Arizona republican., 1903-11-16
Senator Hanna, Canal Chairman.

After long dcllf eratiOn the repuD- licau members of the United States senate have decided that Senator Morgan of Alabama shall relinquish ,he chairmanship of the committee on Interoceanic canals. This conclusion was reached !n caucus. and il was also decided Co give this powerful chair manship Co Senator Hanna.
 T. may be a week or two before the formal change is made. however. Senatorial courtesy requires that care ful consideration be given 10 the feel 'ugs Of Senator Morgan The dis patches state that to Senator Allison has been assigned the delicate task Of corferring with Senator Morgan end with Senator German. chairman Of the democratic caucus. and inform ing them Of the republican decision. and it may be taken for granted that Senator AIlison's tact will be equal to the occasion.
 To many of The Republicans read CTS it may seem strange. perhaps. that the senate with an overwhelming re- publican majority. should have per mitted democratic senator to retain such mn important chairmanship so long. It is all explained by senator ial courtesy" lt Is the custom in the senate for the party in power to per init the leaders on the other side ro have a few chairmanships. In all other legislative bodies in tnis country the doctrine that to the viCtors belong the spolls admits Of no exceptions. but it Is different in the United States senate. Thus. last spring. when the Fifty-seNeuth congress came tp a close. some nf the most desirable chnirmdrships were held by democrats.
 In addition to Senator Morgan's chairnauship of the canal committee, Senator CocLgel of Missouri was chair man of the committee on engrossed bills
 Senator Teller of Colorado was chairman of tte committee on private land claims.
 Senator Vest of Missouri was chair man of the committee on public health ana utllOidl lEdIdIliue.
 Senator Bate of Tennessee. was chairman Of the committee on the five civilized tribes of Indians.
 Senator Daniel Of Virginia was chairman Of the committee on trans portation and sale of meat products.
 The chairmanships held by Cockren and Morgan were the most important Of course. bot the others carry such advantages as choice committee room for the private office of the sena- tor. clerks messengers, ard so forth, who are at his personal service. These courtesies gO to senators of the op posite party because of long service and age. and it Is a custom with which the most rabid partisan can find no fault.
 And, although the canal committee has become one of the most prominent in the senate. there is little doubt that Senator Morgan would have held it un- til the end of his service in the senat1 had he not shown such a marked hos tility to the Panama canal The re- publican caucus decided that the pub lie interests ought to be considered be fore questions of courtesy, and it be- l ing the unanimous view on the repub- | lican side that the chairman of the | canal committee should be in harmony with the administration. it was decid- ed that tine time had come for placing | a republican ir charge.
 The selection or Senator Hanna as chairman of the canal committee is l mark of the senate's distinguished | confidence in the great Ohio senator. | By right Of seniority other senators or | the republican side could have claimed | the tempting homer of this chairman ship, but all of them stood aside for the | senator from Ohio. A great respon- sbility falls to Senator Hanna, hut he | will discharge it to the satisfaction of | the entire country-there need be no doubt about that.