New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-30
Will Hold Down Republi.
can Representation on
Chief Committees.
LEADERS AFRAID
OF BRYAN'S MEN
Senate Majority at Odds Over
Proposal to Keep Clarke as
President Pro Tenn.
Prom The Tribuns Bureau. J

Prom The Tribuns Buretul
Washington, Nov. 29.-The first
moves toward oiling up the steam
roller which the administration used
so effectively in the House in the last
Congress we're made to-day at meet
/ ing the the Democratic members of the
Ways and Means Committee, which is
also the steering committee. 1t was
decided, first, that, although the Demo
cratic majority had been reduced from
1876 to q, the Republicans should get
no more representation than before on
/ the important committees, and, second,
/ that the Democratic members should
be kept in complete ignorance OF their
assignments until the caucus meets,
when the slate should be jammed
through without giving time for pro-
/ tests.
The nervousness with which the sd-
ministration faces the coming session
was plainly evident in the members of
the committee. The narrow majority
left them, the fact that Tammany alone
will control enough votes to defeat any
administration measure to which 1t OBJ
iects and the certainty that the Bryan
ties will leave the reservation on de-
fence measures at least all tend to In
spire forebodings. The House rulers
were very positive that they would sur
render no part ofIwhatever advantage
they held.
The danger that would follow giving
the Republicans fair proportion OF
the membership of important commit
tees was the first to be met. Last year,
with the overwhelming Democratic ma
jority. the Democrats gave the minor
itv only seven out Of the twenty-one
members of important committees. To
make the division equitable this year
the Republicans should have ten; at
the least nine. But the gathering to-
day decided that the loyalty OF Demo-
Gratis was too doubtful to permit them
to trust TO so narrow a margin. One
or two Bryan men on a committee, Tor
instance, might side with the minority
a. almost any time and play havoc with
the steam rolling.
Fear Prospective Rebels.
Fear Of the results Of selection Of the
committee members by the House as
whole dictated the next move. These
selections are technically made by a
caucus. which will meet on Thursday
night. But it is vital to the admins
tration that they be made right
There are too many prospective rebels
around to take any chances, and the
steering committee will take pains 70
have a slate which will provide that
on no committee shall more than one
or two Bryanites foregather. There
will be much complaint over some OF
these assignments, and the rule Of Sc
crecy was adopted lest the disgruntled
cnes should find time, through fore
knowledge, to engineer caucus deals
which would give them what they
wanted.
One small concession was finally
made to the Republicans. The minority
will be permitted TO apportion such
committee assignments as are allotted
to it in it's own way. The Republican
committee assignments may be made
either by the leaders or by the Repub-
lican caucus, though James K. Mann,
floor leader, has declared in favor OF
the latter plan.
"Shall the mutineer be made cap
tain ?" is the slogan of the administra-
ton Senators opposed to the reelection
of James P. Clarke. or Arkansas, as
President pro TEN. of the Senate. Mr.
! Clarke was the acknowledged leader OF
the seven recalcitrant Democrats who
| broke away from the Democratic eau
Gus last year and defeated the ship pur'
| chase bill.
A quiet effort in the interest Of har-
| mony was made at the caucus to-day "a
/ slip over the election OF Senator Clarke
/ Senator Reed, OF Missouri, however
moved that this action go over until
| Wednesd when it is expected that
| the nine absentees from to-days meet
/ ing will be present.
Fight Over Clarke as Leader.
Only the fact that several Senators
not hearing of much opposition TO the
/ reelection of Senator Clarke, have giver
him pledges in the last few days damp
ems the hope of his opponents that they
will succeed in defeating him. II Is
certain, however, that the fight will bt
carried into the caucus on Wednesday
and that speeches will be made literally
tearing the hide off" the Arkansa:
Senator.
II will be pointed out that Clarke,
vote-the only Democratic one to be
cast with the Republicans-resulted II