The sun., 1919-05-28
Democratic Effort to Get
Partial Control of Com
mittees Fails.
HARMONY rs UsHERED IN
Senate Republicans Hold Con-
ference and Insurgents Reg
lister Their Protests.
Special Despotch to THn SuH.


party resulted to-day in cernenting the
Republicans together in the last hours
of their fnternecine fight, insuring selec-
ton OF Republican committee report
without opposition within the party.
Senator Penrose (Pa.) wins the CHAIR
rnanship OF the Committee on Finance
with his party solidly hack of him, be-
cause the alternative was possibility that
Simmons On c., Democrat would be
enabled to continue indefinitely IN that
capacity.
1t was a curious parliamentary com
plication that caused the sudden access
OF harmony among the Republicans
Majority party leaders insist that this
Democrats overreached themselves and
played into the hands of the Republican
organization
The Senate being Republican by
atority OF two votes the detection of
single Republican would leave IL tied
with the casting vote In the Vice-Presi-
dent. The insurgents against Penrose
Intended to vote for some other Repuh-
Ncan and were confident OF ~ least FIVE
Republican votes. This would have left
all Democrats voting for Simmons.- with
the Democrats and Republicans divided,
90 that none Of the three would haye a.
majority. A majority being required
under the rules to choose committee
chairmen no election would have been
possible so long as this situation con-
tinued.
MarshaH,s RuIfng.
Several days ago Democratic leaders
gave the Republicans to understand that
they would not interfere In the Republi-
can row and It was assumed that the
De-. - kA-f-
family Jar without endangering their
control Of the committees. But last
week unexpectedly Vice President Mar
shall made ruling that changed the
course Of affairs. The point being raised
he held that as the Senate is a continuing
body its committees are also continuing
committees; the Old ones remain in au-
thority till new ones are elected
Although Senator Lodge protested
against the ruling It was not generally
recognized AS vitality affecting the gen.
eral committee situation. But later the
Democratic leaders began to demand
concessions They wanted the member
ship of the Foreign Relations Committee
Increased by the addition Of two Demo-
Gratis making it ten Republicans to nine
Democrats. This was more than the
Republicans were willing tn conceda in
view Of the uncertainties Of the League
Of Nations fight.
Being denied this. the Democrats at
ter conferences among themselves de-
clined to have the report Of their Conn
nlittee on Committees anslgated with
the report of the like Republican COM
rnittee SO that the complete list could be
presented by the ma jority leader. This
Is the common practice, the entire list,
Republicans and Democrats alike, being
adopted, on a viva voce vote.
-. L. A.NT
the usuaf course the Republicans real
lied they were holding out" evidently
hoping to gain some advantage through
the Republican fight against Penrose.
They we're in this position II the com
mittee chsErmen were elected one by one
and II the Republicans divided, say, on
the charm anships Of Finance and APP
preparations with the result that there
would he no, election 10 these important
positions, tho chair might, pursuant to
his ruling OF last week. hold that the
holdover cha trrnen. Mr.. Simmons and Mr.
Martin eva }, were stiil entitled to func-
ton till theirtsuccessors were chosen.
II was not entirely clear whether the
Republicans would be able on vote to
override this ruling for the general opin-
ion heretofore has been in agreement
with the railing Of Vice President
Marshall Moreover IL is known that
one or two Republican Senators in
clined even in this exigency to support
the Vice-Presidents views.
Necessary to Get Together.
This made It necessary for the Re-
pubIicans to get together, bury all their
differences or risk the possibility OF be-
ing JUNIORS ed as to part, possibly ALL of
their committee programme The stake
was too big to he risked for the sake
of carrying on a futile quarrel for a few
days longer and accordingly II was
agreed that the Democrats should not
get their chance The Republica ms
would get together in time to register
their ma jority at the outset.
But the Republican anti Penrose men
while willing to go this far insisted on
a chance publicly TO explain and regis
ter their protest against the Pennsyl-
vanian. So II was arranged that a con-
ference Of Republicans with open doors
should be held this forenoon for this
purpose. 1t was quite a novelty, and
possibly establishes precedent that
will have Significance In future.
The conference met at l. 80 o'clock
In the big marble conference room in
the Senate office building, Mr.. Lodge
presiding and that public" being rep
resented exclusively by the large num-
Der of newspaper men who came. II
was commonly referred 10 as ROod
deal Of farce. and Senators Jones
wash. }. Kellogg tMinn), La Toilette
(Wis). Curtis (KanD. and Norris
(Neb) did not bother to attend.
II was a beautifully cut and dried
programme. Mr.. LodRs raped II to
order and recognized Senator Brande-'
zee Comm. chairman Of the Committee
on Committees Mr. Brandegee moved
that the vote taken at a previous con
ference adopting the report of tho Com
mittee on Committees be reoonsidered.
which carried viva voce. Then he moved
that the election Of Mr.. Penrose as
Chairman Of the Finance Committee be
reconsidered; also carried
The question Of A chairman Of fnanee
being before tho conference Senator Bo-
ran rose and recorded his protest.
Senator Kenyon Ta.) said he was in
entire agreement with Mr.. Borah Sem
tor spencer tMo.) desired u Understood
hat his vote for Mr.. Penrose must not
De construed as carrying with Il any
policy OF taxation. u'"'
Senator Gronna IN DaLA . Ut,
satu nave in the past opposed IN.
revenue ana taxation principles OF Mr.
Pehrpse. l consider them unfair ana
shscieptinc. But that had nothing IN
oo|wlth making this orga nization OF This
Senate. ] win vote for him now beconss
peh'nd CLOSED doors have heretofore
voted for him"
-'hs roll call disclosed Senators Borah
Cappsf' Ienmlhs. Johnson CCal). Ken
ycn. l>snre". mccormick, McNary yot-
ing sEslpst MT PenToSe ; Asssrs. Jones,