The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
Illinois Man Introduced the
 First Bill
COMPLEXION OF HOUSE
surgents Will Be Elected to Give Them Small Majority-Pan-
 anna Exposition Talk
BY JoNoTHAN WINFIELD

| VI CAO-ScAA ACNhCt POSto6c AtCdilH LII . fact that the late Representative George W. Smith of Illinois nearly 1o years ago began the fight for penny postage.
 He was a member of the House com mittee on postoffices and postroads, and took lively interest in all matters pertaining to the postoffioe department. which he regarded as the one execu- tive department which was closest to the people. He believed that under existing laws the postoffice depart ment has the power to give the peo- pie a parcels post such as exists in England. He always maintained that the time would come when the post office would add a percels post to the service.
 It was Tn the winter of 1902 that the late Illinois congressman introduced his bill for penny postage. The pub lished announcement that the bill had been introduced In the House brought tion of the country praying for the bills passage. MT. Smith presented one petition himself bearing several thousand names. Of course other mem bers introduced penny postage bills, but for some reason not explained the postoffice department officials did not seem to take kindly to the Smith bill nor, in fact, to any of the measures that had for their object the reduc- tion of postage. But now that the Post master General has taken the subject up it Is not improbable that the House committee on postoffices and postroads at the coming session of Congress may give consideration to one of the sev- eral penny postage bills that were in- troduced last session.
 One argument advanced in favor of one-cent postage Is that it would prove boon to the manufacturing interests, who could use the mails for advertis- ing their business, while the increase in mail matter from this source would soon make up the difference in postal revenues. Postal officials say the rec ord shows that when the postage was reduced from three to two cents 1t was in comparatively short time that the deficiency in the receipts which fol- lowed was made up by an increase in first-class mail. The large mail order houses and business concerns general ly are in favor of one-cent postage, as they believe 1t will prove a strong card in extending business now carried on through the postoffices of the country. II Is not improbable that President Taft may indorse one-cent postage in his forthcoming message to Congress. According to information received at the democratic and republican congress sional headquarters here, 76 insurgent re- pubicans have been nominated for Con- gress. The significance of this, say some political sages, is that with a small ma T,,,,s+ +1.- A. would be able to practically control that body. It Is pointed out that although the insurgents, with perhaps few ex captions may enter the republican caucus and take hand in selecting the candidate for speaker, it would not follow that they would vote for the Cannon rlues when that question comes up at the organiza- tion of the next House.
 Said an official of the republican head quarters today: While the reports in the daily press suggest that the demo- crats will control the next House, the situation may change within a few days of the election and we may still hold the House by majority of five. In the Fifty-first Congress. when Harrison was elected, We had majority of but three, and, until several of the contested cleo ton cases were disposed of under general parliamentary law, the House had no rules. But, with the contested seats dis posed of, the republicans acted as unit. and adopted the Reed rules, which made | it possible for the organization to ab- l solutely control the legislation.
 l With a score or two of insurgents. who call themselves republicans, you can readily see that it would be the tail that would wag the dog. If the democrats | control the next House you will see a | lively fight on our side of the House over the nomination for speaker, which | carries with 1t the floor leadership. Pre- ! cedent shows that the speaker of the Hoise, who. by change in the majority becomes of the minority, Is always hon. | ored with the complimentary nomination | for speaker, which Is notice to the ma Il iority that he is the leader of the minor l fly. This time the indications are that | the precedent will be ignored, because so Il many of the old wheel horses hereto Il fore classed as staunch supporters of I Cannon have pledged themselves not to again vote for him for speaker. As that I pledge would hold, you can readily see
 the prospects for lively fight when the House of the Sixty-second Congress con-
 venses for organization"
 | 'It is hard to guess what the House
 will do with the resolutions inviting the nations of the earth to attend the world s Panama exposition to be held in 1915,"
 said Representative Foster of Vermont chairman of the House committee on for eign affairs the other day.
 You know, just a week or two be- fore the adjournment of Congress at the last session, my committee gave hear ing to representatives from San Fran
 cisco and New Orleans, the two cities competing for the exposition, but the
 members of the committee reached no conclusion.
 Tn my judgment it will be no easy
 matter to dispose of the subject next
 December. There Is no question but that
 Congress favors such an exposition as
 suggested by New Orleans and San Fran
 cisco in commemoration of the opening
 of the Panama canal. believe the
 House will dispose of the question be-
 fore the holiday recess. Our committed ,''
 continued MT. Foster, Twill have noth. ing to say as to the selection of the city
 for the holding of the exposition, for
 we only have charge of the matter In
 so far as 1t relates to inviting foreign
 governments to participate. The House
 committee on industrial arts and exposi-
 tions will decide as to which city shall 1 be chosen"
 Representative Foster says that the
 sentiment in favor of a worlds Panama
 exposition in celebration of the openinq
 of the Panama canal extends from one
 Id of the country to the othsr afk
 that his correspondence convinces him
 that the citizens of the west and the
 south are deeply interested in securing the exposition. This Is shown, he says by the money each city Is willing to put
 ,ip to guarantee the government that Congress will not be asked to contribute