The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-09-21
JONES COULD
SUCCEED BURTON
SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL MEN IN LOWER
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-Theo-
dore Z. Burtor.'s impending retirement
as congressman TO become a candi-
date for mayor of Cleveland, possibly
/ may result in the promotion of Con-
gresham Wesley L. Jones to be
chairman of the rivers and harbOrs
! committee one of the most impOrtan.
positions in the house. 1t may be ne
cessary, however, for Mr.. Jones to
withdraw from the senatorial fight il.
: Washington in order to secure the
much coveted craftsmanship. Mr..
Burton has not yet resigned from the
house, but his resignation will prob
ably be forthcoming some time before
the mayoralty election in Cleveland
and, regardless of what happens in
Cleveland, it is not expected that he
will be a member of the new house
of represent tiveS.
1t is a rule in Washington to fill
committee chairrlanships by promo
ton, giving the presiding place to the
ranking member Of the majority. But
this rule cannot be followed in this
instance. Congressman Dovener, of
i West Virginia, was ranking member,
but he was a do-no.hing, and the
people of West Virginia wisely retired
him from congress. He would lot
have been made chairman had he
he &c. 10
enough for the place.
| The next man in line is Congress
man Bishop of Michigan. He is a
plodder, but he is not big man; he is
not a man. of influence, and he lacks
force. The chairman of the rivers and
harbors committee must be master OF
engineering works; he must have a
! compr ehensive idea of what the gov
eminent is doing in every part of the
/ United States, and with this knowledge
he must be sufficiently discriminating
! to prevent members of congress from
! loa ding on to the rivers and harbors
bill all manner of worthless projects
which are not actually in the interest
of commerce In other words, he must
| be able to Withstand pressure that
! will be brought to bear from practical
| ly every state. He might well be
/ termed a watchdog of the federal
treasury
Mr.. Bishop is a very pleasant gen
.leman, but he is not the man for
chairman. No more is the heXt man
| =. H. C,o,oroccroop AohaSOn of Penn
sylvania Mr.. AchesOn, during his ca
reer in congress, has never been able
to realize that any river in the coun-
try is in need of improvement as bad
lv as the Ohio from Pittsburg down
AS chairman. he would see that the
Ohio river did not suffer- but, rather
would push that stream ahead at the
expense of equally worthy projects
elsewhere He is not broad enough fol
the Job, nor is he man Of sufficient
force.
The next congressman in order (Mr
Alexander, of New York; is probably
as well equipped as any present mem
Der of the committee. He is wei
posted: he has been appointed on con-
ference committee with Mr.. Burton
and he has devoted much study 10 riv-
er and harbor matters in other states
than New York. He is not as big MOI
as forceful a man as Mr.. Burton by
any means, and he could not withstand
pressure as Mr. Burton has done; but
| if the chairman is to be picked from
1 Lo Mr. A1QY1n1pl
is the best material at hand.
Mr. Jones is as accomplished as Mr.
| Alexander and would make an even
better chairman in one way. He has
not had as long training as Mr.. Alex
| ander. and probably does not know
| the country, but he has force of char
acter that is lacking in Mr.. Alexander
and he could more successfully block
schemes TO railroad through unworthy
D. ojects. His career in congress has
shown him to be a man who will have
nothing to do with jobbery and, what
! is as important, he will not let anyone
, else put through a job over his head
Viewed in that light Mr. Jones is far
and away the best man, but it is not
| likely that he will be considered, for
he has announced that he is candi-
date for the senate and will not run
for the next congress. The speaker
would no: likely appoint as chairman
a man about to retire.
The only condition under which Mr..
Jones might be appointed would be a
/ promise from him to withdraw from
the senatorial race in Washington
solely in order to become chairman OF
| the committee on rivers and harbors
| If such a proposition was put to Mr.
Jones it would place him in a very
embarrassing position, for as chairman
of that committee he would be one OF
the most powerful men in congress
yet he would not have certain other
powers that would come to him a.
United States senator. That such a
proposition will be made to Mr.. Jones
is not out of the bounds of possibili'
ties.
The chances, are however. that the