The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-26
PrOgressiYes' Fight on
PenrOse and Warren Fails.
Republicans Approve Selection
of Committee ON Committees.
PROGRESSIVES NOT LOST ALL
Adoption Norris Rule Ends
Legislative PrOfiteering.
Hold Commanding Places on
Senate Committees.

Washington, May 26.-Senate Re
publicans at a conference today from
which several progressives absented
themselves approved the committee
selections of the committee on COM
mittees, including choice of Senators
Penroe of Pennsylvania, and Warren
of Wyoming. to be chairmen of the
finance and appropriation committees,
respectively.
A motion by Senator Johnson, Cali
fornia, to strike out Senator Penrose's
name as chairman of the finance
committee was defeated, 35 to 5.
Those supporting it were Senators
johnson, Cummins. Iowa; kellogg.
Mimi; Mccormick, ILL.,, and McNary,
Oregon. Senator Johnson indicated
in an address to the conference that
he would not carry his opposition to
the senate floor.
A last minute switch in the slate
took the craftsmanship of woman suf-
from from johnson, California, and
gave it to Watson, Indiana. Johnson
is a member of the committee. Wat
son is a friend of suffrage.
Progressivcs Talk Victory.
Tho defeated in their fight on SEN
ators Penrose and Warren as chair
men of the respective finance and ap-
propriations committees, progressives
declared today their strategy had won
them much.
The fight on the two powerful "old
guard" leaders, progressives say, has
resulted in:
1. Forcing senate Republicans to adopt
the Norris rule which ends control of
legislation by a few powerful senator's
:. Getting large progressive repreSen-
tation on the agricultural committee which
will deal with legislation to regulate the
packers and reduce food costs.
,. Obtaining other important chairman
ships and committee places insuring them
powerful influence on reconstruction
legislation.
These things are all the outgrowth
of the fight on Penrose which began
last session.
The Norris Rule.
The Norris rule, agreed to by Re-
publican Leader Lodge and others
only after the most stubborn fight,
prohibits senators VINO are members
of any of the big ten senate com
mittees belonging to more than
| other of the big ten" and any chair
man Of a "big ten committee can
not be on a conference committee eX-
! cept on bills from the committee he
I heads. In former years. few sena-
tors have been me nbers of all the
/ big committees and thru control of
the conferences have absolutely
moulded legislation to suit themselves.
The adoption OF the Norris rule ends
this.
( Progressives hold commanding
places on important senate commit
tees which will handle some of the
biggest reconstruction problems.
Progressive Power.
i 40 oE T.
/ terstate commerce, to deal with rail
road and wire problems. Jones. Wash
+ ington. heads commerce. to outline a
permanent merchant marine policy.
j Gronna, North Dakota, progressive
/ and practical farmer, is chairman of
agriculture. which deals with farmers
interests and which this session is ex-
! pected to report a drastic bill regulat-
ing the packing industry. Kenyon Is
/ chairman of education and labor
from which will come all labor well
fare and Americanization legislation
johnson, California, heads woman suf-
frage and becomes a member of for
/ eign relations, the most important
committee in the senate.
/ In addition progressives have Nor
/ ris, Kenyon, and Capper. Kansas. on
agriculture; Kenyon on appropriations
where he will help keep tax spending
down, he promises.
Therefore, progressives feel that
even tho the old guard should win
with Penrose and Warren. the pro-
J gressive group is more strongly placed
in the senate than ever before and
j better able to influence legislation.
Action of the conference was an
nounced by Senator Wadsworth of
New York. secretary, woh said there
was no roll call on adoption of the
committee assignments after the con-
ference had approved the selection OF
! Senator Penrose. Progressives who
have opposed Senators Penrose and
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