Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-11

satisfactory solution. The govern
ment alone has authority to dam
certain rivers. Learned lawyers con-
tend fiercely pro and con as to wheth-
er the government has the right to
accept rental for water power gener-
ated in this wise. Possibly no more
vital question to certain parts of the
country is now pending before con-
gross. Two or three congresses be-
for public sentiment crystalizes
and a policy is definitely established.
The interstate commerce committee
must blaze the way for some set
| tlement
Little wonder, under such eircum-
stances, that chairman of interstate
commerce has become one of the
great chairmanships of the House.
| During the next session of congress
| it might easily be a more desirable
assignment than chairman of ways
and means. were it not that ways
and means headship carries certain
other honors. such as the floor leader
ship of the House. Members often
GENE to the Speaker for advice as
to what committees they should seek.
| I1t HAS pOWci Ill IIldh1nS up
committee assignments but he tells
those who consult him to bend all
their energies toward getting at these
tables where matters affecting these
new and large government problems
are being decided.
When Mr.. Clark came to congress
he landed on the foreign affairs com
mittee, near the foot of the table.
He soon found himself "wedged in
| Democrats ahead of him were ten
aeious OF tenure and their constitu-
ents were kindly. No one died, no
lone retired and no one was retired
He was eight years working from
the foot OF the minority list to the
! top thereof. John Sharp Williams
now senator, when minority leader
of the House, was responsible for
putting the present Speaker on the
ways and means committee. Repub-
| leans in successive congresses had
| stacked it with protection Democrats
Mr.. Williams wanted some one on
| the Democratic side of the ways and
means table who could assist him in
tariff debate. Mr.. Clark went on at
the foot of the list and in four years
| worked to the head. If he had not
| been chosen Speaker he would have
| been chairman of ways and means
| before this.
1t would simplify matters some
what if congress could begin its ses-
/ sions sooner after its election, say
with the calendar year, and if each
| congress could consist of two regu-
| lar long sessions, instead of one long
poe tts,r
| session. This short session ALWAYS
begins the month following new
election and must conclude by the
beginning Of the next March. Prob
ably it will not be long before con-
gress will find itself absolutely unable
to dispose of the annual appropria-
ton bills at the short session. The
inevitable result will be the calling of
an extra session once in two years
to handle this overflow of appropria-
ton bills. 1t will be an awkward ar
rangement, for part of the appropri-
alton bills, every two years, would
likely be handled by one congress (the
old one) and the rest of them by
another congress (the new one).
Hitherto it has been looked upon
as reflection for any political party
to allow its appropriation bills to
fail at the short session of congress.
Although the three months of the
short session was too little time for
such a task, it seemed encumbent
upon the party controlling congress
to do it. The task is becoming so
impossible, men believe President
Wilson will have to call an extra ses-
sion a year from next March to dis
pose of this routine business of such
vast Importance to the country. Ex-
ira sessions every two years for an
preparations appear to be coming
with great certainty.