The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-11-21
FL0h|DA' POWER IN
CONGRESS ON WANE
Washington Bureau
Pensacola Journal.
BY GEORGE HI. MANNING

washington Bureau
Pensacola Journal.
By GEORGE III. MANNING
Washington, D. c., Nov. 19.-The
loss Of the control Of the senate and
ty-sixth congress will rob Florida Of
considerable power 1t has had for the
past six or eight years through hav-
ing its representatives at the head OF
important committees.
The change OF control will take
from Florida two chairmanships in
the senate, one important, and two
in the house, one of which is very
important.
The important chairmanships. that
held by Senator Duncan U. Fletcher,
of the commerce committee, assured
the state Of considerable influence in
writing the rivers and harbors bill,
and that held by Congressman Frank
ings and grounds committee, gave
the state great power in the prepara-
ton Of bills appropriating for public
building improvements.
These two committees, headed by
Senator Fletcher an Congressman
Clark, handled each year what has
become to be known as the 1.-TWO big
pork barrel bills"
For Florida with an enormous
coast line and continual need of riv-
err and harbor appropriations, to
have one of its senators at the head
of the commerce committee was
highly important to the state True,
Senator Fletcher will be the ranking
member of the minority on the com
mittee, but his influence in that place
will be Incompatible with that he
now holds.
The same will apply to Congress
man Clark, who will in the next
congress, if the old time rules Of SEN
iority are observed, be the ranking
member on the minority side of the
committee of which he is now chair
man.
Senator Park Trammell holds the
Craftsmanship of the committee in the
Treasury department, but this is of
no Importance.
In the house Congressman Sears
also holds the craftsmanship of the
committee, but this does
not rank in importance with the
places held by Fletcher and Clark so !
far as the interests of Florida are |
In the next congress Senator |
Fletcher will most likely retain |
membership on the other committees |
of which he is now a member-name-
ly: banking and currency, fisheries, |
Indian depredations, judiciary, mill |
tary affairs, Philippines. printing and |
public health and national quaran-
ne .-.=~-~~----l
HSy-oy
remain on the same committee of /
which he is a member-claims, en-
crossed bills, geological survey, in
teroceanic canals. Mississippi river
and its tributaries, naval affairs, Pa
,ific islands and Porto Rico, and pub
lie buildings and grounds.
In the house Congressman Frank
Clark will most likely also retain
membership on the minority side OF
he committees on library, war claims
and woman suffrage
Congressman Sears, in addition to
being chairman of the education
committee, is also a member of the in
nan affairs, coinage, weights and
measures and elections committee.
He viii probably remain on these COM
nittees. |,
Congressman Walker Kehoe holds
10 important committee places 50 Z
hat his retirement from congress on s
1arch 3rd next, will cause Florida /
o loss of committee influence. He a
vas on the territories, war claims and
expenditures in the postoffice depart d
1ent committee. r
1t is impossible now to predict what n
ommittee places Congressman-electI h
H. Smithwick, Kehoe's successor. +
ill be given. 9
The other Florida congressman.
rane Of Tampa, also holds unim h
ortant committee places. being le
ember on the committees of expen- q
lures in the navy department pat h
Its, railways and canals and the 81
istrict OF Columbia.
G. H. NJ IiT