsmanship of the Com
mlttee on Public Buildings and Grounds, which
position Mercer. o. Nebraska, relinquishes. be-
or Importance and requires a man of iron Will
TO Withstand the opportunities of Congressman
interested In the erection Of new buildings or
the extension of old ones in their districts.
Considerable opposition IS manifested toward
continuing Charles ". Fowler as chairman of
the incoming Speaker has given no intimaton of
his intentions in this direction. In view Of Mr.
Fowler's long service and his prominence in
financial legislation, IL is thought that Mr. Can
non may deem II unwise TO displace him--at
least for the present. II is doubtful If there
viii be any material changes in the chairman
ships Of other important committees. for those
now serving IN those positions are men Il long
experience capable and conservative and are
Known - possess the confidence OF the next
kar