Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-23

terstate and Foreign Commerce As
Before.
Especial Correspondence.
Washington Bureau of the Courier,
Washington, .. c., November FL.
The only question of Importance in
connection with the reorganization of
the house of representatives two weeks
nence Is the craftsmanship of the COM
mittee on appropriations, made vacant
by the election of Mr.. Hemenway to
the senate. OF course, there are other
chalrmanshlps and many new mem
hers are vitality interested in them, but
the situation does not compare in i'm
portance or in interest to the appro-
priations craftsmanship.
While it seems to be pretty we'll set.
tied that either James T. McCleary of
Minnesota or James A. Tawney of the
same state will be appointed, it is
worthy of recording that one Iowa
man, Colorel Hepburn. was rendered
the position, and another Iowa man,
Judge Walter l. Smith, was seriously
considered for the craftsmanship.
Hepburn's Strength in Congress.
The information comes to your cor.
respondent from practically first
hands; from man who got it from
the speaker, in fact Last spring, when
Speaker Cannon was in Washington,
and was having a chat with Colonel
HEPBURN, so the story goes, and the
subject of chairman of the appropria.
tons committee was under discussion,
Uncle Joe" suddenly remarked:
!. Hepburn, think you are the man for
chairman" Colonel Hepburn intimated
that he was well enough satisfied with
his committee on interstate and for.
eign commerce and did not care to as
sumo the heavy burdens accompanying
the Craftsmanship of appropriations 1t
is said Colonel Hepburn suggested that
If he were twenty years younger he
would not hesitate to take hold of the
committee. Since last spring Colonel
Hepburn's name has been used in con.
nection with the craftsmanship from
time to time, but there is nothing in it
now. When "Uncle Joe" Cannon saw
how Colonel Hepburn felt and realiz-
ing full we'll what the craftsmanship
means and what its requirements are,
from dozen years experience, he did
not press the appointment upon Mr..
Hepburn. 1t is conceded without de.
bate that there is no man in the house
who is so we'll fitted by experience and
ability to take the craftsmanship of the
appropria tons committee which during
=, CD ;rht OF cd ha
the most important committee In the
house, as Colonel Hepburn. Mr.. Can.
non made an ideal chairman and Col.
onel Hepburn would equal, If not sur.
pass him, in fact, the two men in many
ways are similar in temperament and
qualities Of strength. 1t is no small
honor to have been offered such posi-.
ton.
Judge Smith Considered.
Judge Smith, of Council Bluffs, was
given consideration by the speaker,
but his low position on the committee,
having served only one term, seemed
to make 1t unwise to elevate him to
the craftsmanship. The fact that
Judge Smith was regarded sufficiently
well qualified for serious considera.
ton is an extremely high compliment
the degree of which will probably not
be fully appreciated except by those
personally familiar with congressional
matters from the short range point OF
view.
Judge Smith, being the last member
appointed, of course was assigned to
the foot; Of the class, SO to speak
Later, when vacancy occurred Col
onel Marsh, of Illinois, was appointed
on the committee and Judge Smith
went up a round. When congress ad
iourned last March he was tenth or
the list.
Changes In Committee.
Since that date there has been 6
great change in the personnel Of the
committee or rather as the committee
would probably stand except for ex
terror circumstances. Mr.. Hemenway
the chairman, is now a senator; Mr.
| Van Voorhis, of Ohio. who was thire
on the committee. was not reelected
Mr.. Burkett, of Nebraska. is now {
senator; Colonel Marsh died during
the summer. Thus four men out o
| the eleven republicans on the commit
tee drop out; nearly 40 per cent. O
course the new men appointed will
fall in at the bottom of the list, S,
Judge Smith will be seventh and pos
sibly sixth on the list instead of elev
enth, where he started two years ago
If Mr.. McClearly should not be ap
pointed chairman he will. withou
j doubt be given a good place on tn,
ways and means committee, and II
h this event Judge Smith may becom
sixth on the committee.
Honors for Dawson.
While no concrete information is a
, hand upon which to base the assump
! ton grounds are not wholly WantIn,