Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-12-05
HOUSE.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.


the new member Of the House from Viz
GINA, at the democratic caucus last
night offered a resolution permitting
John Sharp Williams, minority leader,
to name the minority members Of the
committees. II was adopted by an over
whelmiDg vote of l24 to 4.
The resolution of Mr.. Caflin vas a
substitute for that of Mr.. Jones, of Vir-
giuis, which provided that the power to
nams the minority members should be
taken out of the hands Of the democratic
leader and given to the Speaker. 1t WAS
Mr.. Jones who called the caucus, Sc
curing two more votes than necessary to
do so. A large percentage Of the total
number of democrats in the House were
On hand and Listened to Mr.. Jones for
an hour, as he explained the followin
resolutions:
Resolved, that inasmuch IS the rules
of the House of Representatives provids
that the Speaker shall appoint the stand.
ing committees thereof, the selection OF
the minority as we'll as Of the majority
members of which committees being
clearly embraced within this duty, 1t is
the sense ard the desire Of the demo
cratic members of the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes of the Sixiieth Congress that
he shall assume the responsibility OF
making this selection, and not delegate
the authority to do SO the titular leader
of the minority who, 10 their judgment,
would not in any way be embarrassed OF
hampered thereby in the discharge OF
his duty"
Many members OF the caucus insisted
afrerward that Mr.. Jones made no per-
sonal attack upon Mr.. Williams, but, in
view at the fact that Mr.. Jones joined in
.be tight last winter on Mr.. Williams
selection for minority leader, and that
the resolution WAS curtsiling Mr.. Will
liaus' authority as democratic leader,
the action of Mr.. Jones in calling the
caucus and Offering the resolution was
not regarded as friendly.
Dir. Osrlin proposed Substitute as
follows:
"Resolved, That the leader of the
minority be and be is hereby authorized,
empowered, and directed to recommend
to the Speaker Of the House the demo-
cratic members of all committees.
Only Messrs. Jones of Virginia, Stay
den of Texas, Lamar of Florida, ard
Hardwick of Georgia, voted against the
substitute.
MI. Hays resolution providing for
refusal of unanimous consent until e
tariff bill should be reported did not ma
teriaIize. Neither did that of Mr.. Henry
providing that a committee be appoln'ei
to arrange q programme of issues. Bot
John Wesley Gaints had Secretary Ryan
read long paper, resolving that the eau
Gus should Dame committee 10 propose
amendments to the Reed rules; that these
amendmets be fought for in the House,
national convention, AID esch Congress
sional district 10 the next election, so
that the people might be fully informed
of the loss of the rights OF their repre-
sentativeS and the concentration of power
in the hands of the Speaker. Mr.. FIz-
gerald offered substitute, cut ing the
sting out Of Mr.. Gaius' resolution, but
it was voted down. Then, on request
Of Mr.. Gaines himself, his resolution
went over until the next caucus.
Mr.. Lamar of Pensacola, Fla, also
had resolution on the rate question,
proposing that the Interstate Commerce
Commission be given greater power. This
was referred to the democratic members
Of the commission.
The caucus terminated just as it was
expected it would. Fully two-thirdI OF
the democratic members signing the call
did 50 for the purpose Of bringing the
question of confidence 10 representative
Williams leadership squarely before the
democratic members, and having vote
upon it.
Bsfore the adjournment Of the caucus,
Mr.. Williams made a short speech to the
members srgiug party harmony, declsr-
ing that the democratic outlook was bet
ter than it had been for q number of
years, and the members should at once
perfect their organization for the con-
gressionsl committee and get ready for
the fight next year.