The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
GREAT ANXIETY.
Speaker Cannon Is About to
Hand Out Chairmanships
OF a Number of Important
House Committees.
ONLY THE FAITHFUL
1t Is Believed Will BE Given
the Good Places.
insurgents" to BE Made to
Feel Uncle Joe's DispIeasure.

Washington, Aug. "A choice selec-
ton of the committee assignments is TO
be handed out by Speaker Cannon this
week Faithful service and fidelity h
the speaker and the Republican "regu-
lars" probably will be awarded before
the special session adjourns 1t is not
likely that there Will be any time for
speeches as to the merits of the speaH-
er's assignments, but this does not in
dictate that the members of the house
are not personally more interested in
Uncle Joe's" programme than they
have been in the tariff
A number of Regulars" will of
necessity be considerably grieVed over
the appointments as there is a relative
~ small limit to the number of chair
manships to be dealt out by the speak,
Representative Chas. N. Fowler OF
New Jersey, chairman of the commit.
tee on banking and currency during
the last congress, incurred the dis
pleasure of Mr.. Cannon by 'insurgins''
early in the season and a little later
added to his displeasure by actually
coming out as a candidate for speaker
against Uncle Joe. 1t is in the nature
of things congressional that a new
chairman be named 1t is no secret
about the house and Representative
Vreeland of New York is the speak
er's choice
Mr. Vreeland was not a member %
the banking and currency committee
during the last session and his appoint
ment will therefore open the way for
the speaker to make other appoint
ments where the member named for
chairman has not served on the COM
mittee of which he will become the
head.
As a result many aspirants who are
ranking members of their committees
are much concerned lest their aspira-
tions be in vain. This situation applies
especially to the interstate and foreign
commerce committee of which Colonel!
Pete Hepburn was chairman for u
number of years.
Vice President Sherman was next in
rank to Hepburn but his promotion 20
president of the senate leaves Repro
sentative Wanger of Pennsylvania as
the ranking member Representative
Mann of Illinois. one of the stalwarts
of the house, however, ranks next tn
Mr.. Wanger and has been a most ac-
tive member of the commerce commit
tee and he is said to be the choice of
the speaker for chairman. That til
speaker has decided to give Mr.. Mann
the place seems to be indicated by the
number of special favors shOwered on
Wanger during the special session. The
speaker has on several occasions turn.
ed the gavel over to the Pennsylvania
and he has been recognized in other
ways calculated to show the speaker
good will.
Should the speaker see fit he may
present the same programme to the
on postOffices and post
roads and the judiciary committee both
Of which will be very active during the
next session. Conservative members of
the majority. however. contend that
the speaker cannot afford at this time
to create further enmity by ignoring |
ranking members of committees in Sc |
Getting the chairman It is said, there !
fore. that Representatives Gardner and |
Farker will get the postoffce and |
judiciary committees respectively.
A. entirely different status governs
he appointment of a chairman for the |
nsuIar affairs committee. Representa- |
i've Cooper of Wisconsin, who was
chairman of this committee in the last |
congress, is still a member of the house |
out he was one of those who voted |
against the Cannon Rules" and there |
lore is scheduled to lose his place. 1t is |
generally conceded that Representative |
0lmstead of Pennsylvania will super
sede him.
When Theodore Burton was elected |
United States senator from Ohio, the |
craftsmanship of the committee on riv- |
ers and harbors was left vacant. Rep |
-esentative Acheson of Pennsylvania. |