The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Annapolis Graduate Fills Repub-
llCan Vacancy While Beck
ham Succeeds Vardaman.
ASSIGNMENTS COMPLETED
Kenyon Beaten for Foreign Re.
IatiOns Body in Hot Fight
and Protest Is Predicted.

Senator Weeks Of Massachusetts, will
fill the Republican vacancy on the Sem
ate Military Committee. This means
the addition Of another member who
is strongly for preparedness. Senator
Weeks Is q graduate OF the Naval
Academy, and Is a student of defense
porblems. Senator Beckham Of Ken
lucky has been added to the Demo-
cratic side to take the place Of Sena-
tor Vardaman. who resigned on ac-
count of other duties. With these
changes, which will be ratified by the
Senate soon. the Military Committee is
prepared for work.
Great interest has surrounded the
the preparedness issue. The Republl-
can memkership OF the Naval Commit
tee IL increased by one. Senators Phe-
Ian Of California and Pittman OF Ne
The committee as made up Is vigorous
ly In favor OF preparedness.
Assignments Completed.
The Democratic Steering Committee
and the Republican Committee on Com
mittees have completed their assign
nents. They will be reported to party
conferences Monday morning and prob
ably reported Monday afternoon to the
Senate. The committees will be quickly
organised. It is not the plan, how
ever. to do much until after the holi-
days
Some sharp contests have occurred
before the committees charged with
the framing Of the list Of committee
assignments. One of the hottest was
for the Republican side Of the Foreign
Relations Committee, Senator Kenyon
tive Republicans, headed by Senator
Lodge, opposed him! It is declared he
was opposed because he favors an
arms embargo. He was beaten six to
three. Senator Cummlns, his colleague,
who is on the Republican COMMITTEES on
Committees, made q fight for him.
Senators Oliver and Brandegee were
named for the two places. The selec-
ton Of two old guard Republicans for
this committee has caused resentment
among the progressive Republicans.
The matter is expected to be aired in
the Republican conference and Ken
yon'S friends will protest.
Illness of two of the. Democrats on
the Appropriations Conmittee caused
the increase of that body. Senators Un-
derwood and Robinson were added.
Senator Underwood Is not on Finance,
but IL chairman of the Cuban Relations
Committee.
Demand An Increase.
The Republicans Insisted that If the
Denocrats added to the Appropriations
Committee they should have an in-
crease. Senator Townsend succeeds to
the vacancy left by Senator Perkins
retirement and Senator Curtis OF Kan"
sas 'is assigned to. the committee.
The Banking and Currency Committee
was enlarged. and Senator Fletcher
who 10 strong for rural credits legisla-
tion, and Husting of Wisconsin were
added on the Democratic side. Senator'S
Gronna and Page will take the Repub-
ucan vacancies and two others not yet
named will be added.
Interest centars in the Commerce
Committee because OF the rivers and
haTbors bill. The Democratic member
ship Is increased by one and viii give
Senator stone or Reed OF Missouri
place. Senator Kenyon has been put
on the Republican side and will make
war on the pork barrel. succeeding Bur-
ton. Harding OF Ohio. Jones OF WASH
inEton and Lippitt Of Rhode Island are
put on the Republican side.
Senator Works Named.
Senator works Of California will fill
the Republican vacancy on the Judi
AFy Committee. He Is for prohibition,
The Chairmanships of three minor
committees held By retiring Senators,
Stephenson, Bristow, and Perkins, were
taken from the Republicans and given
to Democrats. The Republicans did not
object. Such chairmanshlps are nom
tnaa and result simply in allowing
more secretarial patronage to the Sena-
tors holding them.
Plans are to recess next Saturday for
the holidays and continue in recess un-
til January e. This will be done IL
there is no hitch over the war tax. II
iS expected the war revenue act will be
eHtended by resolution this week, with
the understanding a substitute can be-
presented later with the Administration
aInendmentA The Republicans have
served notice they will fight amend
mentS.