The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-01-17
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Cen
eral Topics from
the Capital.
January IL, 1908.

democrats III Congress are
greatly rejoiced over the recent
exchange of courtesies between
Representative John Sharpe Will
liams and Representative De-
Almond on the floor of the
House. 1t was feared that the
alteration which occurred be-
tween these two strong Demo
Gratis would result in a permanent
estrangement and would so weak
en- the minority. A trifling de
bate over the question of what
should be done with the report of
the joint committee on revision
of the law afforded the oppor
tunity which Mr.. Williams seized,
yielding the floor to MIR. De
Almond, and so peace was thus
brought about. 1t was naturally
the place for Mr.. Williams TO take
the initiative in the reconcilla-
ton. He had won the victory
over De Almond in the recent
contest for the House leadership
and he has been selected at the
primaries of kis State for the
Senate. to which he will be duly
elected. When he is it is Ell
tirely likely that Judge De Ar
mond will succeed him as the
minority leader.
The residents efforts TO have
= naval surgeon command a
naval vessel seems destined to
meet with failure. He has as
signed Surgeon Stokes to the
command of the hospital ship
Relief, and Stokes is now being
addressed i'll the Navy Depart
ment as Doctor Captain. but it
will take time and $40, 600 to fit
out the Relief, and meanwhile
Senator Hale, chairman of the
committee on Naval Affairs has
introduced bill forbiding the
assignment of staff officers 10 the
command OF any naval vessel
Mr.. Hale's bill also prohibits the
existence of the Naval General
Board. which has been called
into existence by executive order
and despite the fact that Con-
gress has never been willing to
consent to it's creation by law.
''~ Joseph G. Cannon. Speaker of
the House, has been caught red
handed playing politics with the
House Committee appointments,
At the beginning of the session.
Mr.. Cannon declared that he was
utterly opposed to the creation of
the W hite Mountain Forest Re
serve and of the Appalachian re-
serve. and that in order to pre-
vent favorable reports upon these
measures he purposed to reorgan-
ize the Com mittee on Agricult
ure. This he did, leaving, how
ever, one vacancy to be filled
later on. AT a recent dinner in
Washington member of Con
gress from New England said to
the Speaker: "Mr. Speaker, |
would dearly love to do some
thing to promote your President.
ial interests in my section but it
is impossible. Now that it has
become known that you are ire
vocably opposed. to the White
Mountain Reserve your name lis
like a red rag to . bull in my
neighborhaod." "Dear me-" re-
piled the Speaker, Il had no idea
that your people had that project
so much at heart" Two days
later the Speaker filled the vacant
place on the committee by nam
ing Representative Weeks, of
M Massachusetts, who is the most
ardent advocate of the White
Moutain Reserve in the country.
Members Of Congress are laugh
ing heartily at "Uncles Joe's pol
itics," and some people are won
dering If the New England public
is going to be greatly fooled by
this appointment of one of their
mum Der on q committee already
packed against the reserve pro-
ject.
|
Senator LaFollette, Of Wiscon
sin, is seeing tn ngs again. He
wanted to be appointed on the
/ Committees an Public Lands and
on Interstate Commerce. There
was no vacancy ON the latter com
mittee, but Mr.. LaFollsttee,
W hose concsit never deserts him,
thought that one ought to be
made because of his lon G
speeches on the Railway Rate
Bill. The Committees on Com
mittees did appoint him to the
Committee on Public Lands but
Senator Marlborough made such
fuss about it that they had to
take him off, as Mr.. Hansbor
ough is chairman. Then merely
VITO give him something, they APP
\ United LaFollette to the Com
tee on Military Affairs. He
lad qually unwelcome there but
Wiisome ingenuity to get rid