Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-30

| = S'hSs NSlidc. AMY lttbcIS
insisted that the Executive rule of
tho country halt.
This idea was expressed pointedly
in resolution which said:
"ReSolvcd that the Congress shall
| assert and exercise its normal and
| constitutional functions, including
| Legislation necessary for reconStruc
ton"
After long discussion the con-
ference adopted In slightly modified
. form the substance for tho Weeks
plan, calling for tho creation Of six
non-partisan committees to deal with
reconstruction problems.
TO BE JOINT Committees.
AS created the committee will have
equal representation Of the two
houses of Congress and equal repre-
sentation Of the two political par
ties. Following arc the bodies
advocated:
Decentralization of the army and
navy
Foreign trade and commerce.
Interstate transportation.
Domestic business.
Employers and employees rela-
tons.
Natural resources Of the nation.
In the discussion the Republicans
made it plain that the principal OBJ
ject of their meeting was not party
reorganization IN the Senate. The
subject Of forthcoming committee
assignments when tic Senate revefts
to control Of tho Republicans was
not discussed. Those matters wilE
be left for later deliberations. |
The discussion leading to the eau
Gus decision went in detail into tho !
present evident tendencies OF tho .
Administration of President Wilson !
to cling to all special war powers |
temporarily diverted from the leg
islative branch OF the Government to :
the executive branch by reason OF !,
tho eNigency Of the war.
WANT IMMEDIATE ACTION.
tt was determined that this ten
dcncy should be combattcd in Con-
gross not only after tho Republicans 7
assume control, but Immediately, in |
view Of existing conditions rs most |
recently manifested in the seizure Of |
the cable lines by Postmaster Gen |
eraI Burleson.
One dotail Of tho internal policy |
OF the Senate considered was the |
retention on the rolls of |
the Senate Of tho nume Of Senator |
Martin CKontucky.) Senator Cur |
tbs (Eansas) the Republican whip, !
stated after the conference that he 1
had been authorized to ask unani- |
nous consent in tho Senate Thursday
for referring to tho Committee on
Privileges ana Elections tho question
OF Mr.. Martins right to retain his |
seat subsequent to an election at |
which it would have been possible |
for his successor to have been elected |
Plans for selecting the committee
chairman and for organizing tho
House were made, calling for fair
distribution Of both honors and re-
Sponsibilities.
Leaving the Speallership aside, 1t
is planned to name tho Committee on
Committees at a large conference Of
Republican members representing
every faction OF the party and every
shade Of thought.
MERIT TEST FOR CHAIRMEN.
The Committee on Committees will;
then apply the merit system to COM
mittee appointments. Seniority on
committees will not be the only test
for chairmanship, it was promised
today, if another member OF the
committee on the Republican side Is
better fitted for the task than the
oldest member.
The Republicans realize, though,
that they will have to be extremely
careful to avoid centering control OF
committees in one section of the
country. This is one Of the strong
est criticisms of the present
Democratic organization, which, fol-
lowing the practice OF elevating the
ranking member Of a committee
when the chair is vacant, has given
North Carolina and Tennessee tho
control of eight Of tho powerful
House Committees.
It Is not only In relation to the
House alone that the Committee on
Committees must be extremely care
full, it was pointed out.
HOUSE AGREES WITH POLICY.
If Senator Penrose (Pennsylvania)
finally is made chairman Of the
| Finance Committee the aspirations
OF Representative J. Hampton Moore
pennsylvania for craftsmanship Of
| the Ways and Means Committee
would necessarily be non-productive
! because the Republicans would be
only repeating the Democratic mis-
take Of placing Senator Simmons,
| North Carolina) at the heads Of the
respective Senate and House commit
| tees which control revenue legfsla-
| ton.
! The plan of the Senate Republicans
| to disregard the unwritten seniority
rule is acceptable to the House lead
I crs, it was learned today. This 1t Is
| felt would eliminate the chief pro-
test against the seniority rule.