Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-04-13
Our Washington Letter.
Washington, April II, 1911

RES are over anu Tic SOhSiueio'oh VI
legislation will now absorb the attention
OF Senators and Congressman.
Not for years has West Virginia had so
prominent position in the council halls
of the nation. The committee assign
ments of the members of Congress from
West Virginia, as announced last week,
are not only exceptionally good for new
members, but they place each one OF the
delegation from West Virginia on at least
one committee of high rank. Some OF
the members from the State got two or
even three good committees, and not a
Democrat from the State failed to get
some assignment OF which he may be
proud and which will place him in the
front rank among national legislators.
In the Senate the West VirginianS have
taken an equally important part. Senator
Watson's committees are conservation OF
natural resources, one OF the influential
and important committees; Cuban rela-
tions and Indian affairs, both committees OF
special importance Mississippi river and
its tributaries Pacific Islands and Porto
Rico; railroads and transportation OF
meat products. In addition to these COM
mittees, an effort is being made by Sena-
tors who feel that Senator Watson is pc
culiarly fitted for the place TO have him
assigned to the committee on Interstate
Commerce. This is the committee OF
which Senator ElkinS was chairman Tor
many years, and it is the one which con-
siders all matters pertaining to railroads
and transportation.
Senator Chilton's committee assign
ments have not been made yet, but 1t is
understood he will have some unusually
good ones. His standing may be better
understood when it is stated that after be-
ing in the Senate but three DAYS he was
unanimously selected by the Democrats
OF the Senate as secretary OF the Demo-
cratic caucus. The. position will last
through this Congress and indicates the
esteem in which the junior Senator from
West Virginia is held by his fellow Sena-
tors.
West Virginia Congressman are being
overwhelmed with applications for posi-
lions under the House. There are about
600 positions to be filled with Democrats,
which will mean that each Congressman
will have about two places to give out. 1t
is estimated that an average OF &,6OO Il
year in patronage will be allotted to each
Democratic Congressman. If he gives
out 81 600 position he will have but one
appointee. If he makes it three places
they must average less than 5000 a year.
So there will be few good places and
not many which even pay less. There
are many applications from West Virgin
ianS, but the prospects are that under the
allotment made by the caucus there will
be but six or eight persons from the entire
State who will get positions.
Congressman Brown was greatly dis
appointed because he was not able to get
the same seat his father occupied in Con-
greSS, when he was the first representa-
tive from the second district OF West Viz
ginia. But the seating arrangement has
been changed since that time and the old
seats have been replaced, so it is lmpoS-
sible for him to ascertain the exact spot
occupied by his father.
Mr.. Brown, however, has in his office
a memento of his fathers Congressional
career. II is the old ink we'll which the
senior w. g. Brown used when he was
in Congress as a Member from Virginia.
The bill authorizing the formation OF the
State OF West Virginia was written with
ink from this we'll The ink well was
carried home by Mr. Brown as a memen-
to of the historic event and has been care
fully preserved in the family ever since.
The present Congressman brought it to
Washington with him and hopes he may
be able to write with ink from it some
other measure, which may not have so
greatan effecton Virginia but which,
nevertheless, may prove to be an impor-
tant measure.
Mr. Brown has taken rooms for himself
and Mrs. Brown at an unpretentious hotel
much frequented by Congressman, just
across the street from the House office
building and close to the capitol. While
some Of the Congressman have taken ex-
penSive suites in the aristocratic hotels,
Mr.. Brown preferred to be near his office
and close to the capitol He is stopping
at Congress Hall, large hotel devoted
almost exclusively to caring for Congress
men who prefer 10 be close to their work
rather than close to the theaterS and aris-
tocratic residence sections. He is living
simply, in Jeffersonian fashion, and right
in among lot OF the working Democrats
of the House.
The Department of Agriculture has just
ssued bulletin on the spraYingof peaches
for the brown-rot, scab and curculio
Ilasmuch as there are such extensive
peach orchards in the second district,
Mr.. Brown has secured large number
OF these bulletins and will be glad to send
copies to any persons in his district who
may be interested in them. The bulle
tins are of great value to peach growers.
Acknowledge 1t.
Shepherdstown Has to Bow to the
Inevitabte-Scores of Endorse
mentS Prove Ii.