The Washington herald., 1920-12-21
POSTELECTION
Line OF LAME
DUCKS FORMS
Confirmation of Nugent
Nomination Beginning
Of Reciprocity.
BEATEN SENATORS
WILL NOW ARISE
Many Lucrative Jobs
Await "Unfortunate"
Democrats.
By ROBERT BARRY.

| The LAME duck brigade wen'
into action yesterday. The march
began. 1t will take until March
to pass a given point. The route
will be down Pennsylvania avenue
from the Capitol to the executive
departments. The procession il
due to become famous for the in
PRODUCTION of the duck" step as the
successor to that of somewhat kim
idred name-immortaiize by the
legions of Germany.
Senator John F. Nugent. of Idaho,
became grand marshal. He was the
first of the defeated sons of Democ-
racy to find a Federal birth. His
name was sent to the Senate yester-
day afternoon by the President. He
was selected for a place on the Fed
eraI Trade Commission. In keep
ing with the best traditions of Sem
atorial courtesy his appointment
was confirmed in open session in
about two minutes time. The ever
present fear of Senators that some
day the fortunes of politics may go
against them renders them very
iconsiderate OF their colleagues
whom/"bad luck" overlook.
Defeated for Reelection.
| Nugents term as a Senator expires
March 4. He receives $500 a year
for his present public service. AS a
member of the Federal Trade Com
mission he will receive $4,000 an
nually. Thus does even a solemn
| referendum" sometimes have its ad-
| vantages.
Senator Mark Smith is held to be
next on the list. He was beaten for
reelection in New Mexico, to the
surprise of some Republican man
! ayers. His gruff good nature has
won him many friends on both sides
of the aisle thatsis supposed to
| separate friend and enemy in the
Senate. A berth on the Interna-
tional Boundary Commission is said
to await him. That is regarded as
plum" 1t meets about three
times a year and nets the commits
sioners 10000 for their arduous
laborsy Smith supported the league
/ of nations without reservations.
His net gain of $2,50o a year in in
come would come as a reward for
his unf1agging devotion to the cause
of the brotherhood of man.
Surprise for Chamberlain.
Senator George E. Chamberlain,
of Oregon, sturdy champion of in
dividual responsibility in the Senate
and accordingly an antiadministra-
tion Democrat in that body, is not
likely to receive any lame duck
favors from the White House. At
least not yet; but the Senator's Re-
publican friends believe they have
a little surprise in store for his
Democratic enemies. They predict
that he will be found among those
named by President Harding for ap-
pointment on the United States
Shipping Board early next summer.
Three places on that board must go
to Democrats. Chamberlain comes
from a West Coast State. He pos
sesses. therefore. pronounced avail
ability" He Is decidedly popular
with Republican Senators.
The Shipping Board posts pay
$4,000 a year. As Senators Smith
and Nugent have to be content with
$4,000 places, some persons around
the Senate are inquiring now
whether there is not, after all, some
reward for the virtue of independ-
ent discharge Of public duty. CHAM
berlain would gain $4,000 a year for
having won the disfavor of the
White House.
| Garrett Finds Hard Shedding.
| Other Democratic Senators and
Representatives are listed for Fed
eral berths. The Republican Sem
ate is certain to confirm all lame
duck" Democratic colleagues for
tunate in finding new positions, but
| it is not sure that House Demo-
Gratis will find the way so easy. The
appointment of Representative Finis
J. Garrett of Tennessee, as a Fed
eral Judge is being held UP. Gar
rett's Republican. successor is re-
ported to have entered objection.
Republican leaders in the Senate,
especially those holding chairman
ships of committees to which nomt-
nations would be referred, will con-
fer in q few days ito determine upon
uniform policy with respect to Presi-
dent Wilson's appointments between
now and March 4. Already an inn
posing list of names has been sent
to the Senate. There are something
like 1000 postmasters. The post
masters will not be confirmed, ex-
cept those named for cities in which
Democratic Senator'S reside. For
example. the postmaster at Omaha,
Nebracka would be approved as a
matter of Senatorial courtesy TO
Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock. of
Nebraska, whose home is in Omaha.
Promotions in the army, navy and
Diplomatic Service would be acted
on,sas they are Of a routine nature.
except in the matter of the general
officers of the army as a result of
Secretary Bakers selections, which
some of the older officers have At
tackled very vigorously.
Copyright. 1890. Public Ledger Col
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