Norwich bulletin., 1919-05-20
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin


fractional contests which thfeatenedI
to split the party plans of friend and
foe alike have petered out and the
| Seth congress starts out on its two /
years course with hatchets buried. 1t 1,
might not take very deep p1oughing
to bring them to the surface but for
| the surface but for the time being
the two major parties present I'M |
ruffled and harmonious fronts. 1t wasl
great work and at its conclusion the
| leaders heaved a mighty sigh Of re-
| lief The hardest tussle was over thet
steering committee of the house andl
the question Of an increase from five 1ol
nine members. The increase will prob
| ably be made but it will be the re-
suit of a true change of heart as tot
the wisdom Of pulling to gether rath-
er than under coInpulsion. The pres
ent committee represents to a large
degree the wealth and conservatism
of the country. The four members to
be added win be selected to represent
| the labor and more progressive ele-
ments. The whole lineup of the house
wants harmony and the plan will be-
| worked out without f1utter. About
an hour before the caucus was called
Saturday night danger signals were
set jointly by the warning factions
| through a round robin signed by lead
l
| of the road course was marked out
and the whole vexed question turned
over to a committee which will make
a diplomatic report fairly acceptable
| to both the Gillett and Mann fore
| es. There may be a fly in the ONT
ment' as bib as humble bee, but it
will be hidden from sight and the or
| ganizatior fight will be called off. For
| this solution the credit is largely due
| al-ny- at M
| Of Ohio the latter chairman of the
| house republican committee. Both
| Giilett and Tess have an abundance
/ of common sense; political wisdom and
| genuine devotion to their party. The
suggestion was made by them and the
Mann forces agreed to abide by it.
| The democrats likewise choose the
| path of peace, and the anti-ClarK
| demonstration ended in such a fizzle
that his nomination for floor leader
| was made by acclauation. Although
a steering committee may be named. it
will be Clark and Kitchen who will
control democratic legislation. At the
caucus Mr.. Clark bubbled over with
patriotism and administration en-
| thusiasm and the much advert sad
| fight to finish against him fell fiat.
Over in the. senate a love feast is
likewise iii order. The democrats have
united from the first on Martin of
| Virginia and he will retain his lead
ership through the coming congress.
The republicans under the wise and
experienced guidance of Senator Lodge
will make their little majority of two
go a long way There is still some
pickering over the chairmanships of
finance and one or two other commit
tees, but it is not likely to go beyond
the dead line, and before vote for
organization is taken the rough spots
will be ironed out.
Here are a couple Of "harmony'
samples which will tell the story in a
nut shell:
Uncle Joe Sannon who administers
the oath of Office to Speaker Gillett
was a leader of the Mann forces and
a bitter denouncer- of the Gii1ett can
didacy for speakershp. 1t is Lehl
Tess, of Ohio, whom the speaker has
chosen for his parlimentarian. Young
Tess is the son of Congressman Fess
who was himself q rival candidate for
the speakersfip. withdrawing just he
fore the caucus genuinely in the in
terest of party harmony and to have
. the party saved three cornered fight
Those two selections show pretty well
which way the wind blows.
Connecticut will hold some of the
highest committee assignments in the
new congress and heavy responsible
ties will be placed on the shoulders
of such of her representatives as hold
chairmanships. Senator Brandegee is
chairman of the committee OH com
fnlttees which is one of the most i'm
| portant positions in new congress
On him will fall the brunt of assign.
ments and he will have the deternin.
ating voice in many controversies ant
/, must also smooth the ruffled pluma gt
of disgruntled senators. He mus
iron out thousand and one factiona
differences and at the same time
keep in mind the fitness of the men
, the good of the country and the safety
; Of party prestige. Its a big job, bu
Brandegee is fully equal for it, H
is recognized by both republicans ant
democrats as fair and fearless.
Senator Mclean. who. has beer
ranking member of the banking anC
, currency committee during democrati,
!, CONTROL now steps into top place ant
becomes its chairman. This committe,
: is second to none in handling the ire
I, mendous financial questions of after
: the-war establishments. But Mclean
is fully equipped to handle it. Hi
experience in both private and publi
life making him especially well quail
= fed to deal with the great financial
. question of the nation.
Over in the house the Connection
g delegation is likewise we'll placed.
e Tilson was taken rom the militar-
affairs and given a place on the way
4 and means. which outranks all othe
. committees. The military affairs
: | wanted to hold fast to Tilson. as h
: was Invaluable to them as an ordnanc
| expert. but not only was the promo
ton deserved. but the interests O
Connecticut are largely in the hands Q
c the ways and means committee s
6 | Tilson made the change and is nov
a full fledged ways and means man
Merritt gets big honor, also. H
n is practically q new man, vet his rep
j. utation for staunchness, ability an
experience in the business world Sc
cured him an assignment on the maio
n committee of interstate and foreign
a commerce almost before he had serve
his congressional apprenticeship.
Freeman is on the rivers and har
s bors, Lonergan on banking and cur
If ref1cy and Glynn was last year mem
. Der on inter- oceanic canals which DO
% sition he is likely to retain. Over i
the senate it is Brandegee Of Connect
cut who holds tho craftsmanship {
c that committee, SO if the canal an
Y waterways matters come 10 tho from
II Connecticut will have strong rcprcscr
tation.
There is widespread satisfaction evs
o the selection of Gillett as speaker. M
= Gillett will open the congress with
" new gavel presented to him by Les
ter Jones, superintendent of the Goa!
and 2oodetic survey. The gavel
made from wood of the hull of IL