New-York tribune., 1919-05-25
Committee Posts Gained in
Senate Placate Them and
They Will Only Make Per-
functory Battle OH Penrose
Ten to Get Chairmanships
Majority on Foreign Rela-
tions Assured in Opposi-
ton to League of Nations
NeD York Tribune
tVGshin0tO1s Bureau

NeU York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 24.-Progres-
sive Republicans in the Senate, pleased
with the committee assignments they
have won, have practically abandoned
their fight on the candidacy Of Senator
Penrose, of Pennsylvania, for the chair
manship of the Senate Finance Com
mittee.
A formal fight against Penrose will
be made in the Republican conference
when the regular slate is presented on
Monday, but it was predicted tonight
that no differences Will crop out on the
floor.
The Progressives made two distinct
gains to-day. Senator Johnson, OF
California, was slated by the commit
tee on committees for place on the
Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. and Senator Kenyon, of Iowa,
was tentatively agreed upon IS chair
man of the Committee on Education
and Labor.
To obtain this committee chairman
ship Senator Kenyon was compelled to
forego his desire to be member of
the Foreign Relations Committee, but
he did this gladly, he said, because he
considered the chairmanship of the
Labor Committee far more important.
While the Committee on Education and
Labor up to this time has always been
regarded as one of the minor commit
tees, the important legislation with
which 1t will have to deal at this ses-
SION Will make it major committee
of the Sixtysixth Congress.
What the Progrcssives Won
These are the gains Senate Progress
sives have won as result of their
policy of "holding out on Penrose":
Senator Gronna becomes chairman
of the Committee on Agriculture,
which will handle legislation plac-
ing the packers under government
supervision and control.
Senator La Toilette gets the chair
manship of the Committee on Manu-
factures, which will conduct many
important Investigations.
Senator Cummins was elected
president pro tenn. of the Senate,
and will receive the chairmanship of
the Committee on Interstate Com
merce.
Senator Wesley Jones, Of Wash
lngton, received the Craftsmanship of
the Commerce Committee.
Senator Capper, of Kansas. be-
comes member Of the Committee
on Agriculture, giving that commit
tee radical working majority.
Senator Kenyon gets the chair
manship of Education and Labor.
Senator johnson becomes a men,
Der of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
Senator Borah, leader Of the fight
against Senator Penrose, always has
held in view the possibility Of getting
Foreign Relations Committee "packed"
against the league Of nations as an Of
terlng for calling off his opposition.
Majority Against League
With the addition of Senators Hard
ing, Moses, New and johnson to it's
membership, the Foreign Relations
Committee now presents large work
lnb majority against the league. SEN
ator Borah has not relaxed his oppo-
sition to the Pennsylvania Senator as
chairman of the Finance Committee.
but he acknowledges that the fight is
hopeless
The rule of seniority has rigidly ap-
piled in allotting the chairmanships of
the Appropriations Committee and the
Naval Affairs Committee, to the disad-
vantage Of Senator Smoot, of Utah, and
Senator Poindexter, of Washington.
Senator Warren will be chairman of
Appropriations and Senator Page, of
Vermont, will get the chairmansh1p of
Naval Affairs.
Senator Poindexter was chagrincd
when it became known that Page would
head the Naval Affairs Committee.
Senator Poindexter had already given
out interviews on the policy the Naval
Committee would pursue and had con-
ferred with Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt with re-
gard to the naval appropriation bill.
Senator Pages selection for the
naval Craftsmanship was a success for
the progressves in that it made it i'm
possible for him to receive the chair
manship of the Agricultural Commit
tee, to which he would otherwise have
been entitled.
Little Interest for Progressivcs
The Progressives had little interest
IN the personnel of the Naval and Mil
itary Affairs committees, feeling that
the more important work this session
is to be done by other committees. The
agreement on Senator Page as chair
man of Naval Affairs left the way
clear for the selection of Senator
Gronna to head the Agricultural Com
mittee.
The Progressives refused to support
Senator Poindexter's candidacy on the
ground that he was neither radical
nor reactionary," and threw their sup
port to Page.