The Washington times., 1908-11-09

of a Speaker OF the new House wi
be the reorganization of the commit
tees. Owing TO the large number o
changes i'm the personnel of the House
the changes in committees will b
numerous. Many OF these changes vii
be of the utmost moment as affecting
legislation.
Four of the retiring Republicans VIII,
were not renomiuated for the HOus
are chairmen Of important committees
These are. Cousins of Iowa, Chairman
OF Foreign Affairs; jenkins of WiscOn
son. chairman Of Judiciary; Sherman
OF New York, chairman Of Indian AT
fairs, and Marshall of North Dakota
chairman of Private Land Claims.
Some Defeated
Chsi-men OF committees who were de
deatcd IN the election, include Lands
OF Indiana, chairman of the Committed
on Printing; Overstreet Of Indiana
chairman OF the Committee on Postof
Gees and Post Roads, and Hepburn OF
iowa, chairman OF the Committee or
Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
Not only will it be necessary for the
new Speaker to select chairmen for
these important committees, but a great
number Of assignments Of new members
70 committees and reassignments Of old
members will have to be made. lnas-
much as Speaker Cannon is i'm the lead
for reelection 10 the Speakership, this
matter of the filling Of committees. in
which the new Speaker will be supreme,
Will be "A large asset TO Mr.. Cannon in
the campaign which his friends will
make to continue him as head Of the
House. Many members on the Repub-
licsu side. who are not friendly 10 Mr..
Cannon, and who are personally strong
Iy i'm favor of an oyerhauling of the
rules. will he deferred from opposing
Mr.. Cannon for Speaker lest he retail
ate, If reelected, by giving them in
ferior committee assignments.
The retirement OF James 5, sherman
of New York, who has been elected
Vice President, from the Republican
side of the Committee on Rules. will
nccessitate the assignment of a new
man To the important place which Mr..
Sherman fills Already a great deal OF
gossip is afoat as 10 who viii sue
coed Mr.. sherman on Rules.
Mentions TawBey.
Representative Tawuey OF Mime
sofa, chairman Of the Committee on
Appropriations, is prominently men
toned. Another man who is mentioned
is Representative Walter T. Smith OF
Iowa, one OF the prominent members
of the Committee or appropriations
still another possibility is Representa-
tive James r. Mann Of Illinois, now
prominent on the Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce. Were Il
John Dalzell of Pennsylvania is al
ready on the Rules Committee. It Is
likely that Representative Olmsted Of
PENNSYLVANIA would be seriously con-
sideTed for a place on this committee
Comparatively few members of the
House are well qualified for service on
Rules, 1t is essential that a member
OF this committee be an able debater,
and amply fitted to defend the rules
fsUm attack upon the floor. Many a
man who is competent for excellent
committee service on some Of the com
nittees would be useless If put on the
Rules Committee. All OF the men men,
toned i'm the list Of possibilities here
given are known as able debaters.
Should Mr. TaWney be chosen, mas
much as ne is already chairman of the
Comml tee on Appropriations. he would
he the most influential member Of the
House next TO the Speaker himself.
Members Of the House, anxious to Sc
cure favoTs from the Appropriations
Committee, would hesitate TO 20 counter
TO the Rules Committee. to the extent
OF dtspleasing the chairman Of the Ap-
propIiatiOns Committee.
A Precedent.
Speaker Reed established a precedent
OF making the chairman OF the Appro-
pria ions Committee member Of the
Rules Committee. though the practice
has rot been ahered 10 in all cases by
sucCe sding Speakers Not only will
there be a new member Of the RepuD-
lican side Of the Rules Committee to b.
named IN the next House. but a new
Democratic member viii also have to
be picked.
The retirement OF John Sharp VIII
Jams of Mississippi from the House,
following his selection for the Senate
by the Mississippi Legislature. will
leave vacancy on the minority side.
The minority is entitled TO two mem
hers Of this committee. Representative
De Almond of Missouri now being a
member along with Mr.. Williams
Champ Clark of Missouri, who viii be
minority leader to succeed Mr.. Will
Jams. will become d member Of the
Rules Committee by virtue Of holding
the leadership. This may result In Gust
ing his Missouri colleague. Mr.. De Ar
mOn-. and replacing him with Represen- /
ative Henry y. Clayton Of Alabama. or
some other able debateT Representa-
tive John J. Fitzgerald of New York. /
has ample qualifications for a place on
Rules
0verstreet Goes.
The Committee on Postofhces and !
rast Roads is one of the most impor- |