Arizona republican., 1917-03-26
CONGRESSMEN
 GATHER|NGFOR
 EXTRA SESSION
Republican A. p. Leased WI

WASHINGTON, March 25.-With t.- converting of congress in extra session only week off, congressional leaders are here for conferences with admin istration officials over legislation de- manded by the virtual state of war existing between the United States and Germany.
 Aside from the grave business for which congress has been called, the question of organization is chiefly occupying the house leaders. Both democrats and republicans said tonight that a Apeakers probably would be elected soon after the house assem- bled, but that the organization of com mittees presented a problem the result of which no one could forecast.
 The attitude of the so-called wet members and some of the northern democrats is worrying the democrats. while the republicans are troubled over their progressive wing. Any of these elements might easily wreck the organization plans of the majority Of either side and some observers are predicting that abolition of the seniority rule in filling committee chairmanships will be the first mani festation of their strength.
 Feeling among democrats over committee assignments was bitter at the close of the last congress. The .'wets."s of whom there are about score, angered over prohibition legis- lation. declared that they would see several democratic chairmen displaced at this session if they had to vote with the republicans. In turn demo- cratic "drys" declared openly that any insurgent movement by the vets would result in their summary relega- ton to the foot of committees Discomfort among northern demo- crats over southern members holding virtually all of the choice committee chairmanships, broke out in heated declarations that the coming session would have to see some decided changes in committee heads if nor thern support was desired further. All factions are united in their support of Speaker Clark for reelection.
 Tn the last congress only one big comlnittee, appropriations, was headed by d democrat from the north. Repre- sentative Fitzgerald of New York. His acknowledged ability for this place assures him of reelection, if the democrats organize the house. One of the biggest fights among the democrats is expected to occur on Rep resentative Webb of North Carolina former chairman of the judiciary committee and leader of the house prohibition forces. He incurred the enmity of wet members of his party last session by his energetic support of dry" measures. All prohibition measures go to the judiciary commit tee and Representative Webb is the author and champion of a nation wide !,
 Other committees headed by south erners at the last session of congress included Military, Dent Alabama; naval. Padgett Tennessee; foreign af- fairs, Flood, Virginia; rules, Henry. Texas: ways and means, Kitchin, North Carolina; interstate commerce, Adamson, Georgia; agriculture, Lever, South Carolina; banking, Glass, Nir- ginia; postoffice, Moon. Tennessee, and District of Columbia, Johnson, Ken lucky Save for Representative Henry of Texas all of these chairmen were returned and if the seniority rule should prevail they would succeed themselves and Representative Garrett of Tennessee would head the rules committee.
 The long list of old line republicans who would inherit chairmanships un- . uef the StnlOTllN rue II llic should organize. perplexes their leaders. Progressively inclined republicans of whom there are about 40, have indi- } cated they will not accept certain of these under any circumstances.
 Protests against Representative Cooper of Wisconsin, ranking member of the foreign affairs committee. also are heard among republican leaders. His anti ally utterances in the house during the last two years have caused criticism.
 Other republicans who would fall into committee chairmanships under the seniority rule are Representatives Campbell of Kansas, rules; Butler, Pennsylvania, naval; Kahn, Califor- nia% military; Steenerson. Minnesota, postoffice; Volstead, Minnesota, judi ciary; Esch. Wisconsin, interstate com merce: Hayes, California, banking; e;illet, Massachusetts, appropriations; ] Haugen, Iowa, agriculture, and Carey, Wisconsin, District of Columbia. How the committee nominations will be arranged has not been decided Heretofore the ways and means con- mittee has chosen members, subject
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