Evening star., 1920-11-14

heretofore handled appropriations. such as the
naval committee. the military affairs COM
mittee, the committee on agriculture and so on.
are not abolished; they will take jurisdiction
Of all general and special legislation concern
ing the Army. the Navy. etc. but they cannot
appropriate money.
The effect Of this will be to place in one
committee the power to distribute the money
for the support Of all branches Of the govern
ment The various departments will submit
their estimates Of appropriations needed to
this committee. The Secretary Of the Treas
ury will notify the committee how much money
will be available for expenditures, and the
committee will apportion it in its wisdom
among the clamorous branches Of the govern
ment service.
The enlarged committee has not been chosen.
the resolution having passed the very
Of adjournment last session. When the present
Congress assemblies. December 6. the two par
ties will caucus and recommend their candi-
dates for the additional places the ex-
panded committee.
The departments are now sending their esti-
mates to this central committee informally.
and clerks putting them into shape for
handling when the House reconvenes. The
plan is an experiment, but, If it succeeds, is
believed to presage early action in the
Congress after March 4. upon general budget
system bill.
Politics and reorganization Of the party will
engage the attention of the democrats as soon
they begin to drift into town for the ap-
preaching session Of Congress. which as
sembles three weeks from tomorrow. To be
sure, many Of them viii have waning in
terest in the subject from a personal stand
point. having been defeated for reelection,
but at that may be expected to join in Tex
perience meetings" to tell how it happened and
offer advice for the future
Among the prominent democrats already
here there is pronounced disposition to waive
discussion Of the prospective new leader of
the party. They are more concerned. they say.
with getting the party together again.
When the new House comes in. after March
4, the democratic party in that body will be
represented almost entirely by men from the
southern states. with a few scattering demo-
Gratis from New York. New England. Missouri
and Oklahoma The policies of the party
therefore. in so far as legislation is concerned,
will be dictated by the southern wing. They
will be the survivors of the wreck and feel
called upon to build the raft and rig the jury
mast for the future.
The northern democrats. in their efforts to
reorganize, will have to work outside of Con-
gress, and their efforts will not attract public
attention, for they will have vehicle of
expression publicity. The southern demo-
Gratis. having the floor actually as well as
fguratively will exploit their views and
policies and set them as guidance for the demo-
Gratis Of the nation
So, it must be at this session that the north
ern democrats shall have their say for
ever after hold their peace.
X X X X
The democratic national committee is ex-
pected to be called in session here early in
January to lay plans for the future. The
probability is that Chairman George White
VIM name an executive committee to take
over the affairs of the party. Headquarters
will be maintained in Washington. The first
work of the committee will look forward to the
congressional campaign of 1922
tcopyright 1920 by The Washington star)