The sun., 1919-02-09
G.O.P. SENATORS ACT
TO CURB SENIORITY
Conference Adopts the Lcnroot
Changes to Eliminate Evils
in Present Rules.
MEETING IS HARMONIOUS
Lodge Refuses to Accept Nc
Cumber's Sacrifice in His
~ Interest.

EptCint DcSpotCH 10 lhh BUN
wAsutSGroS. Feb. s--The Republican
conference OF the Senate adopted to-day
he recommendations OF the Lenroot COM
mittee designed to eliminate evils OF
application OF the seniority rule In COM
,nittee assignments. The conference was
harmonious to the last degree, even
Senator Borah Gdaho) admitting TO
friends after the adoption OF the rule
that It was entirely satisfactory 80
far as 1t went"
The text Of the new rule of organ
fxation follows:
Text of Changes in Rule.
Resolved, That Il Is the sense OF
xhis conference that Rule NXN. OF
the standing rules OF the Senate be
amended by adding thereto new
paragraph as follows:
III. After March, 1912. no Senator
shall be a member Of more than two
Of the following committees OF the
Senate, viz: Appropriations, Agri-
culture and Forestry, commerce, FL
nance, Foreign Relations. Interstate
Commerce Judiciary, Military Affairs,
Naval Affairs. post Offices and Post
Roads. No Senator being chairman
Of either OF the foregoing committees
shall be appointed on "A conference
committee upon any bill reported by
either OF the said standing commit
tees unless II IL reported by the COM
mittee OF which he is chairman; and
~ 1t further
Resolved, That It Is the sense OF
this conference that no chairman of
any committee named in the foregoing
proposed amendment OF tho rules who
may be a ranking member OF any
committee other than those named in
said amendment should be appointed
On conference committee upon any
bill reported by the committee OF
which he is such ranking member
unless the majority members OF such
committee shall upon specific bills so
recommend.
The conference amended the rule to
day by adopting two provisos, the frs
at the suggestion OF Senator Lodg,
(Mass). providing that hereafter thu
diplomatic and consular appropriation
hill, which has been regularly referred
to the Committee on Appropriations
shall be hereafter referred to and con
sidered BY the Committee on Foreigr
Relations, Of which Senator Lodge viii
sular bill is one of the smaller OF tn
annual money measures. but of hgi
Importance.
Membe rship Is CurtaiIcd.
The second rroviso adopted by TIL
conference provided for the reduction o
the maximum membership OF all Sen
ate committees to seventeen. Under TIL
p-esent organization OF the Senate sew
eYal major committees have twenty mem
beers. The new rule will provide fo
ninety eight seats for Republicans anC
ssventy-two for Democrats on the tel
major committees.
In the conference deliberations Sen
ator McCumber On. d. suggested tina
an exception to the rule providing tina
chairmen OF committees who also ar
ranking members of other committee
shall not servo as conference man
ayers should be made in the In
stance of the chairman of the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations. This sugges
ton was made In compliment to Senate
Lodge, who viii De ranking member .
the Finance Committee s we'll as chair
man OF Foreign Relations. and whom
Senator McCumber was unwilling TO sc
dispossessed OF his privilege OF sitting Il
conference on revenue measures.
The exception would have eliminate
Senator McCumber from the privilege o
sitting on revenue conferences, as h
ranks next 10 Mr.. Lodge. The Reput
ltcan leader thanked Mr.. McCumber 70
the sacrifice which the proposed excep
ton en.ailed and declined to accept Il
The rule was then ratified.