The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-01-17
CONGRESS IS At WORK
Committee Assignments Of
Idaho Delegation.
But FEW BILLS WILL PASS
Parties Skirmishing for Advan-
tages in Campaign.

| Washington, d. O., Jan 49, With
the convrning Of Congress after the
holidays the real work of the Goth
Congress begins. The three weeks
spent before the adjournment for the
holidays was OF no consequence ex.
cept that ii gave the leaders chance
to get line on the probable legisla.
ture that Is to be considered during
this session. 1t Is not thought that
a great deal of important legislation
Viii be enacted into law during the
present session although some meas.
uTeS of Importance that can not be
put of will be attended to- The
national election coming In the fall
makes the work OF the Congress pre-
cedIng 1t consist principally of skir-
mlshes for advantage Ia the issues to
he presented to the voters. AS to
the legislation to be considered, the
principal items are the appropriation
bills. They always pass and give no
special concern except that they
furnish opportunity for floods of
campaign oratory from both sides.
The currency question is the most
important just at this time. 1t is
not thought that a great amount of
time will be consumed with the cur.
rency bills. as both parties are little
afraid Of 1t, and were it not for the
fact that the country is demanding
some relief nothing would be done
with the currency at this time.
Congressman French is the proud
father of baby girl. The baby was
| born on the 4th OF this month, and Is
the ouy daughter 10 the entire Idaho
delegation. 1t is Mr.. and Mrs.
! French's only Guild. The Congress-
man is receiving the congratulations
0t bis colleagues. aud seems to be
| bearing up well under the circum
stances
In the arrangement of the commit
| tees Senator Hepburn was placed on
the committee on public lands, be-
sides committee assignments he occu-
pied during the last Congress. This
is one Of the most important commit.
tees in the Senate, and in view of the
recommendations In the Presidents
message that the land laws I've modi-
t1ed In many particulars, and the
numerous bills already before the
committee suggesting amendments,
the committee will be unusually busy
during the session. He is also
member of the following committees
Coast Defenses, Geological Survey,
IMMIGRATION, Mines and Mining,
Public Buildings and Grounds, and
Trespassers on Indian Lands.
Senator Borah has been in Wash
Ington very little SINCE the opening
OF Congress, hut the 'st of commit
tees on which he secured membership
indicates that his friends in the
Senate took very good care of him,
and he Jared unusually well in ap
pointments to committees fer new
senator. One Of the important COM
mittees on which Senator B0rah was
assigned was that uf irrigation. The
Senator was also placed second on he
claims committee. This is one Of
the very active comm ittees o! the
Senate There are great many
claims from Idaho of different sorts.
and Senator Bnrah's position on this
committee will place him in posi-
tion to give them the attention he
conld not otherwise give. Other
COMMITTEES Of which Senator ROrah
Is member is that of revision Of laws
OF the United States. the committee
on Education and Labor, on Expen-
ditures in the Navy Department, and
is chairman Of the committee on
Standards, Weights and Measures.
Congressman French is very well
pleased with his committee assign
ments for this congress. In addition
to the committees on public lands
and immigration and naturalization,
which he served on during the 59th
Congress, he was appointed by Speak
er Cannon to serve on the committee