Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-06
How the Iowa Delegation Is
Likely to Fare In the Next
Congress
NEW cHAIRMANsHlPs LACKING
Hawkeye Representatives Now at the
Head of Three Big Committees =
Chance That Cousins May be Placed
at the Head of the Foreign Relations
Committee.
Special to Times-Republican.
Committee.

Special to Times-R Republican.
Washington. March 6.-Iowa mem
bers in the house are just now giving
considerable thought to the question OF
probable committee assignments in the
next house.
At present Iowa has three important
chairmanships: Colonel Hepburn, of in
terstate and foreign commerce; Captain
Hull, of military affairs, and Major La
cey, of public lands. In the shake uI
under the reorganization next Decem-
Der it is hardly possible that any other
Iowa congressman can secure chair
manship. Congressman Cousins stands
third on the list on the committee on
foreign relations. being led by r. r.
Hit, of Illinois, chairman, and Robert
Adams, Jr., of Pennsylvania, who is
second. Mr.. Hit is not in the best of
health, however, in fact a year ago his
| life was almost despaired Of for a time,
and if anything should happen to Mr..
HIT, which 1t is hoped may not, as he is
a most valuable man for the position, it
would not be at all surprising If Mr..
Cousins should succeed to the chair
manship. In fact, 1t is understood that
during Speaker Reeds term Of Office he
| intimated that in case of the death OF
Mr.. Hit he should appoint Mr. Cousins
as chairman. 1t is said that Speaker
Reed did not give a great deal of at
| tention to the rank Of members on some
of the committees, choosing the chair
man With great care, and then permit
ting the other members on the commit
| tee to follow alphabetically.
! The necessity for care in the selection
of the first names following the chair
man upon the committee was forcibly
brought to the attention OF Speaker
Reed and to the house during the dis
cussion preceding the declaration of
war with Spain. Just at the time when
the situation was critical and the COM
mittee on foreign affairs was the CEN
trail figure in legislative action, Mr.. Hit
was taken i'll and unable to attend the
session of the house. Mr.. Adams, being
second on the list, naturally took up
the work and became acting chairman.
Mr. Adams is q good man and a good
congressman in his place, but here
was an emergehcy, and Mr.. Adams was
not able to cope with the heavy work
and res ponsibility that fell upon his
shoulders. OF course he actually play
ed the part Of chairman upon the floor,
but was relieved OF much OF the respon-
sibility and authority by veteran and
keen members who saw the proposition
thru. That incident had the effect to
impress the speaker with the great need
OF able and experienced men near the
head of any committee.
1t is understood that Judge Smith
would not oppose an appointment upon
the appropriations committee. AT pres
ent he is on banking and currency and
elections. but neither of these seem to
exactly fill the desire of Judge Smith.
Judge Conner, it is believed, would be
pleased with an assignment on the COM
mittee on naval affairs. He has found
the work in connection with public
buildings and grounds very congenial,
and would not care to relinquish that,
but would probably be glad to exchange
his place on the library committee for
an assignment on the naval.
Mr.. Haugen is understood to be well
satisfied with his committee appoint
ments. He has been on agriculture and
war claims from the first, and has cosle
to have good deal Of influence, espe-
cially as member of the former.
Judge Thomas is on the judiciary
committee and also claims. He finds
both assignments congenial, 1t is un-
derstood, and will probably retain them
under Mr.. Cannon's regime.
Mr.. Hedge, whose assignments are
postoffice and post roads and improve
ments in the Mississippi and coinage,
weights and measures, is also content
and will likely succeed to the same
committees.
Judge Birdsali and Judge Wade, OF
course, will come before Speaker Cam
non with clean states. Judge Birdsall's
preferences are unknown, but Judge
Wade would, probably, not be averse to
an assignment on the judiciary COM
mittee. 1t is altogether possible that he
may land there, as there will be four
vacancies among the list of democrats
on this committee.
1t is understood that Mr.. Cousins,
who has now become a veteran in the
house, would find pleasure in an APP
pointment upon the ways and means
committee. There will be three repub-
lican vacancies on this committee be-
ginning with the next session. and it Is
not unlikely Mr.. Cousins, who stands
Very high with the to-be speaker. may
find favor with the latter and land in
this much desired berth.
Messrs. Hepburn, Hull and Lacey.
having big chairmanships, will of |
course expect no important assign
ments other than the retention of their
present chairmanships.
1t is a somewhat remarkable fact that |
the only committee in the house that |
was entirely exempt from the effects of |
the elections last fall is that of expen-
in the treasury department, of
which Mr.. Cousins is chairman. While
every other one of the other sixty-two
house committees lost from one to five
members thru defeat at the convention
or at the polls, this committee remains
intact with the same membership to
start the fifty-eighth congress as at /
assuming that the next speaker
will name the same gentlemen to COM
pose the committee