Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-20
HOUSE DEMOCRATS IN ROW
Fitzgerald and Adamson Slated for
Two Important Committees.
PROGREsS1vEs ARE UP IN ARMS
Outcome. Of the FiEht watched with
Interest In washiuEton. hut
Leaders VIII Not Predict
the Outcome.

WASHINGTON. March 1S-(Specisl Tele-
gram.)-A very pretty fight is now being
quietly conducted within the democratic
party, the result Of which will. II is eN-
pected. have an important bearing on the
work Of the house during the special ses.
sion
Il is understood that the democratic
members Of the WAYS and means commit.
tee. which Is likewise the committee on COM
mittees, has selected tentatively Represent
ative Fitzgerald OF New York chairman of
the powerful committee and Representative
Adamson Of Georgia as chairman Of the
almost equally powerful committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce.
The extreme progressives Of the party
are up in arms against these two appoint
ments and are making a very vigorous
fight to bring about a change.
The objection 20 Mr. Fitzgerald is that
he represents Tammany and Tsmmany rep
resented the revolt against the balance OF
the party when It was proposed TO smash
the Cannon rules. IT Is felt too, that he
is too much Of a conservative and Is in
clined to the Bailey wing Of the party.
Objection to AdamsOn.
Practically the same objection is made to
Mr Adamson. He Is a states rights man
In his views and being a positive man,
leaves no question as to where he stands.
The Interstate Commerce commission is
likely to have TO pass on some very i'm
portant matters during this congress ana
the progressives fear that Mr.. Adamson
will be a stumbling block to legislation
they regard as of vital Importance II he
is at the head OF the committee II is
pointed out that Mr.. Adamson was at
war with the main body of the democrats
and with the progressive republicans when
he opposed the features Of the Mann rail-
road BILL designed to give the Interstate
Commerce commission the power to super
wise the issue of railroad stocks and
bonds.
Mr. Adamson opposed giving the power
to the Interstate Commerce commission TO
make a general physical valuation Of the
railroads of the country, a measure sup
ported by the progressive element of both
parties. Mr.. Adamson was earnest in op.
posing the proposition to make railroad
companies responsible for bills of lading
issued by them, although the chief cham.
pions of that measure were his own asso.
ciates in the house.
To Admit Two New states.
In opposing the progressives in these and
other matters, the Georgian always pro-
fessed degree Of sympathy with the pur-
poses of the proposed legislation and has
based his opposition on constitutional
grounds.
Just what the outcome of the Eight be-
tween Adamson and Fitzgerald will be it
is hard to say. They are the senior demo-
ocrats on these committees and both are
men who have made many friends. The
best opinion at this time is that they
will not get the chairmanships
Democratic leaders are busly at work
on plans for the extra session. In addition
to the prompt passage of the Canadian
reciprocity measure and tariff bills, the
house proposes to pass the bill admitting
Arizona and New Mexico and the resolu-
ton declaring for the election OF senator's
by the people at the earliest possible
moment.