The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-14
BRIGHTER CHANGE
FOR M'CLEARY
Els Outlook for Appropriations
Committee Place Improved
by Hepburn's Attitude.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Sept. 14.-Gossip regard
ing the Craftsmanship of the house COM
mittee on appropriations continues to
revolve around the name of Repre-
sentative McCleary of Minnesota, and
recently has taken a more favorable
turn, so far as McCleary Is concerned.
It is now the talk that Colonel fPete'
Hepburn of Iowa could have the place,
but that he prefers to remain at the
head of the important committee, on
Interstate and foreign commerce, whose
work he has made a special study for
many years. Hepburn s refusal of the
position is said to throw the speaker
back upon McCleary.
Should McCleary be appointed, it is
said, the speaker will provide for sew
eral republican floor leaders, picking
out the men best fitted for that work
Such course would meet the serious
objection to McCleary, that he is not
ready enough in the running debate
Of the house to meet promptly ana
vigorously the inevitable crosshre OF
questions from both sides OF the cham
Der. With several able assistants how
ever, there would be no danger OF the
committees failing to make It's argu-
ments felt.
This proposed policy of several floor
leaders would take away some or the
prestige of Representative Payne OF
New York, chairman OF the ways ana
means committee.
Other Problems for Speaker.
While the appropriations committee
Craftsmanship is the most troublesome
problem confronting the speaker, ne
has his troubles with the commltteess
&C.;
post roads. The former was LED IN tne
last congress by Representative Foss
4 of Chicago, who, it is felt, has not
] measured fully up to the opportunities
! Of the place. There is general de-
mand for reorganization of the com
mittee, so that it may contain ap thd
men. Some such program is IN tne
sneakers mind, and he may. displace
Foss as chairman.
The chief trouble with the house com
4 mittee on postoffices and post. ROADS is
& that it's chairman, Representative over.
street of Indiana, did not come up por "
inc out of the postoffce investigations
several wears ago. This committee Is
also in need of general working over
/ so as to eliminate some OF the Weah
men who have come up to lmportan'
places on it thru the automatlc opel"
ton of the rule OF seniority.
SHarp'S Reelection Likely
It seems quite likely that the demo
cratic members Of the house will re
I elect Representative John Sharp vii
/ liams of Mississippi to the position O.
a minority floor leader, a post which NJ
1 filled with so much ability and energ;
/ in the fifty eighth congress. MT. WI
a very respectable minority OF his owl
( party, It's opposition, however, seem
/ unlikely to crystalline, and even II crys
I tallized, it can hardly accomplish hi
defeat, especially since he wants tn
place again. Representative Hay O
Il Virginia has announced that he will no
again be a candidate for the post o
I the house, and in all probability h
! will be succeeded by Representativ
4 Henry of Texas. The two places jus
I named having gone to- southern demo
cratic members, it is probable that tn
/ next chairman of the democratic cor
/ gressional committee will be- Represer
tative Jacob Rupert of Tammany,
millionaire brewer of New York. city
popular with his house associates. Thes
are all the positions of Importance tina
the minority will have to fill.
Rupert an Unknown Quantity.
It is not known how good chairma
OF the congressional committee Repre-
sentative Rupert will make He ha
money and no doubt would be able
secure fairly liberal contributions t
the next campaign fund. Aside frol
this, it is not figured that he will amour
to a great deal AS member of COZ
gress he has not taken high rank, an
aside from his social qualities, is III
known here.
JOHN Sharp Williams, if returned I
his old place, will have some difficult
in filling vacant place on the way
and means committee without excitin
criticism. Representative Cooper
Texas, long a democratic member
that committee. was defeated for r
election last fall, and the Texas del
Representative Randell Of that sta1
De recommended to the speaker for tt
yacancy. Mr.. Williams, however,
= believed to favor Representative Sui
van of Massachusetts. The south Wi
insist that it is entitled to this plac
there will be a merry old time in tt
democratic camp-for minute.
Will Make Capital of Tariff.
It is said to be the purpose Of tt
democrats in congress next winter
ton. They will emphasize the rev
sion and reel procity attitude of II
president and in every way try
make the tariff a leading issue in tt
1906 campaign. They will also try
get credit for supporting the admin
tration rate-making program. The d
feat of railroad legislation would tn
put into. their hands club of consi
- cradle size and strength. With SUI
an advantage, they believe that tn
would enter the off year campaign wi
thus blocking republican progress