New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-25
Last Trace of
Oligarchy in
Senate Passes
Revolutionary Changes in
Rules Inaugurated by Re-
publicans Sweep Aside
Control by Small Group
Seniority Is RELOCATED
Wadsworth and Calder Are
First Termers Who Head
Important Committees
By Carter Field


WASHINGTON, April 24.-The GER.
tsinty that Oscar W. Underwood will
b elected Democratic leader Of the
Senate at the caucus Tuesday has rather
turned the spotlight on the revolution
ary change in the United States Senate
il the last few years. So gradually
s Ct . by step, that it has scarcely been
noriced, the Senate has changed from
N oligarchy into a very democratic
body. With the asst change in party
control, occurring last year, when the
Republicans again assumed a majority
# cr six years of Democratic power
d last traces of the old oligarchy be-
came so rare that now they are pointed
out as exceptional rather than empha-
sized as characteristic.
There was a time when Senator Aid
rich, of Rhode Island, at e. head of a
little group consisting of not more
tually as a dictator. What he said
vent. Committees reported and bills
were passed only after the 0. X. had
been obtained from him.
In those days no Senator attained
the Craftsmanship of an important COM
Mittee, or even the second or third
place, where he might occasionally sit
in on a conference between the two
houses of Congress, until he had
served a long apprenticeship and dem
onstrated he was tried and true.
Recall Attack by Root
The old leaders were aided greatly
by the seniority rule, which prevented
sheer merit from advancing man rap
idly out of his turn. Senators still
chuckle occasionally over the attack
made by Elihu Root. of New York,
shortly after his entry in the Senate,
:. with the prestige of having been not
enly Secretary of State, but Secretary
Of War as we'll, on the methods of the
Senate.
The "hery New York boy" for so he
actually was regarded by the old
timers then in control Of the Senate
and this was barely eleven years ago
mfounded the senior statesmen, and
Senator Pettus. of Alabama, read the
presumlng youngster severe lecture
right in public on the floor of the Sem
ste. Senator Depew. of New York, dis
tressed at the incident, went around
and sat by Mr.. Root as mark of sym
pathy, while the stern old Alabaman
proceeded with the discipline"
This case is frequently referred to
because. even in the case of intellect
like that of Elihu Root, the Old Guard
would recognize nothing except long
service and demonstrated loyalty in
side. and not outside, of the Senate.
But popular elections, deaths and
one very liberal change in the rules,
inaugurated when the Republicans or
Eenized the Senate as they came into
control last spring, have changed that,
not entirely, but to a very large extent.
Revolutionary Change Inaugurated
This rule itself was revolutionary.
It provided that no Senator who was
chairman of one of the ten important
committees should serve on more than
enc other of these ten committees. and.
further. that he should never serve as
. conferee between the two houses of
Congress for any other important COM
mittee than the one of which he was
chairman.
As an illustration Of how this rule
affects the two oldest Republican Sen
ators IN point of service, it forced
Senator Lodge off the Finance Commit
Zee, where for years he had served on
the conference between the two houses
81 ping all revenue and tax legislation
Gnd while he remained on the Naval
{ Affairs Committee he can no longer
serve in the conference between the
two houses on naval bills. Senator
Warren. now chairman of Appropria-
lions, was forced Off the conference on
the army and public building bills,
though he has been ranking Republican
member of the Military Committee for
years, and displaced also from the
eommttees on Agriculture and Rules.
Such changes have applied all the
way down the line on the senior states
Aen, and as result there have been
openings galore for the young blood
ef the upper house.
Changes in personnel in the Senate
have been so great, however, in addi
ton to the effect of this rule, that
only forty-nine of the ninety-six SEN
ators have served continuously as long
q one full term, six years. Technically
4 and the Senate rules have always ap
pied tecl- cally-there are forty seven
nrst-termers in the Senate. Of these
I'VE served previously in the Senate,
AcNary for snort time under an ap
continent; Curtis, Of Kansas, full
serrn from 1907 to 1913, then returned
70 the Senate in 1915; Elkins, of West
Virginia, from twenty-five days in jan
asry, 1911; Ball. of Delaware, from
.so5 70 1905, and Senator Knox, of
fennsy lvanl-, from 1904 to 1909, when
ne resigned to Renter the Cabinet.
"adsworth in Important Post
inree OF the so-called ten big COM
attees affected by the new rule have
afsr'ermers as chairmen. By far the
nos, important of these is that on
Mnlii'ary Affairs, of which James W.
~sos~orth jr., Of New York, is chair
nan. This committee is not only about
lsnrtn IN actual Importance Of rank
!N4 aing greater Importance TO Finance,
appropriations and Foreign Relationg-
81 II is actually much greater in i'm
ssrtance this session, having borne
se orunt OF cutting down extravagant
ssmands by the War Department and in
ssaping not only the size but the or
n'zssion Of the new army succeeding
" big war army.