Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-11
Murdook and Norris Assert Contest
Will Be Taken Up,
aMoNY MAY BE DESTROYED
victors Likely to Seek to POstpOn
the Battle.
DEMOCRATS ARE IN DnEMM
Old Seniority Rule WIN Give All
ChaiEmanships TO southern Men
New Members VIII Make
Objections.

WASHINGTON, Nov. .1O-Another con-
test over the question Of taking from the
speaker the power to name standing com.
mittees is expected to develop soon after
the house OF representatives assemblies next
month. This time IL is not unlikely that
the movement will receive the support OF
Speaker Cannon and his allies, inasmuch
as the next assignments will be made by
the democrats
Interviews with Representatives Murdoch
Of Kansas and Norris Of Nebraska indl-
cate they intend to lose no Tine in reopen
ing the fight waged by insurgent republ-
cans last session. which reformed the rules
and deposed Speaker Cannon from member
ship on the rules committee. That contest
was won by tnsurgent and democratic
coalition. 1t is not known what the atu-
tude of the democrats will be in the COM
ing session when an effort is made to still
further shear the speakership OF Its great
authority. but the chances are they will
seek to force the battle over to the sue
ceeding session, when they will be in un-
disputed control
Harmony May Vanish.
Some members Of the house who are now
here believe that il the power to appoint
committees Is taken away from the demo
cratic speaker in the Slxty-second congress
and handed over to the membership all
hope of harmony in the democratic ranks
may be abandoned. 1t would mean the up
setting of the seniority rule and the turn
ing down OF many men Of long service, who
have been the minority ranking members
of the most powerful committees On the
other hand, II is pointed out that harmony
also would suffer from a maintenance OF
r1tla fNaN y-,sT,
to the south the chairmanships Of all the
great committees and leave unrecognized
the new democratic membership from
northern and western states
Undef" the seniority rule the committee on
agriculture would go to Lamb OF Virginia
banking and currency TO Pujo of Louisiana
census TO Hay Of Virginia, foreign affairs
to Flood of Virginia, immigration to
Burnett Of Alabama, Indian affairs tc
stephens OF Texas, interstate and foreign
commerce to Adamson of Georgia, judiciary
to Clayton Of Alabama, merchant-marine
and fisheries to Clark OF Florida. nayaI
affairs to Padgett OF Tennessee patents tc
Legare Of South Carolina. pensions to Rich.
ardson Of Alabama. postoffice to Moon OF
Tennessee, printing 70 Finley of South
Carolina, public buildings to Sheppard OF
Texas, public lands to Robinson OF Arkan-
sas, rivers and harbOrs to Sparkman OF
Florida, territories to Lloyd Of Missour
and ways and means, the greatest of all
| to Underwood of Alabama, unless Chamr
| Clark Of Missouri, who is now the ranking
minority leader, should fail to capture the
speakershp.
Fitzgerald Will Lose Place.
Appropriations. under the seniority rule
would go to Fitzgerald OF New York. but
1t is said that he is so disllked by tho
prospective speaker that this place prob.
ably would be given to Burleson OF Texas
Military affairs under the seniority ar.
rangements would go to Sulzer OF New
York and there is little doubt that he viii
capture this important chairmanship undei
whatever plan is adopted
! Whether the seniority rule is retained
or the speaker be permitted to name com
mttees or the selection be left to the mem
/ bership OF the house, all OF those who ar,
now the minority ranking members OF IN,
/ principal committees are expected TO insis
upon promotions to chairmanship. They
will claim that their long service in in,
house entities them 10 these as mater OF
right