Omaha daily bee., 1907-11-25
HOUSE CAUCUS THIS WEEK
Advance Guard of Legislators De-
scends on Washington.
CANNON TO BE SPEAKER AGAIN
NO Indication of Contest over RE-
Election of Any OF Omcers of
HOuse---James Cassidy
for Postmaster.
CFrom a Staff Correspondent.

advance guard OF legislators, members OF
the Sixteth congress, is already in Wash
ngton, while daily accessions are being
made to the rapidly growing family of
! Uncle Sans statesmen. Many Of the
members Of the congress, which viii con-
vene for the long session on December 2,
are new to national legislation. Some have
served in state legislatures, while others
! have held state positions. but the great
majority Of the new members come with
out any legislative experience whatsoever.
but all believing they have a serious mis-
sion to perform
The call for the republican caucus of the
! house will be issued within a few days
| and the election OF a speaker and other
| officers of the house will probably take
/ place next Saturday evening in the hall
| Of the house of representatives. There
| is fight whatsoever on any Of the
present officers, the caucus being held for
the purpose OF ratifying a foregone con-
! clusion. Speaker Cannon will be re-
elected speaker of the house on Monday,
December 2, Immediately after Clark Nc
Dowell calls that body to order and a
quorum is ascertained to be present on the
| call of states After it has been ascer-
| tanned that quorum of the house is pres
ent nominations for speaker will be made
and Joseph G. Cannon VIII be placed in
nomination by the republicans and John
Sharp Williams by the democrats. AS the
republicans have a large majority in the
house. Mr. Cannon will be elected as will
the other officers of the lower branch of
congress- namely Alexander Mcdowell, of
Pennsylvania. clerk; f. B. Lyon, Of New
York. doorkeeper Henry Casson, of Wis
consin, sergeant-at-arms; and in all prob
ability James H. Cassidy of Ohio, post
master.
Ohio Claims POstmastershtp.
During the recess Joseph c. McElroy, OF
Ohio, the former postmaster, died, thus
creating a vacancy. Immediately after
his death a number OF candidates for the
position became active representing state
delegations, but the Ohio delegation, claim
ing that the place of right belonged to
the Buckeye state, held a caucus some
three weeks ago and Representative Bur-
ton, late candidate for mayor of Cleve-
land suggested the name of James Cas-
sidy. clerk of the Rivers and Harbors
committee OF the house. for the position
of postmaster and he was made the eau
Gus nominee of the Ohio delegation, which
will undoubtedly insure his election. Rev.
Henry N. Couden, the blind chaplain of
the house, will be reelected to that po-
sition.
on Saturday afternoon and, perfunctorily.
will select candidates for the positions
above mentioned, headed by John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi for speaker Mr..
williams will thus become again the mi
nority leader of his party, but as the dem
ocrats have a larger working force in the
Sixtieth congress than they had in the
Fifty-ninth, 1t is expected that a much
more aggressive policy will be pursued
by the minority than was pursued in the
congress, which by operation Of law,
ceased to exist on March l. last.
Medicine making" will begin early in the
session. in view of the approaching pres
idential campaign, and 1t is confidently
expected that shortly after the holidays
things will be doing hereabouts.
More Pay for Soldiers.
1t is confidently believed that President
Roosevelt in his message to congress.
which will not be made public until Tues
day, December 8, will come out fiat
footedly for an increase in the pay OF en-
listed soldiers and sailors and may rec
ommend an increase for the officers Of
both the army and navy With skeleton
regiments and skeleton companies the rule
rather than the exception, the army is in
a bad way numerically. Just why the
older men who have made soldering their
, | business TOT twenty ana more yeuTs
should be leaving the colors and going
into private life is question receiving
the consideration not only of Jhe heads
of departments but of the general stan
as well as the president and the consen-
sus of opinion is that the non-commis-
stoned officers, the first and second SER
geaDts and the corporals do not receive
money enough to warrant their continu-
ing in the army and they are quitting in
large numbers rather than re-enlist when
their term Is up.
Adjutant General Fred c. Ainsworth
who is today authority upon the con-
duct of the army unequivocally says that
the non-commissioned officer is the life
, Of the army and that without him disci-
p pline will go to pot and the spirit Of the
) men reach the lowest possible ebb. Every
I one who has made a study Of army regu-
lations and army affairs knows the power
and influence for good the first sergeant
exerts over his company, He lives with
the men, he drills them and ne Is the
Intermediary between the men and the
commanding officer 1t is the first SER
Z geant who intercedes for men who have
! fallen from grace and where he leads
I the men will go. II Is notorious that in
many posts In the west and the south
the first sergeant. who is usually mar
]
education they are entitled to, because
Of his inability TO pay the tuition re-
quired or him in many school districts
Z There being no schools for the children
OF the enlisted men at garrisons and.
es In many cases in the west a per capita
charge is exacted by school authorities
In certain sections of the country from
. non-residents, 'he children Of these men
/, grow up like weeds and with little or nC
/ credit to their parents. It would. there.
, FORE seem absolutely necessary to In.
crease the pay OF non-commissloned off,
! GERS In order that their services may be
! retained by the army. for 4 le better the
, sergeant the better the company Then
again with the abolishment OF the can
. teen and the social life OF the garrison
\ being constantly diminished and with
forced marches and increased driIl,
Tommy Atkins" has become wholly dis
J. satisfied and he Is leaving Uncle Sam,
lighting force by desertion, resignation ant
purchase until the authorities In Wash
ington have become seriously concerned
over the future OF the army