The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-05
WARM WELCOME
FOR SAUNDERS
Virginia Delegation Gives New
Member From Fifth District
Cordial Greeting.
Mr.. SPENCER'S SUCCESSOR
StuyveSant Fish and Second Vice
President Finley Most Promi-
nently Mentioned
IRON our Regular corresponaent.I


WASHINGTON. D. c.. December A.
Judge L. W. Saunders. who viii an or+
the uneXpired term OF Governor swan
son, was warmly greeted by his col
leagues In the Virginia delegation when
he first appeared IN the House There has
as yet been no committee assignments
given him. but as he comes in at the
beginning OF the second session. when
all the committees have been made up
and are full. II Is. OF course. certain that
he viii be able to get no important as
signments. Governor Swanson arrived at
the Capitol just too late 70 sec his sue
cessor take the oath OF Office Judge
Saunders appears to have those qualities
about him that go 10 make up the most
useful and successful congressman. As
TO the institution OF a contest against
him. there IS not much likelihood OF its
getting anything for the contestant-ex-
cept the 5000 that contestants get for
their expenses IN making a contest In
times gone By the Republicans have been
inclined 10 turn a Democrat out on the
slightest pretext Many and many has
been the time when Democrats were
turned out when there was not a shade
of a shadow Of reason for doing SO
But times have changed. The RepubN-
cans have got as much OF a majority as
they desire. and therefore IN recent years
they have only unseated Democrats on
the best OF grounds. 1t used to be that
they would even turn Democrats out
10 seat negroes from North and south
Carolina and other Southern States But
that time has passed. and not since a
negro named White sat in the F1fty-slxth
Congress with q white man named Black
has there been a negro member Of Con-
gress- The swarthy Prince Cupid is taken
by some 10 be. but he IS free from Ethi-
opion blood. 1t is claimed.
River Improvements.
The announcement Of Representative
Burton, chairman of the House Commit
tee on Rivers and Harbors that there
viii be "A river and harbor bin OF at least
SoO.O0O000, insures nice little sum for
the continued Improvement of the James.
as well as OF other Virginia rivers. IT is
probable that the bill will carry a larger
appropriation than that named by Chair
man Burton. Some put il as high as
$40, 100000 Senator Martin is a member
OF the Senate Committee on Commerce.
and usually sees 10 It that Virginia gets
her share Of the appropriations for river
and harDOr tmprOV ements. After the 4th
Of next March he will be the ranking
Democratic member Of that committee.
and viii. by reason or that fact. be the
Democratic member from the Senate on
all conferences relating to river and har-
Dor improvements. AS there Is usually
some five million dollars placed in a bill
like this as a basis upon which the SEN
ate and House can trade, there is every
chance that q member OF the conference
committee can keep all in the bill that
either branch Of Congress puts into g.
Arkansas loses this enviable position 10
Virginia through the defeat OF Senator
Berry by the lighting Governor OF that
State. jefferson Davis. Virginia has not
had a member OF the Rivers and Har-
bors Committee for years. and this makes
the fact that she VIII have a member o.
the conference committee on river and
harbor legislation in the future all tho
more important. Senator Martin and
Representatives Lamb. Maynard SOuthaU
and RiXey viii be those chiefly inter
ested in this legislation this winter. 50
Tar as Virginia IS concerned.
License Operators.
An echo of the disastrous wreck on the
Southern Thanksgiving Day. in which
President Spencer lost his life. was heard
in Congress yesterday when Representa-
tive PearTe, of Maryland. offered a bill to
license all telegraph operators who have
anything to do with the movement Of
trains. He says that under the inter-
state commerce clause Of the Federal Con
stitution there il abundant warrant for
the step. and that the history OF railroad
accidents in the past has proven that
many OF them come from some fault
Of telegraph operators. He says that he
proposes to do all he can to set Congress
70 pass his bill. There is a growing feel
ing in Congress that something must ba
done to protect the travelling public and
no one seems 20 know just what Is best
1t is quite generally admitted that the
leading railroads have done all that cN-
perience has proven It tho part Of wisdom
20 do for the protection OF human life
Tho feeling IL that they have eliminated
ha
eliminated with safety, and that IN spite
or this accidents will happen The UNI
protected condition Of the rights Of WAY
OF rallrnala MIX al raLL.c.L ..-.. 49,