The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-22

1 It is when the budgets are under con-
 sideration that the watch dogs' of tho | treasury-Mann. of Illinois and Macon oi | Arkansas--get out their pruning knives and cut the pet schemes of some of the members or department chiefs by mak- ing points of order against increasing appropriations not authorized by the ex- istng law. The watch dogs can play havoc with the work of the committed having charge of the budgets. Of course, Chairman Tawney does not control all the budgets reported from his committee, but he is on hand just the same, ready to jump in and give his colleagues as- sistance
 Another member of this privileged com nttee who is a recognized leader, when he takes charge of bill reported by the committee, is Representative Walter I. Smith of Iowa. He is also member of the rules committee and frequently takes floor command, as also does Rep resentative- F. H. Gillett of Massachu- setts, and former Speaker J. w. Keller of Ohio. They are all veterans, and know the rules thoroughly, which explains in 8 measure their success as leaders.
 But all the floor leaders are not con fined to the ways and means, the appro- priations and the rules committees. There are other privileged committees, such as postoffices and postroads, mili- tary affairs. naval affairs, agricultural. foreign affairs, Indian affairs and rivers and harbors, which have charge of ap- propriation bills, and the chairmen of these committees play an important part in the legislation of the House. They are Representative Weeks of Massa saehusetts, postoffices and postroads: Hull of Iowa, military affairs Foss of Illinois. naval affairs; Scott of Kansas, agriculture; Foster of Vermont, foreign affairs; Burke of South Dakota, Indian affairs and Alex ander of New York, rivers and harbors. Then there is the committee of inter- state and foreign Commerce, of which Representative James R. Mann of Illinois Is chairman. He is regarded by many as the floor leader per SC, for the reason that he Is generally accepted as the speaker 8 floor lieutenant. Representative Mann is always on guard, and no one ever gets unanimous consent for the consideration of a measure or resolution without the representative from Illinois saying, .'re- serving the rights to object, MT. Speak er," and then having secured the recog- milton from the chair, Representative Mann is in the position to block or help
 
 part in all debates on important and na- tional measures He had charge of the railroad bill which passed the House last session, and put the bill through without appealing to the rules committee for a special order.
 Other republicans who take a hand in floor leadership and who show their skill and familiarity with the rules are Whip Dwight. who sees to it that the republi- cans are present or about the House within call when needed for a record vote. In these closing days of the ses- sion he insists that the members shall attend the session in order not to be caught mapping by the democrats. Rep resentative Mccall ON Massachusetts Stafford of Wisconsin, Moon of Pennsyl- vania Mondell of Wyoming, who gives special attention to land legislation Prince of Illinois, who looks after claims against the government Olmsted of Pennsylvania, who has charge of legis- laton relating to insular possessions Butler of Pennsylvania, who knows the navy and it's wants. and Bartholdi of Mis- souri, who has charge of the public buildings of the country. are other lead CTS among the republicans. These mem bers belong to the coterie of floor lead CTS. And all of them are of the veteran class in length of service.
 Representative H. H. Bingham of Penn sylvania Is the Father of the House. by reason of his service of 32 years. but because of poor health he seldom takes the floor leadership, although he exercises d strong influence on legislation, and his advice is often sought by the active lead- CTS,