The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-08
Naming of Committees Is
 Still Disputed Matter
CAUCUS MAY TALE CHARGE
Committee Power To Name Com mittees That the Work Be .hr.N Done By Caucus ,EeS
By WAITER SON

By PATTERSON ssSSfaY
 Washington, DecemT oS(special)- That the upshot of . sscratic differ ences over the rules O.. lhe House may be the selection of the House committees of the Sixty-second Congress by d demo- cratic caucus to be held the day the new House convenes and elects Representa- tive Champ Clark of Missouri it's speak CT, is a prediction being made at ths rather early period by many ordinarily well-informed democratic members.
 As heretofore stated in The Age-Herald, Representative Clayton of Alabama, chairman of the democratic caucus, will issue a call within few days for eau GUS of House democrats. This caucus is to be called for the purpose of dscuss- ing the advisability of naming a com mittee composed of members of recog- nized ability to recommend what changes in the rules it deems necessary and sub init report on the method of creating the Committees of the Sixty-second House Tine recommendations of this l committee will be submitted to the dem ocratic membership of the next House. and in all probability will be adopted by a democratic caucus, and therefore be- come the rules of the new House.
 As matters stand today it is indisput- able that three-fourths of the democratic membership favor the appointment of the committees by the speakers They are | largely governed by reason of the fact that they have the utmost confidence in the fairness and judgment of MT. Clark and look upon any abridgement of the speakership right as a reflection upon him. On the other hand there is recogni- tion of a sentiment throughout the coun- try-a sentiment arising out of the fight on Cannonisnl-to take from the speaker the power of naming the committees. The proposed committee on committees plan has little support, and will probably be | discarded as impracticable with little | discussion. Most members declare 1t merely means an oligarchy with power and without responsibility. The insur- mountable objection, however, lies in the belief of parliamentarians that the ap- pointment of such a committee amends | the rules so as to take away from the House itself the power to elect commit tees-a power which it possesses under | the present rules.
 The election of the committees of the | House by a caucus would meet any ob- jectlons opponents of the present order | of things advance, and would certainly bring the committees nearer to the peo- | pie than any other arrangement that could be devised.
 MT. Clark himself has made no effort to influence members one way or the | other He IS content to abide by the wisdom of a democratic caucus. The prospective speaker undoubtedly feels that the success of his party in the ap- preaching presidential elections is of good deal more importance to him than a mere question of House procedure and if in the judgment of a democratic caucus of the next House it is deemed desirable to alter the established custom he would be the first to embrace it.
 As for the rights of the minority in the next House there is no difference ot opinion among the democrats The re- publicans will be allowed fair represent Il tation every committee, and will be I given the absolute power to name their own men--a concession which has rarely been accorded to the democrats by re- publican speakers.
 l Taken all in all there is every pros pect that by the time the next House 1 convenes the democratic party will be in ] d position to take up immediately a solu- ton of the problem with which it has been intrusted by the country--a reduc- ton of the exorbitant rates of the Payne | act
 Cutting Naval Expenses
 "In my judgment this United States l can have as efficient u navys at from S15,000, 900 to $25,000000 less annually. Senator Aldrich said that business sataf $500, 900 900 annually. I believe he is right and T am satisfied that d big saving can be made through the navy | department When we come into power in the next Congress it is my purpose | to secure a thorough investigation of | that department and I believe the re- | suit Will show at least one department | in which We can economize.
 Representative Claude Kitchin of North Carolina a member of the naval affairs committee anu mentioned by l many as it's possible chairman in thu event the seniority rule is not followed, l made the above statement today MT l Kitchin does not believe that the rec Iommendations of the Secretary of the Navy for the next fs.al year promote l the efficiency of the navy.
 1 "The United States" said MT. Kitcl in, in discussing the report today lis second only to Great Britain in ves- 1 SelS or the pdttleSfilp type. w Q are Tar 1 behind other great nations in the small- l CT type of vessels It seems to me that the proper rblicy co pursue wouiS. l le to build up. If I had my way we would not authorize a single battleshlp in the forthcoming bill but we would | go in for more submarines, more col Hers gunboats and the smaller type | The Secretary of the Navy is recom- mending two battleships and every thing else is practically ignored. Out | of d total estimate of s30.000,0o0 for building operations in the next years bill over s25o0O,000 is to be spent for | two battleships.
 This can mean but one thing, added 1 MT. Kitchin.
 Tt is more money for the shipbuid- CTS, the powder trust. and the steel trust. They first seem to be able to l get unconscious ear of the navy de- partment and then the unconscious ear of Congress"
 ! A delegation fronMMobile will urge the commerce and Xtbor department tomorrow not to remove district light