The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-10-17

coast is now concerned. However, the
immigration committee will assume
unusual Importance next session, for
there will be a report from the immi-
grafton commission. which spent the
summer abroad and it is more likely
that radical changes will be proposed
in the general immigration laws. and
this committee will have much to do
with shaping up the bill
Senator Hepburn is a member of the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, and unless he relinquishes
that place the chances are that neith-
er Fulton nor Piles will be given men,
bership thereon. 1t is very desirable
committee, because it handles the ON
nibus bills, which make appropriations
for the purchase Of sites and erection
Of Federal buildings all over the Unit
ed States and membership is consid-
cred to give the lucky senators little
extra pull on such matters. Every
state is clamoring for public buildings,
and unless Fulton, Piles or Ankeny
are placed on this committee this win
ter Senator Hepburn will have to look
after the interests of the entire North
west About half this committee is
composed of western senators, and this
fact will handicap the men from Ore
gon and Washington.
Senator Plat Loses Chance.
If Senator Plat, of New York, were
senator in anything more than name,
he would become chairman of the COM
mittee on interoceanic canals, which
has jurisdiction over Panama affairs.
But Plat once before was passed over
in selecting a chairman for this COM
mittee and he will be again, the plum
Senator Ankeny is member of this
committee, and it is hardly probably
that another Pacific coast man will be
chosen to fill the one vacancy. If SO, it
may be Fulton, Bourne, or Borah.
More likely the place will go to Flint,
of California. however, because the
senate does not bunch men on commit
tees as usuel thing. The supreme
Importance of the canal to the Pacific
coast Is the OILY thing that would lead
to the appointment Of another senator
from a coast state.
To Early for Piums.
Just before the close Of the last scs-
sion, Senator Fulton. in addition to his
other committee assignments. was
tanned to succeed Senator Alger or the
committee on military affairs. That
appointment will probably preclude the
appointment Of another northwestern
man when that committee is reorgan-
-Zeo.
here is no way of telling at this
carly day how the senate plums are to
be distributed. The appointments are
made by special COMMITTEE On Com
mittees" that is organized every two
years and the makeup of that commit
az means a great deal. l. senator
has strong friends on that committee
he is apt to get good assignments; if
he has no strong friends, he gets what
is left over. 1t is gamble, to a large
extent, with the advantage always in
favor of the older senators. New sem
ators are lucky if they get two fairly
good committee assignments. AS al
rule they are made members of five
committees, and chairman Of sixth
but the chairmanships Of new men
mean nothing more than a name, a
room. clerk and free stationery. 1t
happens that there are only two good
chairmanships vacant, interoceanic
canals, which goes to Kittredge, and
rules, which is in doubt. Spooner's re-
tirement left the latter vacancy, and
the remaining members of that com
mittee already have more desirable
chairmanships. The new member will
therefore, become chairman. OF the
moderately fair chairmanships to be
filled, the best are Cuban relations. Lii
brary, Pacific railroads, Patents and
Railroads.