Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-12
WILLIAMS SPEAKS UP
Prevents Criticism of Committee AS
signments of Colleagues
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec 11.-Mr. Will
liams, the minority leader of the house,
stepped on the lid'' today just in time
to prevent revelations in the nature of
open criticism of the committee as
signments of certain of his colleagues
for which he is responsible.
Mr.. Payne, the Republican leader
naively suggested a way by which the
revelations might be made, but Mr.
Williams assumed all responsibility
and declined to allow the washing OF
Democratic linen for the amusement of
the Republicans"
The incident followed the announce
ment of committees. Mr. Lamar of
Florida submitted and had read q news
paper clipping purporting to quote Mr.
Williams to the effect that Mr.. Lamar
and Mr.. Shackleford of Missouri had
been left off the interstate commerce
committee because they had failed to
follow the Democratic caucus action of
the last session on the railroad rate
bill.
Speaker Cannon suggested that the
statement read did not constitute Il
question of personal privilege which
entitled Mr.. Lamar to the floor.
THE gentleman might proceed by
unanimous cOlSeIl, suggested MT
Payne.
"How much time does he want-an
hour?"
1t was here that Mr. Williams strode
forward from his seat in the rear. He
hailed the speaker with word and ges-
ture, and when he got his eye he re-
served his right to object only long
enough to make the statement that. in
the interest of Democratic "harmony,
fairness and of general good will. which
will not be promoted by washing Dem
ocratic linen for the amusement of the
Republicans of the house, l object"
Everybody Out Of Order
Immediately the question became in
teresting. Mr.. Lamar faced Mr.. Will
Jams, who stood close to him, and
charged him with taking the matter
into the newspapers. Mr.. Shackleford
was on his feet, Vainly demanding to
ask question, and many Democrats
applauded the stand taken by Mr.,
Williams. Mr.. Lamar demanded that
Mr.. Williams call a Democratic caucus
tomorrow to allow him to proceed,
Speaker Cannon welded his gavel Wig
orously and declared everybody out of
order, and in the midst of the confu-
sion recognized Mr.. Payne for mo-
tion to adjourn, which was declared
carried anu Ine SeSSlOl WIS over ulllll
Wednesday.
Before this incident the session had
proceeded without hitch. The unan-
imous consent necessary to in
crease the size of the larger
committees had been given. and
in this manner the increased MEM
bership of the house and increased Re
publican representation had been pro.
Vided in committee places.
The Democrats had lost no committee
places. but had made a gain of one, all
of which Mr.. Williams had declared
satisfactory to the minority. AS an in
dication of the intention to begin work
at once several of the committees
gained permission to have printing done
and to sit during the sessions OF the
house. The session lasted five minutes,
Chairmen of Committees
Speaker Cannon announced the COM
mittees of the Fifty-nnth congress to-
day. The following are the chairmen
Of the important committees:
Ways and means, Payne OF New
York; appropriations, Tawney of Min
nesota; judiciary, jenkins OF Wisconsin;
foreign affairs, Hit of Illinois; inter-
state and foreign commerce. Hepburn
Of Iowa; military affairs. Hull of Iowa;
naval affairs, Foss of Illinois; postof-
fees and post roads, Oyerstreet of In
diana; insular affairs, Cooper of Wis
consin; banking and currency, Fowler
OF New Jersey; coinage. weights and
Continued ON PAGE rwO)