The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-01-19


could be more acceptable here as his
successor than Mr.. Burton. His career
in the House has been one Of party
loyalty but, withal, a career of indie
pendence and fearlessness in advoeni-
ing what seemed to him just and rjgS7.
He has been a great chairman Of The.
House Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors, where he, more than any other
one man, has been responsible for the
elimination of old log rolling methods
in voting money for the Improvement
of waterways. He was one of the first
to champion the Panama Canal route
AT time when it was exceedingly M
popular for any representative to speak
out in favor of that route, Mr.. Burton
and Mr.. Cannon came to the front and
led the fight that resulted in the Housv
abandoning the proposed route through
Nicaragua. Mr.. Burton has been very
forceful in opposing the extravagances
of the government in recent years. HIS
fund of information about economic
and governmental questions is unusual
ly large. He has made a special study
of finance and two years ago, when the
House Banking and Currency Commit
tee needed new blood, was made one
strength there and at the close of the
last session was made chairman of the
Monetary Commission composed of SEN
ators and representatives.
The success with which he has wagel
his fight for n toga in the fac: of
what was supposed to be certain de-
feat has increased his prestige in Wash
ington. Then he stands forth IA the
Ga, II Il. \
excepting only the President elect and
of course, is respected accordingly boit
in Ohio and Washington. He comes
into his new office without being under
obligations to any coteric of men. THAT
is very gratifying to him for it viii
enable him to pursue the same indie
pendent and fearless course in the SEX
ate that he has pursued in the House.
New Chairman of Pacific Islands
The retirement of Senator Foraker
deprives Hawaii of a staunch friend
As chairman of the Committee on Pa
cific Islands and Porto Rico, most of
the legislation for Hawaii has come
under his scrutiny All in all he has
been the most influential, the most Of
fectively influential, friend of Hawai-
at that end of the Capitol.
1t is something of question whs
will succeed Mr.. Foraker in that chair
manship. Senator Depew, of New York.
is in line for it by reason of seniority
of committee service. Probably he VIII
accept the place, as it should be pref
cradle to the craftsmanship on revision
of the laws of the United States which
he now holds. Mr.. Depew has two
years more to serve before the expira-
ton of his term. 1t seems to be takep
for granted in New York that he Wiz
not be reelected.
Senator Moses f. Clapp ranks nexs
on the Pacific Islands Committee, buI
he is now chairman of the Indian
Committee, which he would hardly care
to relinquish. After him is Senator
Flint, of California. 1t may possibly
come about that Mr.. Flint will be the
new chairman, when the Senate CoE-
mittees are reorganized next spring.
The festivities of the holiday season
here were married materially by the
horrors of the earthquake catastrophe
in Southern Italy. Congress emphasized
its beginning of the New Year by
speedily voting an appropriation or
100000 for the relief of the sufferers
The plans for making the appropriations
and for distributing the relief in the
form of food and clothing. occupied
the attention of the President. the See
retaries of State and of the Navy, as
well as of the leaders of Congress, ay5
of whom cooperated to the fullest eI-
tent.
A magnanimous suggestion of sending
the battleship fleet, now on the way
through the Suez Canal, to Messinz
attracted much attention. 1t was
thought that the $4,000 Jackies on the
16 battleships might be of assistance
in policing the stricken district, in
maintaining order and in caring fOi
the sick and wounded. The President
, has already announced that if the King
of Italy desires the presence of thu
warships they will be sent there
This offer in itself demonstrates vGzr
strongly the friendly spirit of the Amer
lean nation toward Italy. The invita-
, ton may or may not be accepted but
in all probability so much of the reseus
work will have been done by the tint
the ships could reach Messina that I'M
= contribution of Congress for suppliei
r and clothing will be most needed I'm
Q appropriation was voted by Congress
Monday in short order, after specia
!. message requesting action, had been re
3 ceived from the President He had pre-
@ viously communicated with Speake
h Cannon about the matter and also witt
Senator Hale, chairman of Senate aP
/. preparations. These two visited TIN
/. White House offices on the President
/. invitation, to advise and consult ami
!. the legislation was all arranged before
O hand so that the formalties of vutiu'
3. the money might be put through VITA
out delay or hindrance.
" Ships on Humane Mission
o Probably the ships of the America
h navy have never appeared in the eye
It of foreigners on a more humane mil
,. sion. For whether the battleships z
h to Messina or continue on their voyag
# through the Mediterranean and fas
v the home waters Of the Atlantic, II /
q entirely probable that large supplies d
/. food and clothing will be taken froI
o the supply ship Celtic, now on the wa
y from New York to Gibraltar, and tn
a supply ship Culgoa, which is accompany