The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-21
INSURGENTS ARE
VERY STRONG IN
THE LOWER HOUSE
However They Will Be Forced
To Share the LimeIight
With the Rebels in the Up
per Branch.
FIGHT FOR REFORM IN
SENATE A FIERCE ONE
It Has Been Many Years Since
There Have Been So Many
Vacancies on the Import
ant Committees.
BY Sheldon S. Cline.

Washington. Feb. 2O.-The "insur-
gents" Of the house of representatives
will have to share h limelight with
the insurgents of the United States
senate. The fight for reform in the
upper body promises to be as strenuous
as in the lower one. 1t will begin i'm
mediately upon the converting of the
extra session next month and continue
until the new congress is fully organ
lied.
Many Vacancies.
1t has been many years since there
have been vacant so many important
committee places in the senate as will
have to be filled in organizing that
body for h work of the 61st congress-.
For instance there will be three va
cancies on the appropriations commit
tee, caused by the death of Senator AL
lison n the retirement of Senator
Hemenway of Indiana. republican.
and Senator Teller of Colorado, demo-
crat. The craftsmanship of the commit
tee. which was held by Senator Allison
will fall to Senator Hale of Maine.
Among aspirants for the two republic
can vacancies are Senator Wetmore of
Rhode Island. Kean of New Jersey,
Dolliver of Iowa and Nelson of Min
nesOta. Democratic possibilities for
Mr.. Teller's place are Simons of North
Carolina and McLaurin of Mississippi.
There is no chance of any of the young
insurgents" getting on the appropria-
tions committee. the most they can
hope for being to get some of the de-
sirable places to be vacated by the old
er senator's who will be promoted.
Finance Committee.
The most important committee of
the mex congress in the senate will
be that on finance, which will handle
the tariff bill for the upper house.
Here also there are vacancies made
by death and retirement. Mr.. Allison
was a member of this committe and re-
firing members are Hansbrough of
North Dakota and Platt of New York,
republicans. and Teller of Colorado,
democrat. Senator Hopkins of Illi-
nois also is a member OF this commit
tee and sould he fail of reelection
there will be a fifth vacancy. Repub-
lican senators regarded as possibili-
ties are Lodge of Massachusetts,. Car
ter of Montana. McCumber of North
Dakota. Clapp of Minnesota. and Bev-
eridge Of Indiana. The only democrat
prominently mentioned for Senator
Teller's place is Clay of Georgia.
There has been some talk of Root of
New York for Platt's place, and he
probably could have the appointment
should it be in line with his desires.
1t is considered certain that Mr.. Root.
having served both as secretary of
war and SECRETARY of state, will have
places on the military affairs and for
eign relations committees.
Root to Cause Fight.
Around Mr.. Roots assignment to
important committees is going to
hinge a good deal of the fight the
Insurgents are planning to make.
While no one is disposed to deny Mr..
Roots title to desirable committee
places. in view of his distinguished
service in the cabinet and universally
recognized ability. theee are other