The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-25
BY ARTHUR w, DUNN.

VIII the Democrats retrace their steps
In the matter Of control and organiza
ton Of the house of representatives tc
the extent Of giving the speaker power
to name the committees? The two
years of experiment under the other
plan have proved unsa tisfactory in some
respects.
1t has transferred the power from
! the speaker to the chairman of the
committee on ways and means, and he
has distributed the responsibility among
thirteen other members Of the commit
tee. The chairman has the actual pow
er, though the responsibility is very
much divided.
Chairmen of committees, more partic
ularly the head Of the ways and means
committee, are very much engaged in
congressional work and cannot be on
|, hand to watch over and direct the
house as does the speaker when he has
full control. Then, in the matter of
committee selection seniority prevails
A good speaker will overturn the SEN
iority rule and name the best men for
chairmen.
The Real Reform.
What the members of the house were
cropping for when they overturned Can
non and tried to reform the rules was
to get power into their own hands.
They were tired Of having bills which
a majority wanted considered smoth-
cred in committee. They were tired of
having to go to the speaker for every
thing they wanted. Rut they have
made little progress.
Bills are still held in committee. and
consideration Of many bills are pre-
vented by parliamentary tactics. What
| should have been done was to simply
provide that when majority signed
petition asking for the consideration
OF any bill the house should at once
| take 1t up and dispose of it. That
would have answered the most insistent
demand.
The Mounting Millions.
It now looks as If the appropriations
for the present session or for the next
year If some Of the appropriations go
over to the extra session, will be many
more millions greater than ever be-
fore. 'This congress will provide for
the expenditure Of the 100000. 900
which Is expected to be derived from
the income tax" said Chairman Fitz-
gerald, who was lecturing the house
upon the mounting millions in the ap-
preparation bills and other expendi-
lures.
II want to say" he added, "that I'M
less the Democratic side Of the house
wakes up to sense of its responsible
ity the appropriations will not only be
grossly extravagant, but they will
amount to so much that talk Of re
vision Of the tariff downward will be
almost hollow mockery."
Truce For spoiIs.
For time there waged hot fight
between the conservative and progress
sfve factions Of the Democratic party
in the senate over the control Of the
senate In the next congress Then it |
stopped. I'VE have become united"
remarked Hoke Smith, the leader of |
the progressives, .'in preventing the
confirmation Of the appointments which |
have been sent to the senate by Pres |
ident Taft It is probable that the
Democrats will be able to prevent all |
combinations at this session
Law and enforcement.
Former Speaker Cannon opposed the
Kenyon Webb anti-liquor bill and as
serted that If public sentiment in pro
hibition communities wanted to pre-
vent liquor selling it would stop. LACK
Of enforcement. he declared, was the
sole cause for the proposed legislation
The prohibition states were trying to
get the general government to enforce
their prohibition laws.
He went back to the days when he
was prosecuting attorney and said
many people shouted for prohibition.
but when 1t came to getting them to
testify or to serve on juries they balk
ed. II have seen men Of good stand
Ing commit perjury touching the sup
preston Of the liquor traffic." be de
clared
knute's knowledge.
Senators soon learn IL they are new,
and the older senators have long been
aware. that when Knute Nelson dips
INTO anything he knows what be is
talking about. 1t matters not what
nay be the subject, IL the Minnesota
senator undertakes to say anything on
he subject 1t may be taken for grant
ID that he has learned everything pos
'ible there was to learn on the sub
ect
And there is another thing about |
his keen old Norseman-he is not |
lfraid Of anything, never afraid Of his
ecord or fearful Of casting a vote.
Another fact not generally known out ]
ide OF communities where Norweg- |
ans live II that the first name OF the
enatcr r not pronounced "Nute," but /
hat Tho X" = sounded, just A. II
De1oeo -canst6 - .Kansoey II