Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-27
Of Ways and
Means Completed.
Ignoring Of Demands Of
Wool Growers Probable.
Cannon Protests Against Using
CIark'S Former Room.
Republicans Slow 10 Act Toward
Filling Committee Vacancies.

the ways and means committee OF the
House of Representatives are not
much exercised by the announcement
that Western wool growing interests
are preparing to march upon " ASH
ington in force when the tariff ques-
ton is considered. while | have no
authority To say that wool growers
will not be given a hearing" said
Chairman Underwood. 1t is my opin-
ion that they might Just as well make
an assault upon Gibraltar as upon the
House. We know new all the argu-
ments that will be advanced against
the revision Of schedule X, but there is
no question about what the House viii
do We will maxi our revision and
send il to the Senate and whether 1t
goes any further remains to be seen.
Tive comment made by Mr.. | nder-
wood reflects the attitude OF tie en-
tire majority of the ways and means
committee and the leaders in the now
Democratic House.
Acting as Il committee on commit
tees the members of the WAYS and
means committee lave practically
completed their labors. There has been
= great deal of speculation about the
,.hairinanships and the general impr"S-
sion is that in general the seniority
rule las been followed, but as the lists
prepared are ali subject In changr ut
the Democratic caucus to be held neXt
saturday, there Will be no official an
aouneement made of the proposed or
ganization in advance Of that time.
POSSIBLY ii will be the judgment Of the
caucus that all of til" commuters
should not be organized immediate IS
and this fact is an additional reason
Wy the ways and means committee is
owing to keep secret the result of Its
labor.
No action has been taken by the Re
publican minority concerning the com
mittees. The Republicans will have
one-third of the membership of each
committee ana it is probable that most
Of the important places will be filled
by men who are now til" ranking NOM
hers. II is likely that place on appro-
priations will be given to Mr.. Cannon,
WHO vas chairman Of that committee
prior to his elevation l" the Speaker
shin.
When Democratic leaders heard that
there was a movement on the part of
1lli-DIl lttIuDIItdlH 10 llitth' MI III
non the minority leader of the House. it
was assumed that he would be given the
room in the basement formerly occupied
by champ Clark who is to be Speaker.
Champ. | don't want that room of
yours" said ''unclc Joe" when he heard
of this plan. "WhY, il is right up against
Inc ice box and I'd have rheumatics in
all my joints in less than a week"
The room in question adioins the re-
frigerating plant at the Capitol and is
damp ut times Arrangements We're then
made by the Democrats to provide room
for Mr. Cannon ON the main floor con-
Venient to the chamber.
This action was intended as courtesy
to the man who had been in control of
the House reins for long. and the ac-
ton would have been taken whether Mr..
Cannon was elected minority leader or
not Immediately however. the anti
Cannon Republicans We're aroused and
now ii looks as if the minority leader
ship will be disposed of only after a
fight.
Mr.. Cannon has told a number of his
friends that he does not want the leader
ship of the minority. I've had my fling,
he said Unless urged by stand-patters
it is not believed that he will be candi-
date. In the event he should not he elect
ed it is likely that the contest will he
between Mann OF Illinois and Weeks of
Massachusetts. Both would be sure of
large followings should they become rival
candidates.
Few senator's have been in the city dur
ing the last week. Some time ago it was
announced that no effort would be made
to take up the question of filling vacan-
cies on committees until after the conyen-
ing of Congress in extra session on April
T. All of the talk that has been heard
has been of an entirely formal nature.
but ii indicates that there will be gem
uine attempt of regulars and progressive
Republicans to ''get together" The pro-
motions TO vacant chairmanships under
the seniority rule will give the progress
sives good show and it is likely also
that places will be given to this faction
on most of the important committees.
such as finance, appropriations and judi
ciary.