The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-07
SEEKHARMONY'
INyc0NGREss'
Republican Leaders Hope to
Avoid Friction in Naming
Of New chairmen.
By J. BART CAMPBELL.
Istss.stisaai Hsws Service.


Organization Of the new Congress.
the sixty-seventh. which President
elect Harding is expected to call
into special or extra session soon
after his Inauguration March 4, is
engaging the attention of Repubii-
can leaders beginning to flock here
almost as much rs the makeup OF
the Harding cabinet. s
CONFIDENT or CONTROL.
MT. Harding and his ADVISERS
naturally desire the floor lsadershtD
Of Senate and House. ana the chair-
Daanships OF the important committees
OF the two bodies to be vested In
Republicans who can be counted upon
TO go alongs with the Harding adj
ministration.
Republican leaders closely asso-
ciated with Mr.. Harding profess con-
fidence In their ability to control SEN
ate and House by q sufficiently wide
margin OF votes to insure the passage
Of legislation favored by the new, ad-
ministration.
As q result Of the amending of the
Senate rules toward the end OF the
last session OF the present Congress.
the number Of Senate committees has
been cut from seventy four to thirty
four, none Of them with q member
ship OF pore than fifteen.
LEGfsLATIoN CONCENTRATED.
The original purpose Of the amend
ment was to eliminate q lot of obso-
lete committees and concentrate the
legislation making organisation of
the Senate. Certain Republican lead
ers predict the amendment will also
have the effect OF keeping off the I'M
portant committees . number OF SEN
ators who may not be disposed to
work in harmony with the legisla-
tive program OF the Harding admin
istration and the Republican ma
jority.
Speculation as to the probability
Of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of
Massachusetts, assuming .one of the
high posts in the Harding cabinet. Is
being coupled with gossip as to who
would. In that event, be most likely to
Succeed him rs Republican leader Of
the Senate.
OPPOSED TO WATSON.
Opposition to Senators Watson Of
Indiana and Smoot of Utah succeed
ing Senator Lodge. in case he leaves
Harding administration, TO the Senate
leaders, is regarded as Inevitable. In
view of their allegiance to the "Old
Guard" Senator Curtis OF Kansas,
the present Republican whip, would
unQuestionably be considered as SEN
htor Lodges successor. but even he
might, despite his popularity with all
of his colleagues, prove unacceptable
to the Progressive Republicans. They
are. however, now represented in Sem
ator Cumming Of Iowa As President
pro tenn. He may be chosen to succeed
himself to that important post. and
1t is not considered remote pos
sibility that the Progressives might
urge Senator Borah of Idaho or
Senator Johnson OF California for
Senate leader.
"Old Guard" Senators returning
to Washington made no effort to con-
ceaf their satisfaction at the increase
of the Republican majority in the
Senate from two to- twenty-five,
gain Of twenty. On some of the new
Senators helping to make UP this SUBJ
stantial Increase they are depending
to help them dominate the Senate, de-
spite the opposition they already an
ticipate from the Progressives.
HARDING MAY INTERFERE.
It is believed, however. that Presi-
dent-elect Harding. IN a desire to pre-
serve Republican harmony. will In
sist upon the Progressives as well Is
the "Old Guard" being recognized in
the organization of both branches Of
the new Congress. II they are not 80
recognized. Senators Borah and john
son; and their friends, are certain to
1T Is not So much question Of the
number of Republican votes, but one