Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-06
COMMITTEES OF
u. s. SENATE WILL
BE REORGANIZED
by DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright, 1920, Tor Inc Atlanta Journal.)
WASHINGTON, May 4.-Reorgan-
ization of the committee system of
the United States senate, advocated
for years and discussed again and
again without result, is at last to be
accomplished. Instead of seventy
subcomimttees taking up the time Of
members so that frequently it is
impossible to get a committee
quorum, there will be not more than
thirty committees. Every senator
will be a member of one Of the
seventeen or eighteen major COM
mittees and a member of at least
the first step toward a reorganiza-
ton of the ten government depart
mentS.
with the approval of Republicans
and Democrats and subcommittee
of the senate committee on rules has
just been authorized to submit
comprehensive plan to the full COM
mittee on rules and the prospects
this session.
Democrats told their Republican
colleagues at last nights meeting
that they planned the Identical
method or reorganization when they
came into power eight years ago,
but that all sorts of obstacles came
to prevent action.
Efficiency Sought
Senator Medill Mccormick, of IL
linois, is the father of the plan.
Incidentally he has pushed the
budget bill through the senate. His
and a number of senator's from time
to time have given their support
to various plans for the rearrange-
ment or government service. The
Illinois senator has gotten behind
the. idea and is centering his whole
legislative career on efficiency.
The idea of concentrating COM
mittee work in the senate in a few
committees is not new but no party
mas hitherto been able to shut off
political camoufiage that went with
membership In several committees.
Easy to Accomplish
Inc burdens brought on by war,
however, and a congested calendar
have made the members of the SEN
ave more than eyer desirous of CUT
ting out insignificant and unimpor-
tant committees. For instance, there
was time when a committee on
indian depredations might have been
necessary, but not any more. Then
again the work of several commit
Jects and can easily be combined. A
committee on 1.-The Mississippi river
and its tributaries" can be combined
with a committee, on "interocean1c
gate trespassers upon Indian lands"
can be absorbed by committee on
Indian affairs"
A glance at the congressional d.
rectory reveals how easily the con-
densation of committee work can be
JIyi1 a
more work will be done in commit
tee and that more attention will be
given to what is done. AS it is,
members of the senate find them
all meeting on the same day The re-
suit is patchwork legislation which
takes up more time on the floor of
the senate when amendments too
often become necessary.
There is chance, however, that
the reduction Of the number of COM
mittees will vitality affect the seniori-
ty system which has been the bane
Of political parties for years.
Seniority Process
know the evils Of the seniority
head Of a committee man least
qualified to preside. Length of serv-
ice bears no especial relationship
to the fitness of an individual to
reorganization is put into effect it
will become necessary for which
ever party Is in power to choose
carefully their chairmen. With only
seventeen men at the head of i'm
portant committees and these COM
mittees absorbing the work of sew
eral minor committees. it will be
doubly necessary for the dominant
party to exercise caution and care
in electing their leaders. AS sug-
guested above, the movement for re-
organizat ton in government is likely
10 be broadened.
Already Senator Smoot has intro
duced a bill providing for a joint
committee of the two houses of con-
gress to draw up a plan whereby
the bureaus in the ten executive de-
partments of the government can be
redistributed or combined both in the
interest of economy and efficiency.
The bill probably will pass both
houses without much opposition.
Usually these efforts at efficiency
come with every change in political
control and they rarely accomplish
very much because other issues and
subjects are considered more impor-
tant. This year, however, one Of
the things on which the Republican
party will base its plea for nation
wide support will be government eff
ficiency. Senate reorganization,
budget systemj condensation of gov
eminent bureaus and reduction OF
expenditures all relate to the COM
mon theme of trying at least to con-
vince the American people that they
are getting their moneys worth Of
the large sums they are paying In
taxes.
Our Slow Mails