The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-13
DIVIDING HONORS
DEMOCRATS TASK
The Distribution Of Committee
i Places Goes On.
TO REMOVE CONCENTRATION

Movement Which Started Two Years
Ago With Stripping Of Speakers
Power 10 More Active Since Demo-
Gratis Got Control of Senate-Houss
Limits Members to Twelve Places.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. March 13.-[Special.]-
Distribution of honors is a tendency of
these Democratic days. 1t has been
brewing for some time. The first de-
velOpment came two years ago. when
tue Democrats stripped from their
chosen speaker the power to appoint
the committees of the house and con-
ferred it upon Il committee. There has
been q further development Of the
idea by the progressive element In the
Democratic party.
They decided as soon as 1t was
known that the Democrats would con-
troll the senate that there should be
more equitable distribution Of the COM
mittee places SO that the control OF
legislation should not be. in the hands
Of very few men. as has been the case
In times past. 1t was decided that no
man should have place on any two
leading committees of the senate. 1t
has been on account of doubling hOnors
upon few seniors that power has
rested In a few hands.
House Goes Farther.
The house. which has always been
more liberal in the distribution of COM
mittee honors. has gone much further
than the senate and by caucus resOlu-
ton has provided that no man who is
Z member of a dozen Of the first and
most important committees of the
house can be a member Of any other
committee. These committees are
ways and means. agriculture. apprO-
priations. banking and currency. Dis
trict Of Columbia, foreign affairs, judi
ciary, interstate ard foreign commerce.
military affairs. naval affairs. post
Offices and rivers and harbors.
Many Members Affected.
A very large number Of Democrats
In the house will feel the effect Of the
new rule, several of whom are chair
men of committees. Though the chair
manships are not very important, some
Of them often handle business Of in
terest to, the country. At least 12O
Democrats will have to surrender their
places on small committees in order to
remain members of the more impOr
tant committees. The object of the
change Is to give all the new members
committee assignments. Those who
do not have the best places will make
It up in having more places.
"Ex" or "Former."
John W. Dwight retired from con-
gress on his own volition. The New
Yorker was circulating about the cap
itol after the session closed and ex-
pressing perfect contentment with be-
ing private citizen. 81 am former.
not an 'ex,' I want you to understand"
said Dwight 1.-THE difference is that
an 'ex' is one who was pushed out.
defeated. while former is man
, who quit Of his own accord" The
''exes" largely outnumber the "for
mers."
Vice President Marshall, who heard
Dwight's statement. remarked: Il
have said of myself that l am po-
litical accident. suppose will learn
about these other terms later"
Tennessee In the Cabinet.
I'm Taft's cabinet" said a Demo
crat from Tennessee, "our state was
credited with a member in Dickinson.
In Wilson's cabinet we have another In
McRcynolds. 1 believe both claim res
idence in Tennessee, although they
have not actually lived there In years.
/ do not make any complaint about 1t.
for l do not take much stock In the
matter Of sections in the making OF
cabinet. selections"
Never an "lmpasse."
Speaking of differences which arise
over legislation we seldom get into
that condition which our French
friends call an "impasse." 1t looked
as IL such a condition had arisen over
the appointments Of President Taft,
but it was all nicely arranged by the
allowing of few personal appoint
ments Of different Republican sena-
tors to be confirmed. The food of
army and navy appointments went
through without much trouble. 1t is
impossible for senators to ignore the
personal side Of even such vital Ques-
lions as patronage.
! Disagreeable Duty.
About the most disagreeable duty be-
fore the Republican senators is that
which forces them to leave the posi-
lions of power in the senate, but that
ls not much worse than leaving the
comfortable committee rooms they
have SO long occupied in the capitol
building. OF course it is not as bad as
It was twenty years ago when they
had to move. for there was no luxuri-
GUS Office building for them. but at the
same time they hate to give up rooms
In the capitol.
Those rooms are near at hand and
represent the power and authority they
have held SO long. An interesting fea-
ture Of the change is that the Demo-
Gratis who have been on the outside so
long are eager to occupy the rooms
where their rivals have held sway so
many years. and there will be little
ceremony in the transfer.