Evening star., 1921-02-27
MAJORITY IN HOUSE
FACES Discomfort
Numerous Complaints Regarding Reor-
ganization Will Confront Republican
Caucus Tomorrow Night.

nave naQ In the House Tor some time.
Then there is Representative Finis
j. Garrett of Tennessee to help make
the going s hard as possible for the
republicans. This is one reason why
some of the best republican leaders
are urging the confirmation of Car
rett as judge-to get him out of the
party scraps in the House.
So. the republican leaders are await
ing the caucus and preparing for the
new Congress in not too well satis-
fled and contented frame of mind.
Powerful Whip Desired.
That's one reason why they want to
select Il powerful whip. who Will be
even more important than the Speak
er, because. as one prominent repub-
lican in pointing out why power
should be restored to the Speaker.
said: 1--WE might just about as we'll
hire some one to preside A strong
man. if made whip. could make him.
self the biggest man in the House
and win an unprecedented following.
He could make himself the outstanu-
ing figure in line for the SpeakerShip.
eThere are several avowed candis
dates for whip against Representa-
tive Harold Knutson of Minnesota
Representative Charles b. Ward OF
New York and Representative James
l.
James r. Mann of Illinois, the vet
eran republican leader in the House.
has been quoted as saying that knut-
son is not to be ousted. and if Mann
is ready to make a fight for knutson
the proba bilitieS are strong that
Knutson stays-because. as said be-
fore, there are not going to be any
changes that entail a fight.
We'll just 'slush' along about as
We have been doing said one of the
ablest men in the whole House,
means that if no dominant personal
ity is chosen as whip. in name, title
and reality-some one like Repre-
sentative Joseph Walsh of Massa--
chusetts. who is a close student OF
legislation and good politician n.
adroit resourceful and auick-will be
depended upon to be bell-wether
for the republican flock. OF course.
Walsh could not be formally elected
whip because that would give the
old Fay state too much honor and
power in the House. With Walsh
and Mann to help steady when some
one starts to rock the boat, the re-
puhlicans. Notwithstanding their un-
wieldy majority. will not be in such
a bad way after all.
Speaker Gillett and House Leader
Monden will succeed themselves
without opposition.
The committee chairmen will be
Just about the same as at present
even Mr.. Nolstead will likely be
again head of the judiciary commit
sentiment because he championed "a
prohibition candidate -. in California
opposing a republican candidate.
Appropriations Committee Head.
But the craftsmanship of the ap-
preparations committee is problem
that will live after the new Congress
reorganizes. 1t is an open secret
that. though Representative James
w. Good of Iowa will be reappOinted
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee. he will stay only long enough
to see the federal budget system
become a>Jaw. Already there is a
contest on for selection of his sue
cessor. Representative Charles w.
Davis of Minnesota is the ranking
republican. who. under the seniority
rule. would succeed Chairman Good.
Repre- sentative Martin B. Madden OF
Illinois, recently returned to the ap-
propriations committee from the
post Office committee, ranks next to
Mr.. Davis and is an avowed candi-
date for the Craftsmanship. Repre-
sentative Davis believes the seniority
rule should be followed; Representa-
tive Madden is in favor of abolish-
ing it.
leagues do not feel that either Davis
or Madden will be chairman The
hope is that the best qualified man
in the new House can be placed IN
charge of this committee to handle
the federal budget. Discussing what
may happen "if and when" Chairman
Good resigns. Representative Mann
said the new chairman might De
chosen by caucus. or by the com
mittee on committees. by seniority
- = he 1nvro
bers of the committee OF thirty-five.
Some members have thought that
the increased Importance of this COM
mittee in the new Congress might en-
tice Speaker Gillett or House Leader
Mondell to return as chairman This
is not likely. The majority floor lead
er is, in fact. too busy about other
matters to devote the time and study
necessary for any committee work, not
to mention such an important one
Besides that. he should hold himself
in the position of umpire or arbiter or
impartial judge as between commit
tees and committee cha!rmen.
There has a'so been quiet cam
paign in putting forward the quai1-
fications of Theodore f. Burton or
Ohio, who is returning to the House
in the new Congress. His friends are
emphasizing his prestige. his well
known ability as leader and the fact
that he knows the game. having once
been on the appropriations committee
and having made his big name as
longtime chairman of the rivers and
harhors committee. But the chances
are Burton will not be selected for the
post.
The appropriations committee is the
one committee that will probably have
a new chairman. selected without re-
course to the seniority rule or stand
ing. This will probably be done on the
ground that it is a new committee.
although even that would leave the
way open for a general change.
All in all. the House majority are
encouptering troubles of their own
and the leaders are not having par
ticulariy peaceful time.