Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-15
61st CONGRESS-.
Next Speaker viii Not
Have Committees.
Fourth Big Supply Measure
Reported To House.
House Returns Sensational Secret
Report Of War Department.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE Speaker
Of the next House of Representatives
will not name the committees of that
body Speaker expectant Champ Clark,
Representative Underwood of Alabama
and others of the, conservative wing OF
the House Democracy have reached
the conclusion that the committees
shall be selective in some other way
than by appointment by the Speaker.
This much developed today.
Washington. Dec. 14.-Mild fillibus
tering marked the sessions in both
houses of Congress today. In the SEN
ate practically the entire time was
taken up by Senator BristoW of Kan
sas. whose opposition to the French
syoilation claims included in the ON
nibus claims bills prevented the pas
sage OF that measure.
A threatened renewal of the bitter
fight on the rules marked the opening
of business in the House when oppo-
si.ion developed to the taking up Of
the bill for the coditication and revi-
sion of the laws relating to the judi
ciary. Speaker Cannon declined to sit
in judgment on the question whether
the House. under the rules, could take
up q measure from the calendar which
it had up for consideration on the pre-
viOus calendar Wednesday,. According
ly the House voted by 146 to 81 decided
to take up the bill. 1t was still being
considered when adjournment was TAX
pr.
The executive, legislative and judicial
a inc
219 or S432,S75 less than the estimates.
was reported to the House today by
the appropriations committee. 1t is
the fourth big supply measure.
The committee points out that in this
bill more than s25O,0OO a year is saved
in the treasury department alone by
the reduction of positions.
4 sensational report from the war de-
partment showing how the country was
inadequately protected against invasion
from foreign governments was sent to
the House today as a secret document
and after a number of conferences was
returned to the war department on the
ground that the House could not receive
q secret report.
Members of Congress who saw the doc
ument before its withdrawal say the re-
port Of Secretary Dickinson points out
that the country is wholly unprepared,
that there is a woeful inadequacy of men,
of guns and ammunition, that the army
should be reorganized and that council
of national defence, with the secretary of
war at its head. should be created by
Congress-
Gen. Wood in testifying before the
star ..ol,
ed some of the most interesting informa-
ton ever given that body. He laid par
ticular emphasis upon the possibility of
attack from the Orient. He did not give
vent to any alar1nist views as to danger
of any Immediate invasion but talked
confidentially of the needs of Congress
as a prudent and effective act to take
immediate action to guard against any
possible trouble from Japan or China.
Rep. McLachlen of California, the au-
thor of the resolution which brought
about the official exposition of the weak
ness of the military defences. said today:
"A foreign country could land 100000
troops on the Pacific coast in 30 days and
the only intimation of trouble would be
their blowing up of the mountain passes,
thus preventing any communication with
the East
THE best military authorities say that
it would take years to dslodge foreign
troops is they ever secured a foothold
under these conditions and that it would
cost the United States a billion dollars"
A bill introduced by Rep. Hobson en-
bodies the administration idea of a ma
tional council for defence and is the re-
suit of his conference with President
Taft. Secretary Dickinson and other Of
ficials.