The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-09
Lamar and ShakIefOrd VIII Lose Their Committee As-
 signmcnts
THEY SUCKED HE
 CENTER LAST YEAR
Contrary to the Action of the Demo- cratic Caucus-Senator Teller Op- poses Canal Appropriation.
 Germans Leadership.
BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.

BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.
 Washington. December S.-(speciaI)-It is generally understood on the democratic side of the House that when Speaker Can non announces his committees next week the names of D. ". Shackleford of Mis- souri and W. B. Lamar of Florida will not appear as members of the interstate and foreign commerce committee. They are democratic members. According 10 the gossip. Representative Williams of Mississippi, the democratic leader. has decided to recommend their transfer to other committees.
 This will be in line with Representative Williams. ideas of promoting harmony on the democratic side of the House. some- thing that Messrs. Lamar and Shaekle- ford do not seem to exactly comprehend. In the last Congress when the railroad rate matter was under consideration the democrats held a caucus and adopted as party measure the Davey bill. Re- gardless of thls action. however, Mir. Schakleford and MT. Lamar brought in another minority report iu favor of the Hearst bill. The remaining four demo- crats of the committee of course report ed in favor of the Davey bill. The con- sequence was that the democrats were put in the attitude of being divided on the question. much to the regret of MT. Williams and his colleagues.
 The Hearst bill was fairly good meas- ure other than the fact that 1t was too complicated and neeessitated too much new machinery but as the democratic caucus has decided by practically unan- imous vote in favor of the members of the committee bringing in u report endorsing 1t. As the Mlssouran and Floridian de- clined to do so only one course Is left open to MT. Williams and that Is to find two democrats who can agree with the other four members who will be appoint. ed on the committee.
 Canal Appropriation.
 It can be depended upon that the eleven million dollar lump appropriation for the canal commission will not have the easy sailing in the Senate that it had in the House. In the first place 1t will go to the canal committee which will look into It, and then 1t will go to the floor of the Senate. The commission will be lucky if
 
 'I do not feel very kindly disposed to- wards the canal operations as they are now being carried on,' said Senator Teller today. We don't know whether we are going to build lock canal or d sealevel canal If we have the former. don't know how big a dam we will have to build and we have not the remotest idea of how much the whole thing Is going to cost no matter what plan Is followed. I t.. tI,.. fnta I have had a chance, and will probably continue in the same course.'
 Rivers and Harbors Bill.
 A movement is now under way in the House to get a rivers and harbors bill at this session of Congress. Unfortunately the leading spirits are democrats and therefore they can hope for little more support on the republican side than they would get on a democratic measure. This is especially the case when the commit- tees have not been announced and no republican is quite brave enough to state at this advanced date that he will defy this party leadership. Later on the demo- crats can summon to their aid a few dis appointed republicans, but 1t seems req sonable to predict at this stage of the game that a movement against the House organization and the treasury deficit Is destined to end In failure.
 Senate Democratic Caucus.
 A few democrats comprising the Senate minority had meeting this morning and talked over the vacancies the republicans will allow them. Senator German was reelected chairman of the caucus. Sem ator Blackburn, vice chairman, and Sem ator Carmack secretary. Senator Teller was made a member of the steering com mittee, which committee will fill the com mittee vacancies. Senator carmack re- turned from Tennessee just in time to at- tend the caucus. He will only be in Wash ington for a short time as the fight being made against him for the Senate by For mer Governor Bob Taylor will necessitate his returning to his native state.
 Senator Germans reelection to the chairmanship was taken as a matter of course. If the minority had stood solidly behind him there would be more demo- crats in the Senate than there are to- day.
 octogenarIan Has 22 Children.
 Phil Kormann of Wollow Springs, Mo, writes the commissioner of pensions that he is S years old and the father of twenty-two children. He therefore be- Iieves that he is entitled to a pension, because he is the greatest living expo- nent of the anu-race suicide theory.
 Miss Florence B. Alexander, an Arkan- sas girl Tn me patent oiIlce, mas broken the typewriter record, copying 32.ooO words In seven and d half hours
 Postmasters appointed Blackwell, Walker county, John H. Freeman; For ston, Franklin county, Samuel B. Ram- sey.
 Rural routes: No. ordered established February 15 at Prattville. Autauga coun- ty serving 634 people and 151 houses.
 
 Charles H. Scott, one of the Presidents referees in Alabama, has rAurned to Washington to renew the fight to oust District Attorney Warren s. Reese of the Montgomery district. He wants F. J. Parsons appointed to the position. Judge Jones and Booker Washington are for the retention of Reese. Coincdentally with the arrival of Scott comes Gen. James s. Clarkson of New York. and it