The Washington herald., 1918-11-20
FIGHT
FOR RIGHTS In
PEACE DEBATE
Old Guard and Progressive
Senators Unanimously
Adopt Policy.
PLAN RECONSTRUCTION
Penroses S Ambition to Be
Chairman of Finance Com
mittee Troublesome.

Republican Senators Of the Pro-
gressive faith sat down at the peace
table with those of the Old Guard
yesterday with every appearance Of
being in absolute harmony. But az
they discussed emily matters which
concern the present Congress in
which they are in the minority and
left severely untouched all oues-
tions regarding the organization Of
the next Senate in which they will
have bare majority. there was
nothing for them to have any fuss
about
About forty OF the Senators were
present at the conference. The only
one Of the ProgressIves who was
not there was Kenyon, and he sent
word that he would have attended
II he could have gotten there.
Borah, johnson, Norris. Lenroot ard
POindexter were there.
The conference adopted unsni-
mously a resolution which is BY wav
OF being a challenge to the Presi-
dent in the matter Of peace settle
ments and reconstruction measures
The resolution declares that Con-
gress intends TO exercise its constf-
tutional privileges in all matters Of
legislation II is as follows:
That the Congress shsl-assert its
normal and constitutional function,
I including legislation necessary for re-
construction"
In connection with this resolution
the conference adopted the plan
drawn up by a subcommittee for re-
construction legislation, including the
creation Of six joint Congressional
! committees These committees are 20
be, respectively, the joint committees
/ on demobiliEation Of the army and
navy, foreign trade and commeroe,
interstate transportation. domestic
business. employers and emploves Ind
I natural resources.
Republicans TO Contest Rights.
The adoption Of the resolution sig
/ nifies that ,ra Republicans will con-
Z test the risl- OF the President TO
{ carry on the measures Of reconstruc-
4 tion through the war cabinet or
through other administrative officers
and Will insist upon having a hand
= in such readjustments.
: Sometime before the present Con-
gress ends the Republicans will have
. dllRAlltI EFl-lOEElneT n1erLIIE. at
which the questions Of reorganization
Of the Senate will be taken Up. When
! d comes TO passing around the COM
/ mittee Chairmanships the conference
I may be somewhat less harmonious
I than the one held yesterday. Trouble
/ is specially looked for when IL comes
I to the Finance Committee and the
ambition Of BOies Penrnse to be its
I chairman.
I Penrose announced yestedsv that
I he vii ] be the chairman OF this com
9 mittee in the next Senate. Nothing
I can keep him from getting the covet-
ed place. n" said. and all statements
/ indicating that some Of the Progress
| sive Senators from the West and
/ Middle West might not be willing TO
/ have him sit in as chairman OF this
| most important committee were
| characterized bv him as being Dem
! ocratic propaganda put out in tbs
hope OF making a split in the Re
| publican ranks so thst the Democrats
| could retain control Of the Senate
Notwithstanding the assurance OF
! Penrose there are rising signs OF I'm
! patience among certain Of the Pro
] Eressive Senators over the prospect OF
his holding this chaiT1nanship. Re-
| fore the conference was called 90
| setheT yesterday there was some in-
| formal discussion OF the problem
/ among little groups Of Senators. but
| no talk in the open on the subject.
Committee May save Day.
! Some Of Penrose's closest asso-
| ciates IN the Senate are hoping that
| some way may be presented that will
! enable them to escape his incurnbencv
/ Of the craftsmanship. One Of these
| Senators suggested today that the
| problem may be solved by the sp-
| pointment Of a committee on com
| mittees. giving this committee full
| authority to make up all the COM
mittee assignments for the Senate
/ without regard to the seniority rule
4 or anything else except the fitness
I Of the men for the positions to which
| they might be designated.
IF we could get q committee on
| committees with sand enough" this
| Senator said. there would be moth
/ ing to it. Penrose would be given
some Chsirmanship Of lesser impor-
tance and the problem would solve
| itself"
In this talk OF shelving Penrose,
the most likely man suggested for
| the Finance Committee chairman
ship in his place is Townsend. who
has been a member Of the commit
| tee for several years.
| Some Of those who have been do
\ ing the most talking against Pen
rose have been including Arthur
| Capper, the new Senator from Kan
sss. as one OF those who might Join
hands witha other Progressives 70
upset the plans Of Republican or
ganization. But q Senator who Va
q close friend OF Cspper's received
| through the mail yesterday a news
paper clipping IN which Cspper de-
clares that he is no "revolter" and
that he intends to stand by the Re
publican orga nization.
SHIP SUNK WITH ALL AB0ARD