The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-01-12
Maine Members.

A Washington correspondent of a
daily paper writes about committee pros
poets OF Maine members 10 the next Con-
gress as follows:
| II speaker Cannon should decide to
make some radical changes there Is hard
| ly a member of the Maine delegation IN
the House who would not stand a pretty
good chance. or course IL is hardly 70
be expected that Speaker Cannon would
do MS much Ms the late Speaker Reed did
In the Fifty.fourth COngress-put every
one OF the Maine colleagues nj the hesd
OF an important committee. But 1t Is 10 be
noted that every one OF the four Maine
men has gained reputation for careful
and considerations work on some one OF
/ the House Committees and Is recognize I'd
as having ability In that special line.
Moreover all four have climbed some
where near the top Of their special COM
mlttees, and with an exception or TWO
the members outranking them in senior
| lty OF service are not men Of recognized
ability or men who give careful consider
| alton to Legislative measures.
Taking fret Gov. nufitigh, vino is the
senior member OF the Maine delegation, a
/ scrutiny OF the committee lists shows
/ that In the next House he will be the sec
ond member on the public buildings COM
mittee. The present chairman WAS not
i reelected. II Is one OF the most import
i ant committees In the House and the
! governor has done deal OF hard work
/ there in keeping tab on is multitude OF
/ bills. He Is also the second Republican
member of the Census Committee, which
! has but little work nowadays but which
at intervals, especially during the taking
/ Of a decennial census, has large matters
IN charge. The problem of Southern
representation, il it be taken up in the
next Congress, will be handled by that
Committee.
Should there be a House shake-up of
committees, 1t would be little short of
surprising il Mr.. Littlefield did not land
In the Craftsmanship OF the House Judiei-
airy Committee. He is generally recog-
nized, not only as one OF the abest law
yers in the House, but as man of COM
manding influence in the important judi
eiary committee. Although he did not
agree with Representative Palmer, of
that Committee, In much Of the inveeti-
cation of the charges against Judge
Swayne, who is to be impeached, Speak
er Cannon recognized Mr.. Littlefield by
! putting him on the special committee to
draw up the articles of impeachment. II
is the general opinion around the House
that MIR. Lttlefied will also be named
later on as one OF the managers on the
part of the House, when that body is
ready to proceed before the Senate with
its trial of Swayne. There ar, three
Republicans who will outrank Mr.. Little
/ field in seniority of service on that COM
mittee in the next Congress. He is also
well up on the lit of the Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries where he
is already recognize I'd as an Influence 10
the shaping of Merchant Marine legisa-
ton.
! EX-GOV. Powers occupies a place well
up on the territories committee and 1t
would hardly be ques Toned iu the House
that he is the most influential member of
that committee. Speaker Cannon has
confidence in him, which has been dem
onstrated more than once. The COVER
nor's advice is not only sought but pretty
generally followed on nearly all legisla-
ton that comes out of that committee.
He applies himself to all questions COM
ing up there and his leadership in that
| field is acknowledged. Gov Powers
occupies the second seat at the table of
elections Committee No. l, the most in
! fluential elections committee in the
House, but the chairman Mr.. Mann, of
Chicago, is a very competent man and
probably would not be disturbed, what
ever changes there might be in the House
organic alton.
! The same is true Of the District of
Columbia Committee, where Mr.. Bah
cock Of Wisconsin, is recognized rs a
very able chairman and where Repre-
sentative Allen holds the third seat. Mr.
Allen, first and last, has resided much
longer in the District of Columbia than
any other two or three members Of the
committee put together. He is very
familiar with District conditions and has
worked very studiously on TIE vol
ume Of District legislation that comes up
every session. Mr.. Aliens qualifications
for the District chairmanshlp however,
would not be questioned.