The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-01-26
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL
What Our Lawmakers Are De-
Ing and Other Interesting
Events.

Washington. The constitutional
amendment providing for direct cleo
ton Of United States senators Is In
danger of going to wreck through the
injection OF the race Issue Of the
South into the debate in the Senate.
The controversy has arisen over the
control of elections for the choice Of
senators. AS reported from commit
tee. the resolution authorizing the sub
mission Of the amendment to the
states includes in the amendment
provision that the state legislatures
shall fix the times, places and manner
Of holding the elections, but Suther-
land moved an amendment giving
Congress power to regulate the cleo
tons. This has aroused the opposi-
ton Of the Democrats and, though
the Republicans are strong enough in
numbers to secure its adoption. as
bare majority suf1ices. they would
thereby imperil the adoption of the
resolution itself as this requires three
fifths majority. which cannot be Sc
cured without the aid of Democratic
votes.
The conservative Republicans, who
are at heart opposed to direct cleo
ton, but fear to show their true col
ors, have seized this opportunity to
defeat the amendment by indirection.
VIII Increase Committees.
Large committees will be the rule
In the lower House o. the sixty-second
Congress. Under a resolution offered
by Representative Covington. of Mary
land, and carried by the caucus of
the Democratic representatives-elect
the important committees will have a
membership of 81 each.
There Ia no disposition to cut down
the minority representation on these
bodies and it Is felt by Democratic
leaders that some time In the future
the numerical strength Of the House
viii be augmented.
High Assignment for Fitzgerald.
Democrats In the House, led by
Champ Clark. are apparently prepar-
ing to bring down wrath on their
heads by appointing Congressman
Fitzgerald Of Brooklyn. chairman Of
the appropriations committee. Fitz-
gerald was the leader Of the % Demo-
Gratis who at the behest OF Tammany
Hall deserted the allied Democrats
and progressive Republicans last
March and went to the rescue OF
Speaker Cannon. He IL regarded as q
dangerous tory and the progressives
are seeking to arouse public sentt
ment to protest against Fitzgerald's
elevation to position Of such power
that he would be able to punish all
progressives.
Stormy Debate on irrigation Report.
The Senate committee on irrigation,
behind closed doors. has been holding
heated sessions over the attempt by
Chairman Carter to use the commit
tee to in1ure Director Newell and the
friends Of conservation. Carter had
withheld for more than q year the re-
port Of the committee on their tour of
western irrigation projects. taken in
the summer OF 1909. He finally wrote
q report in full. and asked the COM
mittee to sign It. He met with re-
fusal. with the result that the issue
still ponds. and Carter, who hates
Newell. Pinchot. Garfield and all con-
servationists. may yet be baked of
his plan.
San Francisco May Lose.
"Fignt to the finish" Is the slogan Of
the California delegation in the House.
which Is engaged in . contest wit
New Orleans tor the location Of the
exposition to be held in 1915 In cele-
hration OF the completion OF the Pan
anna Canal. San Francisco lost the
hrst round by the adoption OF a ma,
3ortty report BY the committee in IA
vor Of New Orleans. but the real bat.
tie will come in the House when the
reports OF the majority in favor OF
New Orleans and the minority in "a.
vor Of San Francisco win come up Tor
adoption.
National Capital erevitles.
Representative Champ Clark Of
Missouri. Democratic leader Of the
House and receptive candidate for the
Democratic nomination for the presi.
dency. was nominated by exclamation
for speaker Of the House in the sixty.
second Congress by the Democratic
caucus.
Reciprocity between Canada and the
United States has been agreed upon
nv