The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-19
new STAYS At HEAD.
Republican Committee May Not
Act Until December.
CHANGE IN WEIGHING MAILS
Mr.. Murdoek's Reform Idsas-Federai
Law Wanted Requiring Publication Of
Campaign Expenses - Senator Hop
kins May Talk Harser Bill to Death.
BY CHARLES W. ARTHUR.

W eAaAAAAAtsAbAAs Jam H. Ak9kGNluAsN
Senator Hepburn of Idaho and Senator
Scott OF West Virginia have failed in
their efforts to have a meeting of the
Republican national committee called
for the purpose of accepting the resIg-
nation Of George Bruce Cortelyou as
chairman and electing successor
Vice Chairman Harry New of Indlan-
apolis, who became the head OF the or.
ganization when Mr.. Corteiyou an
nOunced mis- resignation, has been IN
Washington recently and has gone
over the situation with prominent Re
publican leaders. he is satisfied that
there will be no further attempt to
-oust him and expresses the opinion
that the committee will not be called
together until next December, when It
will meet In Washington to select a
time and place for the holding of the
national convention in 1908. The feel
ing growing out of the manner of the
postmaster generals retirement from
the Craftsmanship still exists, however.
and may be expected to crop out IN
some form or other in the future.
To Reduce Railroad Fees.
The agitation started by. Representa-
tive Victor Murdoch of Kansas against
the present system Of paying railroads
fo- transporting the mails promises to
bring about tangible reforms. The
house committee on postotiices and
post roads. OF which Representative
oyerstreet OF Indiana is chairman, has
practically decided to recommend a
change In the method of weighing the
mails and to scale down the appro.
prlations for mall transportation by 10
per cent. The estimates Of the amount
needed for the purpose named during
the forthcoming fiscal year were for
approximately S4G.oO0,00O While no
official announcement in the premises
has been made, 1t Is understood that
the committee was not unanimous In
passing the motion for the reduction.
The committee is composed Of nine.
teen members. and the vote OH the
proposed reduction y said 90 have
stood - to q.
Publicity Report Printed.
The organization which for some
time has been attempting to bring
about the enactment OF federal law
\ providing for the publication of all de.
tails with reference to contributions
to national and congressional cam.
paigns will continue its work during
the present session of congress with.
out. however, any substantial basis
for hopes of success. a number OF
states have laws similar to the one
which 1t Is desired to have congress
enact. and the result OF the appllca.
ton of such statutes is said to have
been beneficial in every instance.
Perry Belmont, who has been largely
responsible for the movement which
has been set on foot. has presented the
first annual report Of the national pub.
licity bill organization. and it has been
published as senate document.
Senator Hopkins Threat.
Members. of congress who are inter
ested in the rivers and harbors bill on
which the house soon viii have an on.
portunity to act, are disturbed by r..
port that Senator Hopkins OF Illinois
viii prevent the passage of the bill by
talking 1t to death" in the event that
the measure is not Trained so as TO
provide an appropriation for the pro.
posed deep waterway from the great
lakes to the gulf of Mexico. The de.
feat of bill by such methods is i'm
possible In the house. where the com
mlttee on rules limits the time for the
discussion Of every measure up for
consideration, but In the senate con
iItions are altogether different There
member may talk as long as he is
physically able. In the closing days
Of the Fifty-sixth congress Senator
Carter Of Montana talked the pending
river and harbor bill to death because
he was lncensed by the defeat Of All
irrigation bill in which he was great
" interested. He held the door for
many hours and thus consumed so
much time that the friends of the wa
terways bill had no opportunity to get
1t to vote.
Nc Salary Raise.
Members OF the house lobbled indus
triously to have the senate insert
provision for an Increase OF salary for
congressman in the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill.
The house voted down the proposed In
crease, but 1t Is not only willing. but
anxious, to have the raise from 5000
to $500 per year go through II the
senate win take the responsibility.
This the senate refused to do.
la FOIletts's Independents Resented.
Republicans in the senate. who have
on many. occasions showed their lack
Of sympathy with the aims and asplra
lions Of Senator La Toilette of Wis
consIn, are now talking of reading
him OUT Of the party. Mr.. La Fol-
lette has pursued a very independent
course since coming to Washington In
his present capacity, and the leaders
nj fhn ytpunr howaa do no4 lftyo 4l,.& .