The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-15
FOR CURTIS PLACE.
Who VIII Succeed Him on Ways and
Means Committee.

Washington, Jan. 15.-The election
of Charles Curtis to the senate will
leave a vacancy on the committee of
ways and means of the house OF repre-
sentatives to which one Of the Kansas
members may aspire)very properly.
Since the F'ifty-sixth congress. when
Senator Long. then a second-term
member of the house, but, SO far as
committee places was concerned a
first termer, since a term had inter-
vened between his first and second SER
vice. secured a position on this grear
committee and thereby almost violated
precedent because of his newness In
congress, Kansas has regarded place
on ways and means as its own.
Senator Long held the place for the
two terms he served in the house
thereafter, and when he left the house
for the senate in 1908 there was a
struggle for the succession that result
has therefore been a member of this
great committee for the past two con-
crosses.
When Curtis was appointed four
years ago on ways and means. Calder
head, Scott and Bowersock also were
applicants. 1t was thought for time
that Scott would land, as his connec-
ton with the speaker and house lead
ers was excellent. But Curtis had long
er service, was the dean of the Kansas
mousse ueleSdtlOn, anu, uHOer ordinary
conditions. entitled to the best thing
out in the way of committee prefer
ment. So he won.
Kansas will now go after the ways
and means place made vacant by Cur
it's election to the senate The two
probable candidates are Calderhead
and Campbell. 1t is more than likely
that these two will come to an agree
ment at once as to which shall go after
the vacancy, and be pushed by the en-
tire Kansas house delegation.
Calderhead is the dean of the dele
cation in the house, since Curtis leaves
service there He has paid much at
tention to fiscal matters, being a mem
Der of the committee on banking and
currency. and being an ardent pro-
tectionist. He may be said therefore
to be a strong candidate for the COM
mittee vacancy.
But Campbell is one Of the foremost
members of the Kansas delegation. He
also is an ardent protectionist, and
would otherwise be suited to the pres
ent membership and tariff complexion
of the committee on ways and means
Scott will probab not go after the
place. Scott hopes to be chairman of
the house committee on agriculture in
the next congress, and very likely will
be. While ordinarily any member of
the house would cheerfully give UP
any craftsmanship, aside from appro-
priations, for a mere membership on
ways and means, Mr.. Scott's promi-
nence on the committee on agricul-
ture, his excellent work thereon. and
his ambition to be chairman of this
important committee will make him.
in all probability, pass up any desire
he may have to go on ways and means.
There is also a chance that Camp
bell may become chairman of the Inn
portant committee on District of Co
1umbia in. the next congress, he being
near the head of the committee, and
Chairman Babcock retiring. But this
is not as certain as Scott's chairman
ship; hence ways and means may be
more alluring to the Third district
member.
At any rate. it is safe to predict that
either Mr. Calderhead or Mr.. Camp
bell will succeed Charles Curtis as a
member of the committee on ways and
means; and thus Kansas will preserve
its membership on the greatest com
mittee in congress. which three Of it's
past members of the house of repre-
ntatives-Dudley c. Haskell, Chester
I. Long, and Charles Curtis-have
held.