The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-11
EYES TURN TO ROBSON Big Navy Scheme May Be Approved. CANNON WATCHES YOUNG MAN May Not Get Place on Naval
 Committee. Henin win Make Effort to he Named
 On Rivers and Harbors--
 Craig Aiabama's Newest won'f Get Much.
BY A. J. STOFER.


 Washington July 10-(Special.) - Although Congress is not to meet until the first Monday in December unless the President were to startle the nation by calling an extra session, speculation is being indulged in as to the com mittee assignments Of some of the new members.
 It has been known for some time that Hon. Richard Pearson Hobson. successor to Hon. John H. Bankhead Naval Affairs committee. The time Naval affairs committee. The time for Congress to assemble will be upon us before the average citizen realizes it. and therefore 1t may not be amiss to refer to the prospects of the young man who Is perhaps better known to the public than any of the other new members who are to take their seats in the near future.
 All this talk about a war with Japan has set the tongues wagging here, and Captain Hobson is out with a fresh in- terview in which he asserts with more vehemence than ever that Uncle Sam should have at the earliest possible moment the biggest and grandest navy on the earth. This latest expression on tho part of the Alabama member attracts attention here, and particular ly among army and navy people.
 Captain Hobson undoubtedly has the backing of thousands of people in his demands, and they are not confined to the services which would be so generally benefited if the government were to order the construction of a dozen big battleships and as many first class. heavily armored cruisers. It would be a great thing for the off, ficers. and the ship-builders would smile all over if the Treasury vaults were thrown open. But to accomplish all these wonderful things old Uncle Joe" Cannon has to be reckoned with, The Illinois statesman, who with the aid of the two Republican members of the Rules committee can block legis- lation not favored by the trtumvirate will have to be brought around if Uncle Sam is to have the most powerful navy in the world. And Uncle Joe," if all report are true, has his eye right on young Hobson. For this reason most people who keep the run of legislative matters incline to the belief that the Speaker is not going to assign Captain Hobson to a place on Naval Affairs. At least they do not think so at this writing. and there will have to be a wonderful change in the feelings of the Speaker if he does not make up that important committee so that the ex- penditures may be kept within reason able bounds
 Nothing short of trouble with Japan or some other nation would move Uncle Joe" is what his closest friends will tell you.
 F In the last Congress there were six Democrats on the Naval Affairs Com mittee. Twelve Republicans also served on 1t. In the next House the Democrats will doubtless have seven members. as the ratio will be increased because the Democrats captured a great many additional districts at the election held in 1906.
 Since Congress adjourned one Dem ocratic member of the Committee has died-Representative Rixey of Virginia, brother of the Surgeon-General of the navy. MT. Garber of Ohio, another member of the Committee in the last House, was not renominated, and that makes another Democratic vacancy, in addition to the extra member of the Committee that the Speaker will prob ably accord to the minority.
 Working for HObsOn.
 It is not customary to appoint new members to this very important Com mittee, but some of the friends of Cap tain Hobson say they are going to try very hard to induce MT. Cannon to give him a show on the Committee. They contend that in view of his ser vice and prominence in the navy of his country he is especially qualified for such a position. Others appear to be positive that the Speaker will make the excuse that new man in the House cannot expect such high honor, and will have to take his turn as oth- CTS have done before him. Most peo- pie, indeed, seem to thing that Uncle Joe'' has been keeping close tab on the speeches and interviews of Captain Hobson in which he has urged the ex- penditure of money in such large amounts that the Illinois statesman un- der the circumstances would not be