The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-04-17
BIG COMMITTEES
Of CONGRESS
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE is
THE MOST POWERFUL ONE
IN CONGRESS
FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN south DAKOTA
Democratic Leaders of State Are Sc
Iecting Appointees in Coed Old
Way-The Presidents Coup

From Our Washington Correspondent
AS things are constituted this year
the ways and means committee of the
house of representatives is the most
powerful organization in congress, and
the men who have obtained places in
Mr.. Underwood's set, are certainly in
position to crow a little, because it
must be recognized that they are it"
Here is the lucky bunch: Ways and
Means-Underwood, Alabama, chair
man; Harrison, New York; Shackleford
Missouri; Kitchin, North Carolina;
Rainey, Illinois; Dixon, Indiana; Hull
Tennessee; Hammond, Minnesota;
Peters, Massachusetts,; Palmer, Penn
%sylvania; Ansberry, Ohio; Garner,
Texas; Stanley, Kentucky; and Col
lier, Mississippi. Democrats-Payne,
New York; Fordney, Michigan; Gard
ner, Massachusetts; Moore, Pennsyl
vania: Anderson, Minnesota; and
Greene, Iowa-republicans. Murdoch,
Kansas, progressive. Next in import
ance is the committee or Rules, com
posed Of Henry, Texas, chairman;
Pou, North Carolina; Hardwick, Geor-
gia: Garrett, Tennessee; Foster, Illi-
nois; Cantrill, Kentucky; and Conry,
New York; democrats. Compbell,
Kansas; Lenroot, Wisconsin, and Mer-
rit, New York; republicans. Chandler,
New York; progressive. Committee on
Accounts is as follows: Lloyd, Missouri
chairman; Smith, Texas; Hammill,
New Jersey; Conry, New York; Kin
dell, Colorado; Heard, Georgia; and
Ambercrombie, Alabama; democrats,
Hughes, West Virginia; Griest, Penn
sylvania, and Parker, New York; re-
publicans. Woodruff, Michigan, pro-
gresive.
There are many ways of selecting
postmasters and other federal officials
in South Dakota, including the direct
primary. The political leaders in the
South Dakota Democracy have, how
ever, shown a preference for the old
way of doing things, and in order that
there may be no mistake about it, have
gotten together and picked out the de-
sired occupants for the choice berths.
Organization "anti-organization,''
and direct primaries, have locked
horns in South Dakota, with the result
that the whole controversy has been
brought to Washington Ito find out
who is right" In the meanwhile the
republican representatives in the two
branches of congress are congratulate
ing themselves that the trouble is not
theirs to settle.
Indian affairs and public lands are
always of first Importance in the leg1s-
lative program Of many states, and a
great many bills hive been introduced
in congress looking to '>etter lws. Nor
--- - N11o ho~oa nrI NJ win nf South
Dakota, are the sponsors for a num-
Der Of meritorious measures that came
before congress on the opening days.
The country knows that President
Wilson did a most unusual thing in de-
livering his first message in person to
the now assembled, but n
needs to touch elbows with the men OF
affairs at the apital itself to find the
results. Precedents go aglimmering in
our national body polite these days;
nevertheless Mr.. Wilson almost
punched the breath out Of congress
when he let it be known that for the
first time since John Adams was Presi.
dent, congress would receive its mes
sage personally from the lips of the
executive. One has been hearing less
and less Of the talk that Bryan is to
dominate the administrations" since
the ways of Wilson are a distinct in
novation. In truth the president has
been shocking Washington ever since
March 4-and even before that when
he vetoed the inaugural ball; but the
reading of his message was the cap
stone. When the president left the
great gathering in the house on April
Sth, 1t was as absolute master OF the
entire situation of national affairs. The
correspondent of the Register put the
question to one of the most intimate
associates President Taft had during
the past four years, as to the probable
effect of Mr.. Wilson's appearance be-
fore congress, and this was the an
swer: president Wilson's message Is
fit to be considered a literary classic;
nothing more scholarly has been pro-
duced in late days; when the president
delivered it, the force behind 1t was so
great that he won the lukewarm sup
porters of the administration, threw
fear into the hearts of his secret
enemies, and gained a personal esteem
among his political opponents" And
then in a moment of abstraction the
faithful" of the last administration
asked: How did it happen that
Roosevelt never thought of this
stunt?" One might also ask: why
didn't Taft think Of it," But my per-
sonal opinion is that Senator Robert
M. LaFollette who worked this little
vancouver with the Wisconsin legis-
lature, when governor, put the flea"
in the presidents ear, and was respon-
sible for the greatest show that has
been produced on Capital Hill in many
a day. The reason I say this is that
the morning following the first confer
ence between President Wilson and
Mr.. LaFollette a "feeler" was thrown
out to the press that secured an adj
vance expression Of sentiment as to
the a~dvisability of the move. The