New-York tribune., 1906-12-03

| Congress with prominence the result of
the public attention centred on his fight for re-
election against the efforts of organized labor to
| unseat him. Mr. Littlefield has always opposed
an anti junction bill. He made a fight on
| this issue in the campaign and came off VIC
! torious, so that he resumes his place in Con-
| gress with the knowledge that labor's assaults
| In no way upset the confidence which the ma
| jority of his constituents repose In him.
With the immigration bill in conference. q
| 'left over from last session. Augustus P. Gard
ner, of Massachusetts, it's sponsor in the House.
returns to renew his effort to get the bill before
the House in such shape will retain those
provisions for increased head tax and an
educational test which the administration ia
vors. Mr. Gardner made losing fight for these
provisions at the last session. and when they
were stricken out in the House he preferred to
have the bill slumber In conference rather than
have 1t enacted with its teeth drawn. A spe-
ciai report by agents sent out by the immi-
grafton bureau last summer to investigate
immigration problems In European cities is
counted on TO furnish Mr.. Gardner with fresh
| ammunition for his campaign.
On the Democratic side, Champ Clark, OF
Missouri, occupies distinctive place as the
one man whom both Republicans and Demo-
cause of his unfailing humorT and the charac-
terisic attitude he assumes toward all PROPOSE
tions, whether 1t be in advocacy of his own
suggestion of tearing down all the customs
houses IN the country expoundng the glortes
of his native state
Henry A Cooper. of Wisconsin heads the
Committee on Insular Affairs which will have
charge of a bill giving citizenship to the Porto
Rlcans' The bill has been favoraby reported
ana MT cooper thinks It should be enacted at
this session. as does the President He will he
seconded IN this effort by Representative Her
bert Parsons. OF New York, who is a member
OF the same committee and who Is strongly q,
favor Of Porto Rican citizenship
THE PRESIDING OFFICERS.
Over the Senate and House will preside two
Wen known fgures-Vice-P President Fairbanks
In the former, Speaker Cannon In the latter
AS dissimilar as the men are in character and
physique are the duties of these presiding off,
GERS. The duties of the Vice-President are con-
fined to the chair. the skilful guidance of legtsla-
lion through the mazes Of parliamentary laby-
rinths, the preservation Of the dignity Of the
Senate. the impartial recognition of Senators
who ask the floor. Dignity, self-control inner
turbaole patience are the prerequisites of the
man who would preside over the Senate with
credit. and all these Vice President Fairbanks
possesses In peculiar degree When the Senate
adjourns the duties of the Vice-President are
ended His room at the Capitol is a retiring
room, where he conducts his private CORE
spondence receives occasional official and many
private visitors, and sometimes rests from his
trying Vigtls In the chamber The Vice-P -Presi-
dent presides over the Senate not only when IL
Is in session as the Senate but also when II ia
In committee of the whole, and few presiding
officers have been more faithful I'm their at
tendance, or have less often called on the prest-
dent pro tenn. for relief than the former Senator
from Indiana, now Vice-President of the United
States.
Vastly different from the duties Of the Vics-
President are those of the Speaker of the
House. Speaker Cannon presides over the
house when 1t meets as the House, but when 1t
Is IN committee Of the whole, as it is so fire.
quenty, he delegates the task to another
usually to Representative Sherman of New
York. The Importance of a capable presiding
officer in turbulent body like the House cal
hardly be exaggerated, and man can better
control the boys' than Speaker Cannon; but 1t
is in his office, known as ''the Speakers room'
that Uncle Joe" really exerts his sway. All
day long after the disposal of the routine morn
ing business the Speaker sits at his desk In his
little office. his cigar tilted at angle of forty
nVe degrees, and listens to the plants of the
boys who want something. His ipse dixit IS
final, and he handles the affairs of the House
and of the nation with supreme control as
is exercised by the head of a great financial
house. When not referred to affectonately as
Uncle Joe the Speaker is popularity termed
'the old man." and with all but the sporadic
"insurgent' "the old mans" word Is law
To q remarkable degree Speaker Cannon COM
bines the ability to be hail fellow we'll met"
with the power to rule. and despite the muttered
growls which the turned down member is
casiOnally heard to utter as he leaves the
presence" there is no man who approach
Uncle joe Cannon in popularity with his
boys as he always calls the members of the
House, be they old and gray bearded as the
proverbial Santa Claus.