The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-19
Radicals Plan to Gust Pres
ent Regime by Reform
ing Committees.
SEEK NEW SYSTEM
OF ASSIGNMENTS
1nsurrection Planned for Next SeS-
siOn-Twenty Members Have
Pledged Support.
By 7. c. WELLIVER.

R1 j Re W ELL III
To is now assured chat at the open
tHs o. the extra session OF Congress
shere win Doe "a determined struggle for
uouUO- and for revision of the rules.
en- both houses of Congress.
In the House the fight VIII be for
revision Of the rules. and possibly
against the reelection of Speaker Can
non. Ia the Senate, 10 VIII have the
purpose Of completely revising the com
mittee list and establishing a new sys-
tenn Of distributing committee assign
rlents.
The Senate insurgents only within
the last few days have reached final
determination that they VIII make their
fight, and approximate agreement on
the method OF pressing fl.
They propose. when the Seust oriaI
conference meets for the purpose of
taking action toward the reorganization
of the committee list, TO drop IN a bomb
su the form OF a resolution which villa
Eevoluuonize things II 1t pe once adopt
Sd It viii provide something like this.
That no Senator may be p member Of
both the Finance and Appropriations
Committees.
That no Republican Senator may be
= member OF more than one committee
which handles one of the great appro-
priatiOu bills This would include Ap-
proprtarons, Military, Naval. judiciary,
Agriculture. Commerce, Indian Affairs.
and Pensions.
Only Two of Second-Class.
That no Republican Senator may be
b, member Of more than two OF the
second-Class committees, OF which list
WI be specified by name, being care
fully prepared with reference TO their
Importance and the work they have TO
so.
That no Republican Senator may be
3. member Of more than three Of the
third rank Of committees. which the
resolution will also specify. -
This measure, should it DE adopted,
grilI have the effect of making about
EOrty-f1ve vacancies on the important
committees OF the Senate. These would
have 20 be filed by appointments to
them Of Senators who are now without
important assignments. The veterans
t5p at the top would have to be denoted
20 places on the unimpoTtant commit
tees. like RevolutiOuar- Claims, while
She lesser luEIiuar1es would step into
their places OF power on the big com
Edlttees.
such & measure would have a startling
effect on tbs distribution or power IN
giuence and work in the Senate. ~
present the little group or veterans WIl
have traditonally controlled the puS4'
ness Of making committees ana nave
regularly given themselves most or the
power and hard work, run the SENATE
bv reason OF running the committees
exactly as the Speakers cabinet Us CON-
posed OF the men 70 whom he gives the
great chairmanEhlps.
First Real Outbreak.
The system has been more and more
unsatisfactory for years past, but until
the present session nothing like united
action has been undertaken.
The insurgents are now getting or
uauized. They have counted force OF
eighteen Senators who viii De ln l-i
BODY after March 4 next who are count
ed to stand together for a general plan
and we viii not Doe bought off bs
sracre or promises. either ut -ai Fl.
one Of the group mat s. lus 't.f 20
ccpted way of doi1S r. ~ en-. IL ~.
mot work with our sToNl. ~ T. OF" a'''s
10 stick together. ...-..f.
number let ou The insurgenJ group nov
even There rs considerable Htiu
rar rF members who are Eeealar'
ss pretty certain 10 join l.e NOV e..lr...
Senators cIassrd IU general as ---e go.
include la Toilette. smith or -iilltisa...
Brown Burl-eLf 'HmM.i-r - D2' ,' ~
Rourue. Warner. Dixon Flint @amD-t
ne 5ir7n-7frg men counted .u the Sam
..E -iars include Crawford 10
.H#
south Dakota ETisr0W or kansas JUL
n Washington. Burton nL bH.'r N-'
shall of North Dakota.
Some Now IN Senate.
Then there are humble 3D.. o.-s.
o,v. Fen the Senate. VI whom ais-iH.
h,raz are entertained los i.e insured
20 They include mau who. TerEes-"
srs states where tno reform moEeMrI
rer become powerful and having "o
LEAGUES who are elr0uE aL home 5esai-
~ rHeIr rank as representatives OF h
r.v. movement. are looked upon aa .e.
rafu 10 feel strong pressure OF E-'H
ointment from fle.I constituencies Z
inc -rarr no v..L. t.e new movement
The fnsurrarlI1uaT.e believe that
r.Trr OF twenty Fe1HDlra... Ira+ RI
rulefher with the purpose gL -Ht.tab p
form ir the distribution OBJ -.f' ~
he able to force "a change soon 1-irl
Is no serious expectation OF E-LIils
II fae next session. huL The 4gll WI
b. made then. and r.a movement y.
before the country Do The nope INA
sentiment VIII develop .H .f- favor an
rFar 10 wiz gain recruits as lAr Poop
realize what BIS going ON.
To Emphasize Need
The immediate business 500 hand Hl
no 10 make the country rea lie the nee
or reform 10 this respect. TO -.IF ea'
tho fnzurEeur Senators er- going
write magazine aud newspaper allcle
deliver speeches. utilize laa oTpor.lu