The Washington herald., 1911-03-31

With the convening of the special ses-
sion of the SiXty-SeCond Congress only a
| few days distant, it has become appar-
ent that 4 new era is about TO dawn IN
the House OF Representatives, and that
certain traditions are to be upset and
precedents manufactured.
1t is extremely difficult TO tell what the
result will he after the new system has
been tried, with the Speaker stripped OF
power. the Ways and Means Oblisarchy
supreme in the making Of committees
and the making OF policies. the hog
couhin,'' abolished, and patronage re-
duced to a scientific PRO rata basis, dis
Fensed by the Committee on Accounts.
| Democrats well as Republicans are
skepticaI of the success of the new SyS-
! tenn. but there really seems to be dis
position to give all the new machinery
| fair triai and not to reject any part OF it,
until ineffiCiency or ability has
been concluSively demonstrated.
"And ii al these new schemes do
work. said a Democrat possessing ideals
yesterday. the House OF Representa-
tfves will be in closer touch with the
people than it has been in many a Ions
day"
Champ Clark Not Busy.
| Uncle Joe Cannon as Speaker had eight
years of very busy life. Under the new
state OF affairs, Champ Clark. instead
| Of being the busiest man in the House,
| IS about the most idle. He has his per
sonal correspondence to attend to. OF
! course, and naturally 1t has increased
since he became the Democratic choice
! for Speaker. But so far as important
matters of House adm inistration are con-
ccrned, he is left severely alone He con-
| fessed yesterday that he did not know
what changes the Committee on Rules
| would recommend. what men had been
selected for the important committees
| of the House. and what policy the Ways
! and Means Democrats had decided upon
| with reference to reciprocity, the wool
| s. hedule, and other important features
! connected with q certain revision of the
| tariff
Whit is more. he frankly declared that
| he did not want to know and had not
| tried to find out In other words. Mr..
| Clark has gone to the eXtrcpe IN aiding
| in a comprehensive test of the reform
| scheme of House administration AS
result, When he is formally elected to
the Speakership he will grasp savel
! from which power has fed
on the other hand, members of the Ways
and Means Committee-the committee
on committeeS-almOst have 10 wear
| diSEuiseS in order TO escape persecution
/ by their colleagues. They are PeStered al
| the Capitol the House Office Building.
on the street and at their homes. They
are beginning To think that a Speaker
! who iS 4 car has a great deal to con-
tend with and invuluntarily possesses tn"
| happy farulty OF making enemies on
! every hand.
Crisp Had Busy Time.
The Democrats didn't always perform
: ia this way. The last time they came
I into power in the House was in Is93. when
| President Cleveland called A special ses-
sion for the purpose of repeating the
! silver purchase clause in the Sherman
act. And they assembled in August.
/ Charles F. Crisp. Of Georgia was the
/ favorite candidate for Speaker Of the
House then, just as Champ Clark is now.
There was no committee on committees
| then to make Up the committee lists when
| the Speaker wasn't looking and no Com
| rrittee on Accounts TO frustrate all hog
combines" and allot patronage on a
! mathematical basis. Mr. Crisp was as
| much of a car as Cannon ever became,
| and he was treated accordingly.
! Champ Clark isn't worrying over the
changed conditions. In fact, ne Is respon-
| sible for tho assignment of Democrats to
committees by the Ways and Means
! members. When the Democratic caucus
that went on record in favor OF this COM
mittee on committees scheme met some
months ago the issue was put squarely
Up to him.
willing TO FOreEo Power.
| Democrats who had been violently op-
! posed to Cannonisn, cza-isn, and all the
other "isms' that make good campaign
material. were willing TO keep their words
! il necessary and abide by the judgment
! of Sp~ake5-to-be Clark. One word from
him and the caucus would have per
rnitted the power to appoint committees
20 remain in the Speakers hands, trust
| ing to the people 10 understand the diff
ference between Gar Clark and Gar
! Cannon. But Mr. Clark. who wants to
! be President some day. was convinced
| that his own future and the future of
| his party would suffer If the Democratic
majority repudiated the stand Of the
Democratic minority. So ne gave the
word and the committee OF committees
/ was born II he objects to his present
| idleness and isolation he has not yet said
word
Republican Caucus Monday.
A formal call for the Republicans of
! the House to meet m caucus on Monday
night was issued yesterday by Chairman
| Currier and Secretary Loudenslager
It is about settled that James r. Mann.
! OF Illinois, is TO be chosen minority
| leader. His name probably will be pre-
scented by former Speaker Cannon.
There were rumors yesterday that the
Republican insurgents OF the House
! v ould gather for conference on Mon
d. nftnr,nnr and .iiSrnS,. rIn1nS tn rrn-