The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-11-24

committees of appropriation, naval af-
fairs, interstate commerce, mines and
mining, and Indian relations, and is
now chairman of Five Civilized
Tribes of Indians" which gives him
a clerk and messenger. If the Demo
Gratis should gain control of the SEN
ate, which is altogether likely, this
would make Senator Tillman chair
man of perhaps the most important
committee in the senate, that IS the
committee of appropriations which
handles the billion dollars that are
annually expended by the federal gov
ernment. AS matter of fact the
Democrats want Senator Tillman for
this position and now defer to hin!
in many matters that come before the
committee, of which he is the rank
ing minority member.
Just little incident to show hov
things go. For many years a Dill
was pending either in the house or
senate providing for a fish hatchery
in South Carolina, but it never pass
ed both branches in any one year and
never got into the appropriation bill.
At a meeting Of the committee last
year while the matter Of appropriat-
ing funds for fisheries was under dis
cussion, although there was no bill
before either the house or senate,
Senator Tillman suggested that he
wanted a fishery for this State and
wanted $4,000. The other members
of the committee concurred and with
out any legislative act the $4,000 was
simply incorporated in the general ap-
propriation bill, and this is the way
things are often done and why chair
manshp is of so much Importance.
Long service, too, makes such things
easy to do.
Of course, Senator Tillman with his
uuickness has not needed the eigh-
teen years that he has been in the
senate to find out how to work the
machine or to catch on to all the
legislative "kinks," but he has used
this time in addition to becoming ia
miliar with the legislative machinery
making friends, and the people in
Washington, regardless Of political af-
fliations, all testify to the high re-
gard in which Senator Tillman is held
by the officials, as we'll as by officers
in the army and navy, and with his
rank, efficiency and acquaintance, il
the Democrats should gain control of
the senate the people Of this State
can hardly estimate of how much
value he would be.
Of course, Senator Tillman is not
as vigorous nor as s,rong as he has
been, but he is able to be up and
about; to make speeches, though DR..
Babcock advises him not to do it. to
say what he wants; to dictate letters;
to attend committee meetings, and to
"kick" whenever it may be necessary,
and these things count for much in
official life in Washington, where
speech-making is more largely intend
ed for outside consumption than it is
for results.
It is just as well for the people of
South Carolina to understand what
the conditions are with regard to Sen
ator Tillman and his rank among the
Democrats, the disadvantage of
changing horses and what his sphere
of usefulness may amount to if he
continues in his present health and
the Democrats continue to hold on
to what they have, to say nothing OF
gaining control of the senate, and its
! greater possibilities. Committee work
counts for more in the United States
senate than in any legislative assem-