The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-18
Caucus Called for January Will Act on Legislation
UNDERWOOD IS THE LEADER
Alabama Man VIII Head Ways and Means Committee and As Its Chairman He Will Direct
 Legislative Affairs
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY


 Washington December 17.-(special.)- The calling of a democratic caucus ot the next House to meet on January 19, combined with Representative Champ Clark's statement, formed the basis of considerable speculation in Washington today over the personnel of the tentative ways and means committee to be se- lected. This committee will probably be named in exactly the same manner in which the democrats nominated their mi nority member of the committee on rules when the House, at the last session, re- moved the speaker and reorganized that committee. The democrats met in eau | GUS to name the four men allowed them. | Seven or eight names were proposed | and the four receiving the greatest vote were declared the choices of the caucus. The new ways and means committee | is expected to consist of 19 members, 12 | democrats and seven republicans. It IS generally considered that the republicans can do as they please without democratic objection in the matter of the seven men. Burden of Committee
 | IH6 ucIHOCTdIlC CduCub Wlllb lHeIeIOIc, confne itself to the 12 members upon whose shoulders will fall the burden of originating the tariff legislation of the | next House. There seems 10 be a gen. eral consensus of opinion that Mir Un- derwood will be made the chairman of the committee without opposition. Tho | Alabamian is not only the senior mem ha, of hi.t bot ie | important. he is recognized as the best equipped man in the House for the work | His democracy on the general principle of the tariff Is unquestioned and 1t is considered that there Is no riember of | the House who possesses his expert knowledge of the intricacies of tariff schedules | As to the other il democrats to be | named by the caucus nothing but the votes of the 227 democrats who meet on January 1s can decide. It is naturally presumed that of the six democrats now comprising the minority of the commit | tee most of them will be returned on account of their experience in the frarn-
 ing of the Payne bill. This would still | leave six or seven places for additional men and 1t will not be surprising if 20 or. 30 names are placed before the caucus for the Il places under prospective Chair man Underwood.
 ,a Interesting Situation
 | An interesting situation has arisen in the North Carolina delegation Repre- sentative Pou of that state is now a member of the committee and it is re- ported that Representative Kitchin of the same state is seriously considering enter ing the race against him. Pou's action in voting against free lumber is the prin- cipal point of difference between the two Tar-heels. rf .y3 Nearly all the men who, have achieved any prominence in the House during the last few years are mentioned today for places on ways and means, and it is use less at this time to attempt to give a list. It is considered entirely probable. how ever, that Representative Ollie James will be candidate for a place on the great t committee and the popularity of the big Kentucklan would indicate his election. Representative Lincoln Dixon of Indiana and Representative Denver of Ohio are other men who are being talked of today As stated however. the ways and means committee is to be chosen by 227 voters and what they will do is the 'nerest speculation at this time.
 Letter From Clayton
 Representative Clayton of Alabama chairman of the democratic caucus, to- day addressed the subjoined letter to each democrat who will be member of the next House:
 Dear Sir: A number of the democrat c representatives, elect to the Sixty-sec- ond Congress have united in a request to me, as chairman of the democratic eau GUS of the House of Representatives to issue this invitation for a conference of the democratic members-eect of the House of Representatives of the Sixty second Congress. I therefore as request cd invite you and the other democratic members-elect to the Sixty-second Con gress to meet in such conference in the hall of the House of Representatives Washington, D. C., on Thursday, January IS, 1911, at p. m.
 The object of such conference Is to devise and further plans necessary and proper for expediting and securing legis- lation in the Sixty-second Congress. II
  tatives to that Congress should be pre- pared to meet the duties of legislation when the Congress shall assemble on the first Monday in December next.
 "The country expects tariff revision downward in order that this work may be wisely and expeditiously carried for ward The democratic members of the ways and means committee ought to give the subject much time and study during the approaching vacation. Doubtless 1t V ould be wise for the democratic mem bership of the House of Representatives Of the Sixty-second Congress to indicate at some early date what democrats will probably be selected as members of the ways and means committee. This, as well as other things, may come before such conference for consideration, and doubtless the conference will in all things do what is deemed wise and best to meet the just expectations of the people
 Ut is of the utmost importance that the conference be attended by every repre- sentative-elect to the Sixty-second Con- gress. Let me urge you on behalf of the united democracy to attend. Please ad- wise me that you will do so. Faithfully yours. HENRY D. CLAYTON,
 Chairman"