The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-23
NEW STAR WANTED
IN THE HOUSE
MIR. McCleary Suggested for Head
Of the Appropriations
Committee.
Much Will Depend Upon the Way
Congress Handles the
Deficit,
BY w. w. Jermane

BY w. w. Jermane
Washington, Aug. 23.-If Speaker
Cannon could make up his mind who is
on appropriations, he would feel that
he was rid of the hardest problem
which the new house will present him.
The demand for big m an for this
craftsmanship will be greater in the
next congress than it has been for many
demand that the floor leadership shall
be, temporarily at least, transferred
from the ways and means committee to
the appropriations committee, and the
fact that the speaker is more or less in
sympathy with this demand, is adding
measureably to his troubles.
For very many years, the chairman
has carried, Elk officio, the floor leader
ship, whichever party was in power.
In accordance with this custom, W. L..
Wilson of West Virginia was floor lead
er in the democratic congress at the be-
ginning of the second Cleveland admins
tration, and was succeeded, when the re-
Pubheans gained control Of the house,
of Maine, and then by Representative
Serene Payne of New York, who at
present holds that position. The rea-
son for this rule is obvious. For many
years, and until comparatively recent
times, the tariff was the greatest ques-
ton before the country. The ways and
means committee, under the constitu-
tional provision, originates all Gus
toms and revenue legislation, and quite
naturally, the chairman Of that commi-
tee, other things being equal, was bet
ter fitted than any other man on tho
floor, to lead his party in debate, and
to answer the knotty questions Of the
opposition.
A New Man Needed.
For several years, the tariff has not
been, leading Issue, and for the most
Of the time has not been an issue at
all; but, still abiding by the old rule,
the chairman Of the ways and means
committee has retained his honorary
place as floor leader. In the next con-
gross it has begun to appear that one
of the biggest questions will be that of
keeping appropriations within safe linn
fered of the deficit problem, this is
the one which appeals with most force
to the speaker and to his advisers If
it should finally seem wise to attempt
to pare appropriations down to the
thinnest possible slice, and thus over
come most of the deficit, the chair
manship Of the appropriations commit
the principal scharimanship of the
it must necessarily be Of suf-
fcient caliber to withstand successful
ly the assaults Of the opposition and
the demands Of his own party. That
the committee as at present organized
Goes not contain such man an; is very
opinion Of the speaker himself, is com
mon knowledge in this city. Out Of
the situation thus presented comes all
of the talk with which the newspapers
have been filed since last spring, about
this, that and the other man in con-
nection with the appropriations chair
manship.
The names most frequently heard are
those of Representative Burton of Ohio,
now the chairman of the rivers and har-
bors committee; Representative John
DalzeH OF Pennsylvania, a member Of
the important committee on rules, and
Representative McCleary Of Minnesota,
priations committee, 80 far as chair
manshlp questions are concerned. The
chances of these men are believed to
stand in the order in which I have
named them.
Burton Of Ohio.
Mr.. Burton Is regarded as the most
the house. Not only Is he able in lie
bate, but his general mental equipment
is of high order. He is Of a positive
temperament, and when he takes posi-
tion is able to hold it, no matter what
the pressure from without AS the
chairman of the rivers and harbors com
mlttee, these qualities have been put to
thoro test, and to that test he has
responded in a highly gratifying way,
to the large increase Of his prestige.
At the same time, however, his indie
pendence has at times brought him into
conflict, with the republican house lead
errs, and the records, do not note a sin
to them. In tariff matters, he is lib
eral, and many of those who oppose
him are fond Of saying that he is more
OF a free trader than protectionist.
The exact truth is probably to be found
' between these two positions. Mr.. Bur
term is understood among republicans
OF the western states. To bring him to
the front as the chairman Of the ap-
preparations committee, and clothe him
with the added power which the policy
of reducing expenditures has in view,
wenld be to increase his ability to make
Roadway for revision. At any rate,
that is the fear Of the speaker and his
standpat associates. Hence, the path
way to the appointment of Mr.. Burton
to this position is not entirely free from
practical distractions. Should he finally
be selected, it will be because, in the
opinion of the speaker, the appropria-
tions committee will not afford as many
opportunities for the airing of Mr. Bur
tom tariff views as at first blush it has
been thought it would do. His chances
are believed to be better than either of
the other men at the present moment.
Dalzell a standpatter.
Mr.. Dalze1l is one of the most pro.
nounced standpatters in congress. He
represents Pittsburg constituency, in
the heart Of the steel industry, and his
elouuence and alertness of mind have
made him the spokesman in congress of
the republican, conservatives. He is not,
however, as nimble witted as Mr.. Bur.
ton, nor as tactful, and as chairman of
the appropriations committee he might
occasionally get his party, and the en-
tire house, into an ugly snarl. That the
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