New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-31

| house
| The statutes bear marks Of Mr.. Sher-
mans work In committee and caucus anu
his labors on the Rules Committee, the
| Interstate Commerce Committee ana
other branches Of the machinery OF the
| house where the real lawmaking 10 DONE
The story of Mr.. Sherman's Congress
career Is the story of dtligent worker
In the public service, Of positive party
convictions and Of one who developed re-
markable executive talent In the speclai
work on which he was engaged. he
early formed a strong friendship Win
the late Speaker Reed, and his close ac-
quaintance with Mr.. Reed probably more
than anything else exerted a powerful
influence on his career. 1t was under
Mr.. Reed as Speaker OF the House that
Mr. Sherman's service assumed charac-
ter that brought him into national promi-
nence Mr.. Reed appointed him TO the
Craftsmanship Of the Committee on indian
Affairs in the 18Th Congress, place ne
, filed with distinguished success through
out his Congress career, and to member
ship in the Committee on Interstate and
! Foreign Commerce.
| Mr.. Shermanis most important legisla-
| tive work perhaps was done on the lndlan
| Affairs Committee. He was credited WIN
better understanding Of the various
questions connected with the govern
ments obligations TO the Indians ana lls
! efforts to fulfil them than that or any
other Representative who had been called
| on to deal with this subject.
Work for tho Indians.
The laws affecting the Indians passed
under Mr.. Shermans direction, as de-
monstratlng his capacity for statesman
ship. had an important bearing on his
candidacy for the nomination for Vice
! President. In all states having Indian
population the value Of his work In Con-
gress was highly appreciated, ana the
delegates from those states were among
his enthusiastic supporters In the con-
vention. Il was plain that he would
bring strength to the ticket not only IN
New York but also in the states OF the
West-Kansas. the Dakotas, Oklahoma
end others-where the Indian legislation
had benefited both the wards OF the gov
eminent and the people at large.
| Mr.. Shermans work on other commit"
tees was equally creditable. One OF his
measures as a member OF the Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce was
/ the false branding bill, which proved
| effective In protecting American cheese
manufacturers. He made the first favor
! able report to the House on a Nicaragua
canal. before the Panama project had
developed, and he strongly supported the
isthmian canal enterprise He was the
! father OF the Philippine cable bill and OF
the bill for the reorganization OF the
revenue cutter service. He held the third
Mace in the important Committee on
Rules. and was looked to as one OF the
, best counsellors in guiding the business
OF the House. r.. ...,r.
Mr.. Sherman was reputed 70 be the
most expert parliamentarian In Congress
! Mr.. Reed, as Speaker, recognized MI.
/ Sherman's talent in this direction ana
/ EMPLOYED Il frequently. No other Repre-
sentative had been called on as OFTEN 10
preside over the deliberations OF the
! House I'm committee OF the whole. and
some OF the greatest debates in this body
in the last fifteen years were conducted
with Mr.. Sherman In the chair. Inc
most famous OF these debates, perhaps
was that on the Dingley tariff bill ana
IN tho Cuban war revenue bill, each OF
which occupied many weeks. HIS ser
vices were in demand also ~hen the
great appropriation bills were under dls-
| cuss,on. his keenness, readiness In trying
| situations and his fairness finding favor
with the members Of the opposition as
well as with the majority.
| An instance OF Mr. Sherman's quicKness
IN meeting a situation while presiding 1T
the Houge occurred during a Democratic
nIibuster In the session in which Speaker
| Reed received the title OF Gear because
Of his rulings on the counting or a
quorum and the exclusion OF dilatory
nations. Mr.. Sherman was in the chair
and the minority was using all the OBJ
structive tactics II could muster
Representative Bailey. OF Texas, later
a Senator, moved to lay the pending mo-
ton on the table Mr.. Sherman promptly
ruled his motion out Of order as dilatory
To the Texans protest, Mr.. Sherman
said:
IF the gentleman from Texas makes
his motion in good faith and will assure
the chair that It is not a dilatory motion
| the chair will put it,
| Mr.. Sherman had not trusted to the
! Southern idea Of honor in vain, for Mr.
Bailey did not renew his motion. Suisse
quently in one OF the committee rooms
Mr.. Bailey came UP to Mr.. Sherman and
putting his arm over the New York mem
ber's shoulder. said: We'll, Jim. you had
me that time"
Praised as Presiding officer.
This readiness OF resource in conducting
Congressional business, together with Mr.
| Sherman's fairness under all circum