New-York tribune., 1918-11-22
Hays and Senators Discuss
Possibility of His Heading
Finance Committee
Personally He Is Liked
Pennsylvania, However, Is
Aware Of Country's Preju-
dice Against Him
Tribune Washington Bureau

If'lbufe washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81. - Chair
man Will Hays, of the Republican
Committee sat in to-day as an earnest
listener" at AL important conference
of Senate Republican leaders. Present
we're Senator'S Lodge, the Republican
leader; Penrose, Smoot and Watson.
The conference was impromptu, Mr..
Hays having dropped into Senator
lodges Office for chat with him with
out knowing the other Senators were
coming
The Senators maintained silence as
to just what was discussed, but there
is little doubt that the conference re-
volved around the political possibility
of Boies Penrose becoming chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee when
the new Republican controlled Con-
gress convenes.
Republican Senators are perfectly
aware of the campaign material they
would be supplying the Democrats for
the 1920 campaign if Mr.. Penrose be-
comes chairman of the finance commit
tee and if the revenue and tariff bill
which the Republican Congress sub
labelled the "Penrose bill"
Mr.. Penrose himself is aware of this
and is known to have discussed it with
some of his close friends.
Public Is Antagonistic
There is, as a matter Of fact, very
little personal antagonism to Mr.. Pen
rose in the Senate, on either the Re-
publican or Democratic side. He is
i n
mired on both sides of the aisle. New
ertheless, it is pointed out that, rightly
or wrongly, the country has very de-
cided impression about such Republican
names as Penrose and Smoot, and this
impression, it is feared, would serious
ly hurt the Republican chances in 1920
1t is understood that Mr.. Hays die
not venture to make any suggestions
along this line, merely telling the Sen
ators what he considered to be some
of the reasons for the Republican vic
tory in the recent election.
Just what solution will be decided
upon is not known tonight, but there
seems to be distinct impression that
Senator Penrose will not permit him
self to be milestone around the Re-
publican party's neck.
The Pennsylvania Senator, however
is SalQ 20 resent the open attack by
Senator Borah, which so far has failed
to gather any amount of support. If
Mr. Penrose should decide to sacrifice
his own ambition to be chairman OF
the Finance Committee, it is said, ii
will be in spite of such attacks as those
of Mr.. Borah and not because of them.
Change in Committees
An entire revision of the committee
lists of the Senate is said to be in con
temptation, but not a revision that
would do away with the seniority rule
1t is pointed out that this would lead
merely to majority decision on each
committee assignment, which would
lead inevitably to logrolling, making
the assignment of committee places pre-.
cisely similar to the oldtime public
buildings bills, the chief essential oil
which was that there should be enough
pork to satisfy a majority of the mem
bers.
What probably will be done is te
limit the number of important com
mittees which any one Senator car
represent in a conference between the
two Houses. This plan is much
broader than that suggested by Senator
Norris, which would affect only chair
men of the important committees. Il
is just as necessary, it is pointed out
to limit the number of conferences il
which can sit the ranking member:
after the chairmen