The Washington times., 1908-12-20
KNOX IS ESCAPING
DIFFICULT TASK
In Quitting Rules Committee
He Is Relieved of Job, of
Assigning Rooms.

In going 70 the Office of Secretary of
State and leaving the Senate and the
chaIrmanshp of the Rules Committee.
Senator Knox will escape one duty that
he has found uncongeniaI, not to use a
stronger word
This duty is the assignment Of rooms
in the Capitol and its adjuncts TO Sen
ators. As chairman OF the Rules Com
mittee. it has fallen on the shoulders of
Senator Knox TO look after this matter.
1t is not d pleasant job. nor is it one
commensurate TO the abilities Of the law
Yer who engineered the proceedings
against the Northern Securities Com
pany- Il does, however, require a high
degree Of diplomacy, and the training
that the Pennsylvania Senator has got
in settling differences among Senators
over quarters will no doubt help him
when he enters into the fields OF inter
rational diplomacy.
Settlement of the Japanese-American
policy on the Pacific Is an easy matter
compared TO the adjustment Of the
cIashing ambitions Of two or three Sen
Stors. all anxious for the same suite of
office rooms. with each bringing pres
sure 70 bear 10 gain what he wants.
Senator Knox has had TO compose va
Tious difficulties of this kind.
The Rules Committee OF the Sen
ate is, in certain emergencies, a great
committee. But lately there has been
little 10 be done so far as large ques-
tions relative 10 the rules are concerned.
Under such circumstances. the head OF
The Rules Committee finds that one trOu-
b,eSome part of his Senatorial duties
Is that Of being a kind Of hotel clerk
FOR his colleagues Senator Knox was
not much enamOred OF this sort OF
craftsmanship. OF course, as member
OF tbc Judiciary Committee and in other
fields, Mr- Knox has found his Senate
work interesting and enjoyable. but he
Eas not liked inc task OF being the
fuHctionary who presides over the room
business at the Capitol.
Il viii nc necessary. undoubtedly,
always 10 keep ii strong man at the
head OF tho Rules Committee, lest emer-
Ecncics arise that elevate the Rules
Committee at once into a place Of the
greatest Importance. II is on this
theory that men like SpOoner and Knox
have been put at the head OF Rules
1t is doubtful IL any set of women
sUffTagiSts could be more Gnicky tlan
are the Senators about the rooms they
are Eiven-st the Capitol and the Senate
annex. When the time comes to settle
assignments TO the new Senate office
building. there Will be an interesting
scramble. II is not merely that the
average Senator is ambitious TO get As
good office quarters in the Capitol as
his colleague happens to have. The
chances are he noUrisheS for years an
ambition TO get particular set of Of
fees or a particular seat in the Senate
chamber
The matter OF the fittings and fur
nishinEs Of the rooms is also an i'm
portant one and gives a lot Of trouble.
one Senator may vans his offices fur
Hished in red, another i'm green: one
may want a fireplace in operation, an
other NAV not: one wants one kind OF
a desk and another another And so II
goes Such or his duties I'm the Senate
- have appertained 10 these things,
Senator Knox Will most gladly reIin-
auiSh TO his successor.