Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-12-05
DEMOCRATS TO CURB
CARS OF SENATE
MAsHINGTON. D. q speeIaI.

WASHINGTON. ID. c. Special.
Control OF the important commit
tees of the senate in the next Con-
crcS~. when that body viii bc un-
der Democratic domination, has
become a question OF pressing im-
portancS. The matter A. consid-
cred 80 vital Co the shaping OF
legislation and Democratic policies
in the new Congress that party
leaders now here are discussing
A with a view 40 securing imInc-
diatc action.
IL Is expected that some form OF
n Democratic senate caucus or con-
ference will be held next week. 10
take preliminary steps toward re-
organization. The issue has pr;ic-
tiCally taken the form OF an uiu-
matum from the newer Demo-
cratic senators. in which number
are included many Of the most
active members OF that body. that
they must have their share OF the
important committee places. or
they will oNCrturm the established
order OF seniority tnat has long
hccn the buluark OF "Old menu
bcrs' control in the senate.
SENIORITY \ STUMBLING
BLOCK.
The senate committees not only
all legislation of Congress. hut
thcy will control no little patron
age. The agitation I'm Democratic
ranks has arisen from the fact
shat few Democrats long i'm the
senate held the ranfinE positions
on practically all the important
committees. m thc rules OF
seniority arc followed each viii
hc allowed 10 pick the chairman
a 4
and at the same time hold second
position on others.
Among the more important
committees chat have been con-
SidcrcSl the controlling factors i'm
al important legislation. are
those ON Finance. Appropriations,
Interstate Commerce. Naval Ar
fairs. the Judiciary. Foreign Re
Iations Military Affairs. Rules
and Agriculture.
several propositions for a
change have been advanced. The
most generally accepted OF them
would give each OF the old sCnn-
tors his choice OF one important
committcShip. the other COM
handing places on the committee
Co ID yielded, then. TO the newer
members.
EIGHT PLACES TO TIIINIAN.
Senators Bacon. Tillman and
Martin. who entered the Senate I'm
1898. head the Democratic menu
bcrShip OF many committees. SEN
ator Tillman il the ranking Dem
ocrutic member OF eight commit
tees, and under the seniority sys-
tenn would bc entitled. i'm the new
Congress. 60 take the chairman.
ship OF one and hold the second
position on all the others Under
the proposed plan. ne would b.
entitled TO select Craftsmanship
but would then have 60 give SEC
ond place on the other commit
tees TO members not now hOldinE
the important positions
/ Among the committees Svci
which senator Tillman would cx
crcisc control are Appropriations
Interstate Commerce and NaNa
Affairs. senator Bacon com
mandS first place on five com
mittccs. among them Foreign Re
lations. Judiciary and Rule-s. thrc'
OF the best committees on tn
list. In addition 90 being chair
man of the Democratic caucus
senator Martin could be chair
man OF either OF four committees
including Commerce.
| OTHERS WHO ARE INVOLVED
senator Culbcrson. who cam
I'm four years later than either q
these three. Il the ranking Demo
Crnt on four committees. and
addition on the fourth OF Marc
will hold second place on ApprC
| priations and judiciary. givin
him his choice OF the chairman
ship OF either OF those two
senator Bacon should yaCatc N
position on Judiciary for n
craftsmanship OF Foreign RcIi
tions, or a. senator Tillman shOul
forcgo his opportunity Co bccon
chairman Of Appropriations.
senator simmons. who cntcrS
the senate "a late a. 1901, Won
have his choice OF the Chairman
ships OF as many a six COmmi
tees. including Finance. Othi
members who viii have n Nis
range of choice are senate
Bankhcad and Johnston. OF Al
bama- Clarke and Davis. OF AriSal
SIS; Ncwlands. OF Nevada; Owe
man. Of North Carolina; smith,
Maryland, and Stone, OF Niissoul