The Washington times., 1915-12-10
Object TO POWERS
OF mann IN HOUSE
GrumbIing Is Heard Among Re-
publlCans Over Choice Of
Committee Memberships.

A lot of grumbling II heard on the
ReTiublican side OF the House over the
fact that there seems no limit to the
pover welded 10y Jim Mann, the
minority leader. In a way. Mr.. Mann
has more power tina many other man
IN the House. In the session now on,
he will come much closer to leading the
Republicans of the House than Com
gresham Kitchin. who has the title of
leader. will come to leading the DEM
ocrats. Now that Mr.. Underwood has
gone to the Senate, the House Demo-
Gratis. as a matter of fact. viii have
no such leadership as they had IN the
last CONGRESS.
Mr.. Mann still possesses the unusual
authority to make up committee as
signments ON the Republican ,side.
This n the power "CSar' Cannon used
to have and It was this that led to the
war on Cannonism. STneularly enough.
however, the House Republicans never
got away from the old way of making
committee assignments Instead of
turning the task over to a committee.
they have continued to vest the author
ity IN single parsonage, and that per-
Sonage is Mann.
No Board Is Named.
In the recent caucus Of the House Re-
publicans. there was a brief movement
to name committee on committees,
ana not allow Mann to make the asslgn-
mcnts. But the only member who
showed any militancy for this move
ment was Representative Cooper OF
Wisconsin. The result was that the
eO@mittsea ana d% Mp Mann NJ GO Mns eoth SI
with the same power he had previously
welded.
What had happened was that some Of
the old members had quietly taken
measures to check the movement for
oommittee on committees in advance.
They feared that such q committee
might deprive them of good committee
oerths. and they preferred to take their
chances with Mann. Even some of the
Republicans who in their own States
are rated as of the progressive Repub-
lican type Joined in this sofe-p pedal
process. and held down the agitation
for a committee on committees.
This was done, moreover, despite the
fact that IL the Republicans capture
the next House they will be well
nigh forced to have the committees
made up by the Committee on Com
mitteeS. 1t is, of course, expected II
the Republicans carry the House,
Mann will be next Speaker. But pub
JIG sentiment will probably make IL
out OF the question for Mann or any
PSASOh SHOSSh OpSaNOA W ShdpC
the majority side Of the committees.
Many of the House Republicans this
fall would have been better satisfied
IL q beginning had been made in
having committee places filled by n
committee chosen by the, caucus, But
they found the cards stacked against
them.
Skilled Parliamentarian. 4
Minority Leader Mann is considered
one OF the ablest and most astute men
in Congress. a skilled parliamentarian.
a great student of legislation, and a
fighter. He is ambitious for power, and
some OF his colleagues on the Republic
an side charge him with being arbi-
trary. lie win have more dominating
position In this Congress than in the
last. because the Republicans are al
most az numerous as the Democrats,
and are expected to be better generated.
lie will have to exercise a good deA OF
discretion, however. az to how he uses
his authority. Otherwise, Republican
insurgency might develop, and might
not only prevent the Republicans from
united action this session. but might
interfere with Mahn'S plans to be
Speaker in the next Congress provided
the House s. Republican. The House
Republicans just now are feeling their
oats" and II Will require Bkillful ham
ding to keep them satisfied with their
leadership, q Job that in the present
House, with the Republicans almost as
numerous as the Democrats, is no sine