The Washington times., 1909-01-02
Berth Will Furnish a Poser
for Speaker Cannon's
Consideration.
TWO CANDIDATES
MAKE STRONG BID
Friends Rally to Support Of Repre-
sentatives Lawrence and David
son for BurtOn's Place.

Speaker Cannon VIII have knotty
problem put up 90 him on the organiZa-
tion of the House of the Slxty-fjrst Con
Eress. 1t win concern the rivers and
harbors chrirmauships, which IT, is now
certain viii be left vacant by the selec-
lion Of Representative Theodore -. Bur
ton of Ohio for Senator from that State
Just now to du the place of chairman
Of this important committee viii prob
ably cause the Speaker to do a lot Of
tuggiug at that long black cigar with
which the public is so familiar. Already
there is a lot of gossip afoat about
the place, as an evidence of the inter
est members Of Congress are taking in
it. The claims of at least two strong
men viii be pushed by their friends
and probably there viii be more aspir-
ants who win have TO 5e reCkOned with
Representative AchesOn of PenusyI-
vania would be the ranking member of
the committee next session, but he has
been defeated This leaves Representa-
tive Alexander of New York next in
line, then Representative George p
Lawrence OF Massachusetts, and then
representative James H Davidson Of
Wisconsin, If the Speaker proceeds on
The rule OF seniority, Representative
Alexander win get the place. but there
are indications that in this case the
rule Of seniority viii be laid aside.
Whether this IS done viii depend to
some etxent on the way the chairman
ship Of the judiciary Committee is dis
posed OF.
Judiciary Committee Situation.
The defeat OF Representative Jenkins
of Wisconsin for reelection leaves Rep
resentative Richard Wayne Parker of
New Jersey as the ranking member of
the judiciary Committee and Reuresen-
tatiVe Alexander as next iH line The
prospects OF the selection of Represen-
tative Parker for head Of the judiciary
Committee are not Of the brightest, and
it is entirely possible that Alexander
VIII be given this chairmanship, and
then that the rivers and haTbOrs chair
mGnship will be settled as the Speaker
sees ft without reference to seniority.
IL is already apparent that there VIII
be strong pressure on the Speaker for
such q settlement
Two members of the Rivers and Har-
bOr5 Committee are looming uD strong
for the place filled now by Burton They
are Representative Lawrence Of ATa--a-
chusetts and Representative Davidson
OF Wisconsin. Each man asDises t1 the
chalrmanship and each is q man of
ability, who has been giving close at
tenti0n 90 river and harb0r matters.
Lawrence and his friends viii make a
hard fight for the place II il does not fan
TO Alexander on the ground Of rank.
Lawrence has been an efficient mem
ber OF the committee and has been
Watchfu OF the interests iu his own
state 90 such a. degree that Massa-
elusetts has Jared especially well under
ms patronage. among other things. he
got continuing appropriation of $500
u01 for the dredging Of "a 52-f0ot chan
mel through Broad sound at Boston.
This greatly facilitates shipping
through the port of Boston. and Massa-
Chusetts gives Lawrence fun credit for
b. AT the same time, Lawrence
friends maintain that he has been
friendly &c improvements iu other parts
OF the country.
Factor for Davidson.
8 factor lu the situation that g,U
make Davidson strong is the great de-
maud for waterway improvements in
The Mississippi valley and the Middle
West generally. MT Davidson wiz have
strong Western support 0u this account.
The friends of such projects as the
lakes 20 the gulf waterway viii prefer
"a Western man to an Eastern man 81
head of the committee and are likely
20 exert ali their influence on the Speak
or to name q Western man In that
case Davidson would stand an excel
lent chance of being appointed Mr..
Burton himself is said to be friendly
TO Davidson as his successor, though it
iH hardly TO be expected this viii cut
much figure with Mr. Cannon who ha,
never had airy cordial love fore the pres
Sut chalru-a
Indications now are that re rfr-re
and haTbors bin viii be passed at this
session In that case. it win be up to
The long session to pass such a. bin. II
passage of a. bin does go over until
the long session, that fact wiz lend ad-
oItional iutcret 10 the appointment Of