The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-09-27
IOWA AT WASHINGTON.

With the death of Congressman
Hit, Hon. Robert G. Cousins of the
Fifth Iowa district will succeed him
as chairman of the house committee
on foreign affairs, one of the most
powerful committees in congress.
Congressman Cousins. has for several
years been third on this big commit
tee. The recent suicide of Congress
man Robert Adams of Pennsylvania,
who was second on the committee, au-
vanced Mr.. Cousins to that Llace. Now
the death of Chairman Hit puts the
Iowa congressman in first place and
in accord with the custom of congress
Speaker Cannon will retain him as
chairman. BY virtue of these vacan
cies Congressman Cousins becomes
chairman OF the committee in any
event for the coming session.
This advancement of Congressman
Cousins to the craftsmanship of the
committee on foreign affairs of the
national house makes six great chair
manships held by the Iowa delegation
in congress, an honor not equaled ~
any other state in the Union. With
Iowa also having two of nine mem
bers of the presidents cabinet and
one of these the second ranking men,
Der of that distinguished body, the
positions held by Iowans in the ma
tional government far excel those of
any other state in power and import
ance. 1t is only a few years, too,
since an Iowan, the late David B. Hen
derson, was speaker of the house of
representatives, next to the president
the most powerful political position
| in the United States government.
The chairmanships held by Iowans
in congress are:
Senator NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Senator Dolliver Education and
Labor.
Congressman Cousins-Foreign ar,
fairs.
Congressman Lacey-Public lands.
Congressman Hull-Military affairs.
Congressman Hepburn Interstate
| and foreign commerce.
In addition to this, Congressman
Smith of the Ninth Iowa district, is
member of the house committee on
appropriations, which is equivalent in
| importance to the Craftsmanship of
many of the less important commit
tees. He will be third ranking men,
Der of this great committee the COM
ing session and if he continues in
congress will undoubtedly become its
chairman in time. With Senator AL
lison chairman of the appropriations
committee in the senate, the most
important craftsmanship Of the entire
congress, and Congressman Smith a
ranking member of the same commit
tee in the house, Iowans have two OF
the most powerful assignments in
congress.
Congressman Conner of the Tenth
Iowa district also has an important
committe assignment in being fourth
member on the house committee on
public buildings aud grounds, this
committee having to pass on every
bill for public buildings and grounds.
In the presidents cabinet are Hon.
Leslie NJ. Shaw, secretary of the treas
ury, second only to the secretary OF
state in cabinet rank for presidential
succession. In other words, should
the president, vice president and sec
rotary of state die or be removed
from office, Secretary Shaw would
succeed to the presidency for the I'M
expired term. Governor Shaw has
been secretary of the treasury since
February 1, 1902.
Secretary of Agriculture James VIII
son is the other Iowan on President
Roosevelt's cabinet. He has had
the longest service Of any member OF
the cabinet, having held the secre-
taryship continuously since March B,
Il 1897.