The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-05
Glimpse at the Personnel of
Fifsy-ninth Congress.
Kansas VIII Have More Prestige
Than Before.
NE DELEGATION.
Few Changes inCommittees Are
Probable.
Senator Long Has Many I'm
pOrtant Assignments.

Washington. Jan. with the know
3sdge OF members OF congress who will
not, because OF defeat, or withdrawal
return to legislative life, it is possible
60 make a fair forecast of the position
Kansas will have in the Fifty-ninth
congress, based on the point of commit
Zee asstgnment-and that is the system
by which political success and accom-
plishment in congress is measured.
When a man comes to congress, he
tries TO do one of two things: Get on
the committee or committees he desires;
or If that be impossible, get on any
good committee or committees. He
naturally has it figured out what he
wishes to do in congress- along what
particular line of legislation he desires
TO heW his way to success. He asks Tor
committee assignments in accordance
with this desire-but it does not always
follow that his desires are met. Nor is
1t an inviolable rule that a man viii
not be successful unless he secures
committee assignment in keeping with
his wishes and tastes and peculiar plan
for success. Like in other walks, a
member of congress must be adjusti-
bic. Charles +. Scott is an example.
He did not care for work on the COM
mittee on agriculture, especially, but
he took it; and has become, in four
years, an expert, an authority, on the
subject; in spite of the fact that it was
entirely out of his line, tastes and leg
1slative inclinatiOnss always excepting
the fact that he came from great ag-
ricultural state.
The longer a man is reelected to con-
gress, of course the better his chance
for legislative success, always bearing
in mind the standard OF measurement
committee assignment. After a time, II
he comes back often enough, the mem
Der finds himself either ranking menu
Der or chairman Of great committee
Then he is indeed important He helps
frame great appropriation bills; he is
recognized as an authority on the sub
ject matter Of his speciality; he is
sought out by the president and heads
OF departments; he is respected and
looked up to in his house OF congress;
and by reason of his constantly increas-
ing prestige, he is able to do big things
for himself, his district, or state, and
his friends.
Take I'D Kansas: The F'ifty-ninth
congress will convene in December,
1905, If there shall not indeed be an
extraordinary session earlier. A num-
Der of members Will retire. Some have
change from the present congress.
The Republican membership will be
much increased, and Uncle joe
Cannon. the speaker of the house, will
have a merry time taking care of the
new men on committees. But except
In a few cases where complete reor-
ganizatiCn may be made in a great
committee, this will not affect old
members=and, fortunately for the
state of Kansas, the Sunfower house
delegation is entirely unchanged. More
than that, all but two OF its members
have been here at least three terms
The dean of the Kansas house dele
cation is Mr.. Curtis of the First dis
trict. On March 4 next, he will begin
his seventh consecutive term. He has
served twelve years in the house.
That is longer than any Kansan ever
served in the house, with the single
exception of Thomas Ryan, who
served an equal length of time Mr.
Curtis for the past six years has been
ranking member of the Indian COM
Inittee; that is, second member. Next
to Chairman James S. Sherman, of
New York and possibly not even ex-
cept1ng him. Mr. Curtis is the most
important member of the committee,
and will be chairman If ever Mr..
Sherman shall retire or succeed to a
better craftsmanship Mr. Curtis also
has Senior Longs old place on the
great committee of ways and means,
being the last named Republican but
one on the committee, Mr. Needham
of California who took the place of
Mr.. Netcalf, the new secretary of
commerce and labor. Mr.. Curtis will
not be affected in the next congress,
SO far as his committee places go.
The next ranking Kansas house
member is Mr.. Calderhead, who is
about to enter on his fifth term. Mr..
Calderhead'S most important assign
ment IS invalid pensions He is the
his position thereon will not be affect
ed in the next congress. Mr.. Calder
head IS also on the important commit
tee of banking and currency, being
the third member on that committee. /
There will be no change in the COM
mittee, among the members ahead of
him The chairman of this committee |
IS Mr.. Fowler of New Jersey, who
formerly lived at Beloit, Kan, where
he was a law partner of the late Jus
tfce A H. Ellis of the supreme court
OF Kansas.
Next to Mr.. Curtis and Mr.. Calder
head. in length of service, come Mr.. |
Miller, Mr.. Bowersock. Mr.. Reeder. Mr.. |
Miller has two good places-public |
lands and elections No. 2 On public |
lands Mr. Miller is the third member. |
Since he went on this committee in the /
F'ifty-sixth congress, he has made |
rapid strides toward the top of the COM /
mittee, and if he remains here a few /
terms, will undoubtedly become chair
man. Mr.. Miller is also on the COM |
mittee on claims, and will gain a place |
In the next congress, making him fifth. /
He is ranking member of elections I
No. =.
Mr. Bowersoclk has four committees, /
three of which are fair: Coinage, |
weights and measures; industrial arts /
and expeditions; reform in the civil /
service. He is the ranking member Of /
coinage weights and measures. and /
when Mr.. Southland of Ohio withdraws /
from congress, he viii be chairman /