The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-03
HOUSE DEMOCRATS
ARE SATISFIED
Committee Assignments Meet
with General Approval.
HARMONY ALONG THE LINE
Several Members Who Accepted
Places on the Appropriation Com
Gossip About the Selections in
Congregational Circles Yesterday.

The consensus of opinion yesterday re-
garding the House committees harmon
lied with the spirit of agreement which
was evident all day Saturday in the
Democratic caucus. 1t is conceded that
the new departure of making committee
assignments through the medium of a
committee on COMMITTEES is a success;
that the most satisfactory Speaker that
could be chosen might not have turned
out a better job To be sure, several
members who thought they should be
awarded chairmanships on the score Of
long service in the House were disap-
pointed but this dscomposure, as a rule
was appeased before the list was an
nounced.
Increase in Membership.
Through the new rules, practically all
of the important committees are in
creased in membership from eighteen to
twenty-one, and fourteen Democrats have
been given places on each. Those assigned
to one of twelve of the chief committees
are not entitled TO hold places on another
standing committee. of the House.
mittee on Ways and Means to bestow
power and influence on Democrats from
the North, who have been holding Re
publicans at bay in their districts. re-
suited in the comforting of chairman
ship upon one newly elected Democrat.
Robert f. Lee, of Pottsville, Pa, who
was elected in the Schuylkill district in
a close contest. was made chairman OF
the Committee on Mileage, which, while
it does not have much work TO do,
bears the dignity of having a clerk.
Three of the doubtful Indiana districts
were also taken in hand and their MEM
bers given chairmanShips, although they
have served but one term in Congress.
Representative Korbly drew the chair
manship of Railways and Canals. Rep
resentative Moss Expenditures in the
Department of Agriculture, and Cline En-
penditurcs on Public Buildings. Outside
of these one-termers, Representative
Oldheld. of Arkansas, was the only man
with one term in Congress to his credit
who received a Craftsmanship. He was
assigned to the Committee on Patents.
Would Not Take Chairmn n ships.
Representative Burleson. of Texas, who
strove nightly to obtain the chairman
ship of Appropriations. contented himself
committee rather than assuming the
of some less important COM
mittee. Representative Bartlett, OF
Georgia, also received place on the
Committee in lieu OF a
The following Democrats
Of long service took places on the big
committee of the House and renowned
other assignments: Sherley. OF Ken
lucky; Johnson. South Carolina: Page,
North Carolina; Saunders. Virginia; Nc
Henry, Pennsylvania: Rauch, Indiana;
Eyrns, Tennessee; Sisson. Mississippi;
Kinkead, New Jersey; Cox, Ohio, and
Missouri.
The committee on committees, as Is
Evidenced by the committee list. showed
extreme insight into circumstances by
providing many with fitting places, viewed
in the light of their proclivities heretofore
exhibited. For instance, Representative
Graham, of Illinois, who bitterly fought
former Secretary Ballinger in the Bal
inger-Pinchot Investigation and virtually
the conservation cause Of Gift
ford Pinchot, was made chairman of the
Committee to Investigate Expenditures in
the Interior Department. and was like
wise made the ranking member on the
Committee on Public Lands. In either
place he will be powerful to head off the
efforts of the Western members, both !
Democrats and Republicans, who deSpise |
The Philippine Question.
Representative Martin. of Colorado. the |
nstigator of an investigation of the friar |
land deals in the Philippines, was placed |
IN the Committee to Investigate Expen-
ditures in the War Department. where |
be can suggest worriment for the Bureau !
II Insular Affairs. In the meanwhile |
his colleague. Mr.. Rucker, has been re-
cIoved from the Committee on Insular |
Affairs, where he voted last session |
gainst the unfolding of the Martin |
charges.
The committee on committees evident |
" remembered the TRADE against hog |
combine which Representative Martin |
Dies, of Texas, issued at the time the |
Ways and Means Committee was made |
ID, in January, and sent to the new
Three minor places on
more or less important committees was
all that Mr.. Dies received in the
Besides the Ways and Means Commit
zee. several important committees of the |
House will find work on their hands i'm
nediately after the extra session con-
'enes. According to the programme out
ined in the caucus, the Territories Com
nittee will consider the constitutions Of |
arizona and New Mexico; the Judiciary
the popular election of Sena-
ors: the Census Committee, the reap
bill; the District Committee,
matters relating to the District of Co
umbia, and the ten Expenditures COM
nittees. resolutions of inquiry and inves-