The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-26

ARE SATISFIED
Claim Their Strategy IN Con-
gress Has Won Much De-
spite Defeat in Pen
rose Case.
ON MANY COMMITTEES
Cummings, Kenyon and Others are
Chairmen, With Large Repro
sentatIon on Food Cost
Tribunal.
[By L. G. Martin, United Press
Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON. May 26 = Though
facing defoat in their fight on Sena-
tors Penrose and Warren as chair
men Of the respective finance and ap-
Preparations committee, 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 few power
full senators.
2.-Getting a large progressive
representation on the agricultural
committee which will deal with legis-
lation to regulate the packers and re-
duce food costs.
3.-Obtaining other important chair
manshtps and committee places insur-
| ing them a powerful influence on re-
construction legislation.
These things are all the outgrowth
of the fight on Penrose which began
last session and which is expected to
come to head this week.
| The Norris rule agreed to by Repub-
lican Leader Lodge and others only
after the most stubborn fight, pro-
hibits senators who are members OF
any of the "big ten" senate commit
| tees belonging to more than other OF
the big ten; and any chairman Of a
! "big ten" committee can't be on a
conference committee except on bills
| from the committee he heads. In
former years few senators have
been members of all the big commit
| tees and through control of the confer
ence, have absolutely moulded legisla-
ton 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.
Cummins, Iowa, Is chairman of In
terstate commerce, to deal with rail-
road and wire problems. Jones, Wash
| ington, heads commerce, to outline a
permanent merchant marine policy.
| Gronna. North Dakota, progressive
and practical farmer, Is chairman of
agriculture which deals with farmers
| interests and which this session is
expected to report drastic bill regu-
iating the packing industry. Kenyon
! is chairman of education and labor,
from which will come all labor. vel
fare and Americanizatton legislation.
Johnson, California, heads woman suf-
frage and becomes a member of for
ejgn relations, the important commit
tee in the senate. In addition progress
sives have Norris, Kenyon and Cap
per, Kansas, on agriculture; Kenyon
on appropriations, where he will help
keep tax spending down, he promises.
Therefore progressives feel that
even though the old guard should win
with Penrose and Warren. the pro-
gressive group is more strongly placed
ir the senate than ever before and
better able to influence legislation.
Approved by Caucus.
WASHINGTON, May 26.--The re-
publican caucus today approved the
committee slate as proposed by the
committee on committees.
Senator Penrose heads the finance
committee. and other assignments
protested by the progressives stand.
A last minute switch in the slate
took the craftsmanship of woman suf-
frase from Johnson, Of California,
and gave 1t to Watson, of Indiana.
Johnson Is a member Of the commit
tee. Watson is friend Of suffrage.
Five progressiyes voted against
giving Penrose the finance commit
tee craftsmanship. Johnson, of Call
fornia, made the motion to strike
out Penrose's name, and Senators
Cummins, Kellogg, Mccormick and
McNary voted with Johnson. Thirty
| five regulars voted to retain Pen
rose.
The following republican senators
were approved for chairmen of i'm
portant committees:
Agriculture and forestry-Gronna,
North Dakota
Appropriations-W Wyoming.
Banking and currency-McI4ean
Connecticut.
Commerce-Jones, Washington.
(CoDfinuad On NaQa 2A