, 1905-12-09
WYOMING OCCUPIES COMMAND
ING POSITION IN BOTH THE
HOUSES OF THE NATION
AL LEGISLATURE.
important Committee Assignments for
Congressman Mondell in the House
mad Senators Clark and Warren In
the Senate-Actual Business of the
Session Not Likely to Begin Until
After Christmas Holidays.
epecIal to The Republican.

~
convened on Monday of this week, but
it will be almost a month before 1t set
ties down to the serious work of the
session. The opening of a new term
Of congress is very much like that of
a big college or boarding school. In a
school the students must be divided in.
to classes, their studies and duties as
signed, and it takes some time to get
the institution organized and systema-
tized for hard work. In congress the
committees have to be organized, and
as committee construction and mem
bership form a very important part in
the work of congress, those upon whom
the duty of organization devolves take
plenty Of time, and usually the com
mittees are not named much before the
holidays. When the Christmas Holt
days arrive, little or no work can be
done, and, as stated, serious progress
in legislation does not really begin un
til about a month after congress con
venes.
For a western state, Wyoming will
fare pretty well in committee places in
the Fifty-ninth congress. Representa-
tive Mondell, undoubtedly, will retain
the Craftsmanship of the house commit
tee on irrigation and reclamation of ar
Id lands. This is and will continue to
be a very important committee for
western interests. 1t will deal with all
Of the problems arising out of the op-
erations of the national irrigation law.
and any desired changes in that law
will be passed upon by Mr.. Mondell's
committee. MI. Mondell holds second
place on the house committee on pub
lie lands, a position which gives him
great opportunity to secure desirable
Ieglslatlon on public land matters, and,
incidentally, to prevent undesirable leg
islation. He also has a place on the
house military affairs committee. and
as a member of this important commit
tee is enabled to render efficient aid
in maintaining Wyoming's military
posts. In fact, Mr.. Mondell's commit
tee places give him the opportunity to
do a great deal of good work, not only
for wyoming, but for the entire west.
He is n of less than six house mem
bers who hold three important commit
tee places.
In the senate, Wyoming is equally
fortunate in the committee assign
ments of members of it's senatorial del.
egation. Its senior senator, c. D.
Clark, is the ranking member of the
committee on judiciary and undoubted-
Ily will be made the chairman. He will,
in this capacity, have control of many
of the most important bills coming be-
fore congress. 1t is a place of honor
and dignity and Wyoming will gain no
little prestige through furnishing so able
a jurist and so polished a gentleman
for the position as Senator Clark. The
senior senator also Is a member of the
important committee on foreign rela-
tons. He is enabled to do practical
work for wyoming through his mem
bership on the public lands and Indian
affairs committees, both dealing with
questions of legislation of more than
ordinary Importance to wyoming and
the west.
Senator Warren's committee assign
ments in this congress will give him
an opportunity to do much for his state.
He will give up his Craftsmanship of
the military affairs committee. Sena
tor Proctor of Vermont is entitled, as
ranking member, to this craftsmanship,
but he has signifed his intention of
retaining the craftsmanship of the com
mittee or agriculture. Should he not
do this. Senator Warren will have the
choice of becoming chairman of some
one of the three committees, agricul
ture. public buildings and grounds, or
lirrigati ms, as he is ranking member
on all three. The high place he holds
on all these committees gives hin d
commanding position in legislative mat
lters coming before them, for in the
event of controversy with the house
he is placed by virtue of his rank OF
all conference committees n thu
gets a chance to have the last say
on disputed points. The senator also
/, stand fifth on the committee on appro
priations, which is perhaps the mos
important committee in the senate IL
} its practical bearings upon all legis
l%lation.
1t win be seen, therefore, that tn