The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-06
MANN WINS FIGHT
FOR SENIORITY RULE
New House Committees to Be
Filled without Regard
to Ability.
PROTEST BY LONGWORTH
Mott Instead of Gould to Go on
Ways and Means-Ford-
Rey as Chairman.

WASHINGTON, March 5.-The Mann
strength on the Committee on Commit
tees steam rollered into effect at
to-day's meeting a strict adherence to
the seniority rule in the selection not
only OF chairmanships for the coming
Republican House. but in the selection
Of new members for the important COM
mittees as we'll
Tho victory of the Mann forces was
even more complete than his most OPP
timistio friends had anticipated. Not
only did the Mann representatives. hold
ing the strength OF anti-Mann States
as in the case of New York and Penn
sylvania-do what Mann had expected of
| them, in voting for the application Of
| the seniority rule in selecting candidates
| for important chairmanships, but they
went a step further and swallowed the
seniority rule, as Representative Long
worth (o.). put 1t Gin its most obnoxious
| form"
The Mann adherents applied the rule
| In contravention of the desire Of a big
majority of the party to build UP the
important committees by selecting the
best qualified men for existing vacancies
|
dence insofar as present Republican
members OF those committees were con-
cerned The seniority rule was adopted
| over the protest OF Mr.. Longworth. 1t
was a band wagon affair from start to
| finish
Chairmanships Agreed Upon.
Tentative agreement was reached on
f, chairmanshps OF the ten most important
| committees OF the House and nomina-
tons were received for filling vacanies
on these committees due to increase of
Republican strength. This agreement Is
| tentative only so far as II may be
| changed by the desire of some of its
benehciaries for different assignment
The effect OF the application OF the
seniority rule on the New York dele
cation is to put Representative Mott in
nomination for Ways and Means Com
mittee over Mr., Gould. whose qualif-
cations as a man Of affairs have been
strongly urged. Representative Dunn
IN. " was placed on the Committee
on Committees without instructions and
when the delegation subsequently went
on record as favoring adherence to the
seniority rule II was understood that this
applied only to demand OF six members
for protection against discrimination on
committees in which they served in the
Sixty-hfth Congress. MIR. Dunn, how
ever. chose to apply this to candidates
for new committees and on that basis
nominated Representative Mott.
To-days action, which will be reflected
In subsequent meetings OF the committee
forecasts the selection OF Representa- tive
Mondell (Wyo) as floor leader and
chairman of tho Republican steering
committee. 1t involved also the following
chairmanships of the big committee.
acted on to-day: Ways and Means
Fordney (Mich) Appropriations, Good
Ga.) Agriculture, Haughen Ga.) For
eiSn Affairs, Porter (PaD ; Interstat,
and Foreign Commerce. Esch CWis)
judiciary. Volstead IMinnD Military
Affairs, Kahn (Cal): Naval Affairs
Butler CPa.) Post Offices and Post
roads. Stevenson CMinn.) Rivers anC
Harbors, Kennedy Ia).
Ways and Means Nominees.
These members were placed in nomi
! nation for eight additional Republican
, memberships on the Ways and Mean
Committee Representatives Frea
CWis). Young (N. Do. Wood Gnd
Hadley (Wssh.). Mott On. ". Waxso
: IN. H, Ellsworth tNinnD. Tilso
Comm, Bacharach On j.. Bower
CIV. NaD. Copley GllD. McPherso
4 tMo), Strong (Kan) and Andrew