Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-22
What Congress Is Doing.
Legislators Are Looking Forward to Change
in Political Regime Republicans Begin
Putting Their House in Order.



ONGRESS is looking for
ward to a change in politi-
cal regime, to be effected
some time after March 4
one of the periodical revo-
lutions in party control which
have been features Of political history.
The republicans are setting their house
in order-the new broom to sweep clean
and preparing for party leadership.
management and policy. The most
notable reversal of political form will
occur in the House, due to infusion
of larger quantity of new blood and
the displacement of sectional DONNA
tion from the south and vesting it in
the middle west. Since the early sos
the pendulum has swung from repub-
1icans to democrats and back again.
Beginning with the speakership OF
John G. Carlisle OF Kentucky, in the
Forty-eighth Congress, the demo-
Gratis held the House from 1884 to
1880. Then, Thomas B. Reed of Maine,
headed the republican majority in the
Fifty-frst Congress, giving way to
the democrats in 1891 with Judge
Charles F. Crisp of Georgia in the
chair The democrats held on during
rhe Fifty-second and Fifty-third Con-
crosses until 1895, when the repub-
Iicans came back for stay of sixteen
years. During that period their Speak
ers were Reed of Maine, Henderson
Of Iowa and Cannon of Illinois. The
democrats took hold again with the
Sixty Congress i'll 1911 and
Champ Clark has welded the gavel
for them since. In the years from Car
Isle to Clark great names have been
made in Congress, enduring construc-
tive legislation has been enacted.
brilliant politics played. A long pro-
cession of distinguished men has
marched through the halls of Con-
greSs-it were almost lnvidlouS dls-
tinction to mention a score or names.
Even the aucients were wont to look
back admiringly at their past ana
say '"rhere were giants in those
days" Well, there were.
In, that time also there have been
revolutions in parliamentary proceed
ing, resulting in the demonstration
of the Congress. First was the abol-
ishn1ent of the tyrannical filibuster in
the House-what time Mr.. Reed
counted quorum and made it pos
sible for a majority to do business
where a majority was physically
present. Then there was the wrestling
of control from the Speaker and plac-
ing the appointment of committees
more generally within the power OF
the membership of the House. In the
Senate there was modification OF the
rules making it possible for the body
to bring to an end, some time, DEBATE
on q bill and get a vote.
which considerations bring up a
question OF immediate interest and
current dis
Committee Honors cussion; what
Bring Up Question. obtain in the
House and Senate under republican
administration as to distribution OF
committee honors and control of leg
islation?
Inquiry among the men who are to
be members of the next House and
who may reasonably be expected to
have influencing voice in party coun-
ellis brings the statement that there
is no thought OF a return to one-man
domination nor even of a coterie less
in number than a committee to be
chosen freely by the republican mem
bership. There viii be no occasion to
or "reactionary control" Ii any
thing. it is said. it will be another
kind of CALLED jade to vince: 1t may
be the supposedly proud and naughty
charge western domination" But
the west won't mind; it will rather
fancy it, as a novel change.
The plan of the republicans OF
is to take up the question of COM
mittee assignments in conference,
prior to the regular caucus and
thrash it out with view to deciding
upon a course which will assure dis
tribution of committee work as near
~ to the satisfaction of the member
ship as may be possible and, at any
rate, in Il way which will leave no
basis for charge of personal or rae
tional autocracy. 1t may be decloed
tees. or the caucus may be directed
to name the committee on ways and
means and let that body make up the
other committee assignments. The
undetermined; the fved fact is that
committee chairmanships and assign
Inents will not be controlled by a
close corporation, personal or rae
,ional The democrats will hand in
their committee assignments through
the democratic membership of ways
and means. in cooperation with
champ Clark, who is to be minority
leader.
:.
IN the Senate, the earlier furry
a xainst seniority rule In committee
CHI r manships
Seniority Rule appears to have
blown away and
Objection Fades. the senate will
y. reorpanized according to custom
md precedent-that is to say. sena-
tors who have attained ranking place
On committees through long service
in the Senate and on committee will
hold their position. No other plan
appeals to the judgment Of the ma
jority Of the senators. who ask how
otherwise can a man be placed in
desirable committee assignment with
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