Las Vegas optic., 1913-03-05
DEMOCRATIC HOUSE
MEMBERS CAUCUS
THE NAMING OF NATIONAL
WAYS AND MEANS COMMIT
TEE WILL OCCUR TODAY.

u tHS new hOub6 OIL repre-
sentatives assembled here for the
first time today, not in formal ses-
sion as part of the new congress, but
in caucus to organize for the work
of the coming session. The meet
ing was held at the call of Represen-
tative Burleson of Texas, the caucus
chairman, who becomes postmaster
general in President Wilson's cabi-
net.
Mr. Burleson's successor as caucus
chairman is Representative A. Mitch
ell Palmer of Pennsylvania who IS
closely identified with the admins
tration and will be in a measure its
exponent in the lower branch of con-
gress.
The caucus met to designate the
democratic membership of the new
ways and means committee, which
undoubtedly would be the same as
that Of the last congress with the ex-
ception of three retiring members.
Among those prominently men
toned to succeed them are Garner
of Texas, Saunders of Virginia, Stan
ley of Kentucky and Bartlett of
Georfia. Representative Underwood
of Alabama, 1t is conceded, win con.
tinue as chairman.
Before the caucus convened, repre-
sentatives from western states, in
cluding Iowa. Kansas. Minnesota,
Colorado, California, Michigan, Ne
braska, Montana, Arizona, New Mexi-
co and Wisconsin had a joint confer
ence and formed an organization to
act as a unit as far as possible in
the same way that a state delega-
ton would act Representative Ham
mond of Indiana was chosen as pres1-
dent and Representative Stout of
Montana secretary.
Resolutions were adopted calling
for more equitable dlstribution of
committee assignments and recognf.
ton of that section of the country.
There was complaint that older mem-
bers were monopolizing the commit
tee assignments, that there we're too
many of the older members placed
on the judiciary committee, and that
the newer members should be recog-
nized.
When the democrats of the new
senate met in caucus today to elect a
chairman, there was no opposition to
Senator John w. Kern of Indiana
Senator Martin of Virginia, retiring
democratic leader, declared a few
days ago he was glad to lay down
the responsibility of his office. The
retirement of Senator Martin and the
election of Senator Kern ends long
struggle for control Of the senate OF
the sixty-third congress between he
so-caIled progressive democrats and
the old conservatives.
Republican senators alao held
caucus during the morning and Sc
leoted as their chairman and floor
leader Senator Gallinger of New
Hampshire. They authorized Sena-
tor Gallinger to select committee
on committees which viii have
charge Of filling the republican
places. There was no opposition to
the seniority rule
Senator Kenyon Of Iowa was chosen
Of the republican caucus.
La Toilette was present at
The republican gathering but Senators
Poindexter and Clapp did not
appear. The two latter have been
,lassed as members of the progress
sive party, but republicans today
stated that they expected Senator
-lapp would participate in republican
committee assignments.
The democratic caucus authorized |
Senator Kern to appoint committee
1f nine to devise a plan for the re-
of the senate committees
with the understanding that he should |
present his list to the caucus at
meeting tomorrow Senator Newlands
of Nevada was chosen vice chairman
and Senator Salisbury Of Delaware,
one Of the newly elected members OF
the body, was named as secretary Of
the caucus.
Senator Tillman expressed a prefer
ence for the Craftsmanship Of the com
mittee on appropriations, and said he
had requested the advice Of President
Wilson as to the Craftsmanship that
he should choose and that the presi-
dent had urged his selection as chair
man of the committee on appropria-
tons. President Wilson, he said, was
heartily for denomination