Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-01-31
TEXAS CONTINGENT
TOlERAbLy CALM
AWAITING DISTRIBUTION OF
FAVORS, CONSCIOUS OF DESERy
ING WELL OF THE NATION ANE
THE PRESIDENT.
HENRY AND BURLESON AND sen
ATORS CULBERSON AND SHEP.
PARD, WILL BE ARBITERS OF
PATRONAGE QUESTIONS.
(Hcrdld STAFF Correspondent

federal capital for the moment Texans
are tOlerably calm 1t is waiting timt
for almost everybody, which, of course
includes the senator's and representa-
tives from the Lone Star State. But
that does not dull expectations over
what is in store politically and legisla
lively. A few weeks and there will be
plenty doing, sure enough.
Senator-elect Sheppard has not re
turned from Austin, whittier he went
confident the legislature would elect him
also for the remainder of the term OF
Joseph w. Bailey, that Editor Rienzi
Johnston has not filled. Though elected
| it is impossible he can take the oath
and begin his service till into early
February. AS he has some important
duties in the house he might prefer tc
tarry little before packing his congress
siOnal effects and moving from the south
end of the capitol to the north end. He
is chairman of the house committee on
public buildings and grounds for in
stance. That committee is about 10
bring in bill for a score or more of mil
lion dollars to be disbursed on public
building projects. The next in rank OIL
that committee is Representative Bur
nett of Alabama, however, who could
take up the work wherever Senator
Sheppard leaves it,
AS a senator, Editor johnson has been
able only to mark time and vote when
the roll is called. He could perform lit
tie or no service on committees, because
he had no opportunity even to get warm
in his seat. He will now have the title
of Senator" all his life, for the saying
goes, "Once senator always a senator,
but that would be just as true whether
he quit in early February or in early
March. On the other hand, the service
of two or three weeks in the senate Of
this congress will be of great advantage
to Mr.. Sheppard. Seniority of service
counts very much in the senate, anC
many new senator's are coming in on
March 4. AS a senator in the G2nd con
gress Senator Sheppard would be senior
to all who come in March 4, for the 6:}rd
congress which would be of advantage
alike to him and to his constituency.
The Bailey contingent of Texas con
gressmen are very glum these January
days. Prospects under the Wilson adj
ministratiOn do not cheer them at all.
Every few days something happens at
Trenton to show that Mr.. Wilson as
president will not recognize and of the
"old guard" democrats from any state
Those who are representatives will prob
ably control the post Office patronage III
| their own districts but that will be about
the extent of their influence with the
new administration. 1t goes without
saying that Texas will get some good
places by designation from President
Wilson but they will be progressive
Texas democrats, not the men who have
followed Bailey.
/ AS matters stond now. no one can say
who in Texas is to get the good cuts of
federal pie but Senators CulbersOn and
Sheppard and Representatives Henry
and Burleson will have a strong voice in
calling them up to the counter 1t will
probably be more than month yet be
fore any clarion tones can be heard All
indications are that Gov. Wilson will at
tend pretty strictly to his knitting i'll
New Jersey for most of February and
that the announcements for high official
positions under his administration viii
not be made until he is almost ready 10
buy his railroad ticket to Washington
Nothing definite by way of gossip or
comment here as to the choice Of a
Texas democrat for the cabinet or for
that matter, of any democrat anywhere
unless it be BRYAN of Nebraska. But
there is no reason to despair about the
prospects of Burleson or some other good
Texas democrat.
To man up tree it looks as though
there would be some delay at the begin
ming of the administration in bestOwing
Offices. President Wilson's time prom
ises to be occupied for some weeks in
conferences over legislation. Of course
there will be many vacant postmaster
ships and some of them in Texas. These
should be filled promptly.
Texas congressman are pushing sew
eral local measures, which they hope to
have enacted into law Before March 4
One of these is the Fort Brown bill. 1t
has a fair chance of getting through