The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-21
Try JOHN ELFRETH M.ATISINs,


Washington, D. c.. MayNls--Your in
terest in affairs political will now
turn more and moro toward the Re-
publican Senate, whose gantlet the
various measures passed by the Demo
cratic House of Representatives must
run before the President takes his final
whack at them. Et
:. 1t Is a vastly different Senate from
that which helped frame the Payne
Aldrich tariff bill and which adjourned
In the early spring. New leaders are
powers of those twin rulers, .Ndrich
and Hale, have been divided among
four men, with the result that New
England has lost Its supremacy in the
Chamber Aldrich's vast powers have
been divided between Boies Penrose, OF
Pennsylvania. who Succeeds him as
majority leader and chairman OF the
mos, potent committee of the Senate.
that on Finance. and GaIlinEer. of New
hampshire, who takes the resigned
Rhode Island senator's place at the
head of the Committee on Committees.
which assigns Senators and practically
decides their political future. Like
wise, Halc's great powers have been
intrusted to TWO Senator's Warren sue
ceedins him as chairman of the great
Appropriations Committee which huide
and Cuilom, of Illinois. taking his place
ms head of the Republican Steering
Committee. which calls party caucuseS
watches proceedings upon the floor.
gives cues and directs legislation gen
orally
Insurgcnt Succeeds Elkins.
Another radical change of leaders
affects the great Committee on Inter
state Commerce which practically CON
II, arf
ton companies. trusts and combina-
lions. questions of overcapita lization
and almost every phase of the great in
fustrial controversies now agitating
the country. Here the insurgent chief
tain. Moses Clapp, of Minnesota, sue
ceeds the late conservative Senator
Elkins. of West Virinia.
.r You perhaps do not realize the fun
power Of the Senate committees. I'm
der the rules Of that body, all bills
must first be referred to them before
the Senate may consider them. And
the committee 10 which Ii bill is re-
ferred has the power TO amend ii in
any manner. substitute another bill
for it, or refuse to report ii back to
the Senate at all. in which event il
never reaches the calendar of that
body The chairmen preside at the
committee hearings and meetings. and
they lead upon the floor the debat
upon the bills reported by their com.
mittees. AS succession to these chair
nianships is decided In the Senate by
the Law OF seniority Of service. the
Chairman. by his superior experience
Is apt to dominate the majority mem.
hers. And II he is @ man of DONNA [.
Ing temperament. like Aldrich or Hale
his influence IS all the greater
such a temperament is possessed by
Aldrich's successor. Penrose the new
majority leader and chairman of the
Committee on Finance In Pennsyi-
Hania II is frankly admitted that he
has even 'out-ouayed Quay" in his
ability 10 control his party organiza-
ton And in the Senate he has risen
to party leadership over the bald and
silver pates OF seven Republican Sen.
ators. who have served anywhere from
TWO to sixteen years longer in that
nodN than has he. He is nifty wears
nid-nineteen years the junior of All
drich. I
He belongs to one OF the proudex,