The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-05

Beyond doubt the two men In Indiana who
have a full assortment of troubles and
perplexities are the two who are charged
with the responsibility of making up the
committees of the Senate and House. Many
men who are elected to the Legislature
seem to think that their standing and in
iuence in that body depends largely upon
the positions they occupy on the respective
committees. There is also quite general
impression that members OF committees can
exert greater influence to secure the pas
sage OF bills than 1T is possible for those
to have who are not Consequently, it is
natural that members desire places on what
they regard as the more important COM
mittees. 1t is doubtful if the records of
Legislatures will show that the more i'm
portant legislation is so much Influenced
by committees as is generally assumed. 1t
depends largely upon the man or the men,
The action of a leading committee upon
some measure may be such as to discredit it
for the session, and the bills of that COM
mittee may be regarded as good measures
to kill" The members of legislative body
worth as men. and any accidental advan-
tage which any of them may gain by prom
inence on a leading committee counts for
very little.
1t Is really a wise provision of nature or
some other power that most men place a
high value on their own abilities. The few
humble" persons of whom one reads, the
Uriah Keeps, are as unlovely in their pre-
tended humility as in the meanness which
Is subsequently discovered to be their lead
ing trait. Because of this self-appreciation
most men imagine that they are fitted for
Consequently, in this as in every other leg
islative body of every character, If members
were given the places they would select for
themselves, the makeup would be marvel
Gus to contemplate. Because presiding off,
GERS cannot give all members the positions
they believe to be commensurate with their
| ability and influence there is always dis
appointment and soreness. 1t is inevitable.
and, because 1t is, presiding officers are
very unpopular men for a few days after
the announcement of the committees. One
of the embarrassments of the presiding Off
Ger of the Senate is the hold-over member.
He expects. If he does not always get, the
more prominent places on the committees.
If hold-overs are men of ability they should
have such places, but If they have shown
no capacity for legislation the fact of a
| previous term of service should not give
them prominence. To place a member at
/ the head OF the finance committee whom his
| associates know to have no qualifications
for it is to infiict an injury upon the State.
! 1t Is fair to assume that the two men who
will preside over the respective branches of
the Legislature will make up their COM
mittees with a view to the best interests OF
the public service. Their records in the
| past give assurance that they will use great
discretion in their selections. Unable to
| crafty the wishes of all, there is but one
| course for them to pursue, and that is tC
use their own judgment in the making up OF
their committees. Beyond question the two
| gentlemen who will preside over the Senate
| and the House will be able, by the exercise
of their judgment TO give the Legislature
more effective committees than they could
If they attempted to please everybody or II
| they were chosen by a caucus or towr
| meeting.