Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-12-20
WASHINGTON NEWS
Notes From the Capitol to the Inter.
Ocean by Special Correspondent

Washington, Dec. 1S.-Exit the Hog
Combine! With this famous COM
bination. which has directed the Or
ganization of the house of representa-
tives since the republicans obtained
control in the saith congress, as nearly
as dead as the proverbial mackerel, a
new order of things prevails in the
house. Representative Jim Tawney
of Minnesota was the executioner
The axe fell when Samuel Langum of
Minnesota, was nominated for post
master of the house over James H.
Cassidy of Ohio. The Hog Combine"
is historic. 1t had for it's nucleus the
delegations from Pennsylvania, New
York, Ohio and Michigan. In the 55th
congress Wisconsin was added to the
combination. Ever since then it has
been practically in absolute control of
all Offices. save that of speaker It's
overthrow scarcely could have been
successfully engineered by any other
man than Representative Tawney.
The Minnesota congressman, as pros
pective chairman of the committee on
appropriations, is immensely powerful,
and because of the gifts in his power
he is man to be assiduously courted
by such legislators as have their eyes
on the public purse strings. During
the few months preceding the opening
of the session of the 60th congress,
Representative Tawney organized the
states outside the combine and brought
into political being a new factor in the
is dead; long live the king-"Jim"
Tawney is the power behind the
throne.
Unique is the proposal of Represen-
tative Acheson of Pennsylvania that
the waterways of the United States be
improved through the use of beer. In
a bill which he has submitted, he
would increase the tax one dollar on
each barrel Of the amber fluid, thus
raising directly on luxury several mil
Hons of dollars year which could be
put back into circulation for the bet
torment of the waterways. The pro-
hlbitionists scarcely could object to
this, for it is taxing liquor to improve
the uses of more harmless beverage,
although this is not exactly the man
ner in which water is to be made more
valuable to the country through the
proposed law. At it's recent conven-
ton, the National Rivers and Harbors
Congress adopted resolutions contain
ing the suggestion that congress, when
the government funds did not warrant
appropriations of s5O,00O,OO0 or more
provide for the amounts necessary
through bond issue similar in char
acter to that for the building of the
Panama canal. In this manner, it was
pointed out the cost of the contem
plated vast improvements to the water
ways of the United States would be
spread over number of years an6
borne practically by all who shared
inithe benefits of such improvements
The convention of the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress gave great i'm
petus to the whole question of water
ways development, and its member
ship is increasing rapidly as result
Representative Fordney of Michigan
is one of the two delegates to the re
publican national convention from hi
district who has been pledged to tn
nomination of Uncle Joe" Cannon
Mr.. Fordney is an enthusiastic Canno
man. He declares that the speake
would make an ideal president, an
that Uncle joe is not too old, but
much younger than his years woul
indicate. The Michigan congressma
is an especial admirer of 9 Uncle Joe
for the latter's stand on the tart
question, which he regards as a. divin
document on which no sacri1egiou
hand should be laid. The arrival {
Congressman Fordney has given COZ
siderable impetus to the Canno
boom. s. go r.~.. D. = =
" Representative Townsend Of Mich
gan has taken up with the presider
and Secretary Root a matter that ha
revealed the existence of an extremel
curious Mexican law, which prevent
81 the removal to this country of the bod
\ ofEan Americn who was accidental
drowned last Mar near Santa Catarin
81 a Under this Law. a body must be r
meYed within five days after deaf
Or I'LL cannot be disturbed within Fl,
years The; family OF the young ma
$;s who was Cleo Moross of Erie, Mich
81 gan Desires to remove the body to b
s old home for interment Under the
~, Law the Mexican officials refuse to pc
nit its removal Mr.. = townsend hope
5E to have the state departs Ill make Il
|. y~1 G15I ~.