The Washington times., 1912-11-23
NEW MAKEUP Of
WAYS AND MEANS
BODY IMPORTANT
Low Tariff and Protection
Democrats Will Battle
for Control.

Though little surface discussion Of the
subject IL rife. Il IL well recognized by
House Democrats that much depends on
the way the Democratic side Of the
WAYS and Means Committee Is ogan-
ICED after March 4.
Not only is this committee tho one
TINT shapes tariff measures for the
House, but It has unwonted and re-
msrkablc power by reason Of being the
Committee on Committees. AZ the stu
alton stands in the House now, the Re-
4 "iook in" And they will be as com
pleteiy out OF It next Congress as they
are now in fact; more nds 90 inan nos ever fi.r.
pubiicans. This looks like far cry
from the palmy days when Uncle joe
We. czsr 9f the aouse aoS,e,,,ns ana se, se,eno
the next Congress the number of Demo.
Gratis on the committee will be Increased
and the number Of Republicans will be
fewer.
Keen Rivalry Predicted.
BY reason Of vacancies and the prob
able increase Of the committee there will
be Ave or six Democratic members TO
be appointed to Ways and Means. The
rivalry for the places will be great.
though candidates and asprants are
slow about coming out into the open.
No doubt they will develop quickly af-
ter Congress meets the first Monday In
December.
mittee stands now It consists OF the foi-
Oscar w. Underwood. Of Alabama:
Choice Il. Randell, Of Texas: Francis
b. Herrison. OF New York; William q.
ss.ecr sssa Of &, assoa asssa cIasas RSsssy k,eS
in, Of North Carolina: ollie NJ. James,
Of Kentucky: Henry r. Rainey. OF Hi
nois; Lincoln Dixon. Of Indiana: Will,
lam Hughes. Of New Jersey; Cordeii
Minnesota; Andrew J. Peters. OF Mas
| sachusetts and a. Witchell Palmer. Of
Pennsylvania.
Five Empty Places.
OF these, Messrs. James and Hughes
| will become Senators after March 4.
Randeii ran for the Senate in Texas
and was beaten, and Brantley will not
return to the House after this session.
Palmer may 60 into the Wilson Cab
met, This makes i've, and II the Demo-
cratic side Of the committee - en-
larRed by one or two. there will be six
or seven to name. At the least, There
will be four to be put on. even u the
1
stays In the House.
The real question Is whether protec'
tion Democrats or genuine tarin. reduc-
ton Democrats are going to fill the
vacant places. The Democratic side OF
the committee now leans rather to
genuine tarin revision than to a com
Portable protective tariff. Eight Of th'
members OF the Democratic side OF th'
committee voted for free wool and siA
against It. This is not quite an accu'
| rate test, and as matter Of fact tht
two schools are about evenly divided
on the committee. Underwood. Brant
ley. Dixon. Hammond. Peters. and Pal
Shackleford Is generally 80 inclined
though he voted for free wool.
| Issue Is Doubtful.
II the low.tarif Democrats have thu
power to force low-tarin men on th'
committee to I'LL the vacancies, 1t viii
!. mean much with respect to the shaping
hand. u Underwood and the conserva
tives fill the vacancies. or a controlling
!. number Of them. with conservatives
II will mean much In another direction
True. the House can override the com
mittee, but 1t IL not an easy task
Moreover. much will depend on tn
question OF whether conservatives o
radicals control the Ways and Mean
Committee from the standpoint OF how
the committees In general are fash
: ioned, and whether the committees ar
| given a reactionary or progressv
slant.
Texas has come to the front with tw
Congressman Garner and the other Con
gressman Smith. Garner IL a protec
) ton Democrat. Judge Smith IL low
!, tarin man and strong one.