The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1916-07-21
EDITOR PROGRESS:
Lexington, Tenn.

Lexington Tenn.
Dear Sir
Replying your letter of the 18th in which you ask
why am not chairman of committee this time beg
to say that never since have been member OF Con-
gress has any member of the Ways and Means Commit
tee been a member OF any other committee The
also holds good as to the Commtte Appropriations.
OF course each of these committees has chairman but
neither the chairman any member of these
mttees have ever been appointed the membership Of
any other committee, however small Insignificant the
committe might be- The object that the House had in
withholding membership other committees to the
members of these two committees was that it deem
ed inadvsable to give them service any other COM
mttees, because of the importance of these two commit
and the time that it took the members of these
committees properly consider all bills coming before
them.
In the Sxty-second Congress- which was the first DEM
Ocratic congress since have been member made
chairman of the Committee War Claims, retaining
my position on the Committee Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. But when the Sxty-third Congress was
elected there two Democrats to every Republican
opposing party in the House. and in order to make
the several committees for the Democratic
members who had been elected to that Congress- the
Democratic caucus organization decided that men,
bers of other leading committees besides the Committee
on Ways and Means and the Committee Appropria-
tons would have to give up service on all other commit
tee in order that the large number of Democrats in the
House might have opportunity to get the less import
ant committees. So the Committee Interstate and
Foreign Commerce the Committee the Judiciary the
Committee Postofices and Postroads the Committee
Military Affairs, the Committee Naval Affairs, and
few others placed in the class the Com
mittee Ways and Means and the Committee Ap-
preparations had been for many years.
Therefore either had give up position which second
the Committee Interstate and Foreign Commerce by far the
important committee in the House. else give up my chair
nasmuch the coming before the Committee
Interstate and Foreign Commerce exceedingly important
deemed it patriotic duty give up the chamanshp Of the
Committee War Claims rather than give up this great
committee
This explains why not chairman of committee at this
time But should also be stated that in Mr. Adamson the
present chairman Of the Committee Interstate and Foreign Com
should be renomnated reelected which is highly i'm
probable that he should quit Congress should desire service
some other committee will Immediately automatically become
chairman Of the Committee Interstate and Foreign Commerce
which is the greatest Craftsmanship in the House
You will therefore well all others who want to be fair
about the matter that my being chairman Of committee at
this time due to the fact that the Democratic decided that
membership the great committee which am second
ranking member is be desired and useful party
and to the country well Congress- than being chairman Of
any subordinate committee would voluntarily give up the
position have this committee be chairman Of dozen little
committees
This identical keeps Mr. Hull and Mr. Byrn from
being chamen Of committees For the simple that Mr. Hull
is member Of the Committee Ways and Means and that Mr.
Byms is member Of the Committee Appropriations they
allowed be chaimen Of other committees So you that
this charge like many Others my being chairman after
ing member Of the House for consecutive Congresses
falls the ground and should with the contempt justly
deserves
Very sincerely your friend,
TW. SIMS