The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-01-23
NEWS AT NATIONS
CAPITAL

Jan. ~. Mas
tiers are fast shaping toward the down
fall of Representative John j. jenkins
as chairman of the Judiciary commit
portant berths in the lower body of
congress. If the Wisconsin lawmaker
fails of reappointment when Speaker
Cannon makes up his committee as
signments for the sixty-frst congress,
it will be due to his decided views on
the question of government ownership
of public utilities. Since the opening
of the present congress there have
been frequent rumors of strong posi-
bility of Speaker Cannon naming some
other lawyer thar Mr.. jenkins to head
the Judiciary committee. These ru
mors, now given considerable credence,
have broken out afresh following the
introduction by Representative Jen-
kins of a measure providing for the
Purchase by the federal government
of the gas and electric right companies
of Washington. The Jenkins measure
carries the u~nmistakable label of
government ownership and, more
over, it is the kind to incur the dis
pleasure of the speaker and OF the
men who make up the governing body
of the house.
The jenkins measure is the culmina-
ton of a long and determined fight By
the people of Washington, through
their district commissioners, 70 obtain
cheaper and better gas and electric
light. The price ard quality of gas
sold in the District of Columbia have
been regulated by congress, but tie
contention of the pecI'e is that the
present price is not only too high Oh
that the quality has become so in
ferior as to end ,ngc. life and health.
The recent deaths of three persons IN
a single family II m the fumes OF
monoxide gas has served to make more
acute the local gas situation.
The fact that Mr.. jenkins has of
fered his bill in good faith and as a
solution OF the local gas troubles is
not likely to appease Speaker Cannon,
whose opposition to all such radical
legislation is a matter of public record.
Nor is this latest offering of Mr.. len
kins the kind it convince Uncle Joe
of the wisdom of again naming the
Wisconsin man to guide the Judiciary
committee. The speakers memory,
too, for previous legislative offerings
may react to Mr.. jenkins disadvan-
tage. He has only to consult the pro
ceedings of a former congress to find
that Mr.. Jenkins introduced a bill
providing for the purchase by the gov
eminent of certain valuable coal
lands. This was following the great
anthracite coal strike in 1905, whea
the entire country was affected by a
long-standing dispute between the
mine owners and their workmen. Men
ton of this, in connection with the
Jenkins bill to purchase the local light
ing companies, is made to show that
Mr.. Jenkins has not discarded his be-
lief in government ownership as the
true solution of problems affecting the
vital interests of the people.
Speaker Cannon's decision to name
another member to head the Judiciary
Committee would in no sense reflect on
M. jenkins ability as a lawyer. His
career in Congress has been a note
worthy one, and he has won the adj
miration of the Speaker and of the
House in many ways. He probably
would be shifted to another committee
headship of Importance, though just
which one has not been discussed
as yet. Before his election to Cong
ress, Representative Jenkins was a
district Judge in Wisconsin, and his
record as such was an enviable one.
1t was for this reason largely that
he won his present berth IN the Judi
ciary Committee.
In the event of Representative Jen-
kin's retirement from the Judiciary
Committee, it is highly probable that
Representative Alexander, of New
York, would succeed him as chairman.
The New Yorker is next in line on this
committee after Representative Park
err, of New Jersey, whose chances OF
succeeding to Rep. Jenkins shoes are
admittedly not bright. In addition, the
Speaker is said to have a decided pref
erence for Mr.. Alexander, which to
those understanding the workings of
the House would mean his selection TO
the post in question.
But one thing seems to stand in the
way of Mr.. Alexander's becoming head
of the Judiciary Committee. He is,
next to Rep. Acheson, of Pennsylvania
- So - - ..o,ab.v ~ %ho