The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

deavir' of the Republican party, and one
that the poole Of the South must watch.
Judge Crumpacker never dwells on the
unpleasantness of the sixties. He Is on
tors and representatives. He Is mild
hammered man. 1t is not his purpose to
excite strife between the States. But he
has ideas on the subject of representation In
Congress He believes it should be based
upon the actual voting population. When
discussing the subject in the House he asks
blandly why the Democrats should get ex-
cited when the subject Is mentioned Does
the shoe fit In the SOuth?" he remarks. III
so. let us look into the matter. What's the
harm? If the South has not DISTINGUISHED
any of her citizens, why should it object
to an inquiry proposed solely to ascertain
conditions as they really exist. Why does
the North not fly into rage when the ques-
ton of representation in Congress is sug-
gested?"
Judge Crumpacker Is chairman Of the
committee on census of the House OF Repre-
sentatives. He was placed at the head or
that committee for purpose. Political ex-
pediency will prevent an investigation or
election conditions in the South prior to the
campaign OF 1904. But the administration be-
heves the suffrage evil should be inyesti-
gated. 1t is a well-known fact that thou
sands Of negroes in the South are deprived
is one of the most consistent advocates OF
action on this question in Congress. He
asserts the problem should be taken up at
once. but realizes that the party leaders
VIII not permit 1t to be agitated at this
time. Speaker Cannon had his eye on the
future when he assigned Representative
Crumpacker to the Craftsmanship OF census,
which will have jurisdiction over any meas
ures that may be considered in this connec-
ton. He knew that the Indiana man could
be relied upon TO fight the matter out TO
the bitter end.
Judge Crumpacker is descended from
Dutch ancestry. He possesses all of the
attributes of those sturdy people. His In
| dependence is not always agreeable to party
leaders. He talks right out In meeting.
At party caucuses he hits straight from
| the shoulder. but he does not preak with
| the organization when it is arrayed against
| the enemy.
The craftsmanship of census has not been
as important in the past as ii promises to be
| in the future. 1t has usually been tenn
porary organization. The creation of the
census into permanent bureau. and ques-
| lions relating to commercial and trade sta
| tistics will bring Judge Crumr acker's COM
mittee prominently before the House dur
| ing the current Congress.
AS chairman of the committee on post
offices Representative Jesse Overstreet, of
| Indianapolis. has made himself popular
| with his colleagues. The deliberations of
the House committee on postoffices and the
! performances of its former chairman con-
tributed greatly to the hilarity of the ma
tional lawmakers in the Fifty-fifth, Fifty
sixth and F'ifty-seventh Congresses. Mr..
| Loud, of California. was the immediate
| predecessor of Mr.. Overstreet at the head
| of the postoffice committee Mr.. Loud Is an
| irascible gentleman, intensely egotistical,
and was inclined at all times to monopo-
| lie the work of his committee. In fact,
| Mr.. Loud was the committee on postoffices
| and post roads. He tried for many years
| TO pass bill relating TO second-class mail
matter, but the fact that he was its ad-
| vocate prejudiced the measure in Con-
| gress. Mr.. Overstreets methods are the re-
| verse of those of Mr.. Loud Mr.. Overstreet
has taken the committee into his conf
| dence He wants TO work with his asso-
ciateS and not apart from them.
|
There are two or three committees In the
House which control more or less patron
age. One of them is the committee on
printing, of which Representative Charles
B. Lands is chairman. AS the head of this
committee Mr. Lands divides with Thomas
4 c. Plat, OF New York, chairman of the
corresponding committee in the Senate. au-
thority over the Government Printing ONCE
| which occupies more floor space, turns out
more printed matter, employs more men
and women, and is operated at a greater
proportionate expense than any like insti-
| tuition, private or public, In the world.
| There has just been completed for the &C.
| cupancy OF this institution building
| which cost about one million dollars. Prob
| ably another million was expended to equip
| It 1t costs the government millions year
| to maintain 1t. Modern methods and ma
1 chinery have not yet found their way into
the Government Printing Once.
| Two vexatous questions will confront
! Mr.. Lands at the head of the committee on
! printing. In the first place the fact will
| soon become known In Indiana that he is q
| dispenser of patronage. In the second place
| q strong movement has been inaugurated
| to put typesetting machines in the Govern
| ment Printing Office. Such a proposition
| has been advocated before. 1t has invaria-
bly, been fought by the labor unions. Rep
| into the controversy. He has not yet given
much consideration TO the question. He
| is studying it, and when the time comes
| will have something to say in this connec-
| ton.
Representative Lands is numbered among
| the orators in the House. His style is
peculiarly his own. His speech on the Rob
| erts question was one of the Wittiest that
| has been heard here in recent years. Tht
| Indiana man was on delicate ground, but
not one word was uttered during the tive
| hours he occupied the floor that gave of.
Tense to any one. That one speech gave
| Mr.. Lands reputation. and since then he
has been in demand as a public talker al
| over the United States.
| 1t will thus be noted that Indiana, with
four important chairmanships and represen
tation on all the important committees Of
| the lower branch OF Congress
JOHN e. MONK.