The Washington herald., 1921-06-05

bflity that may cone later. % not reesh
any work or experiences In my life, No
matter how drsb or commonpiaes, that hss
not been helpful to me. The man who learns
to tackle the job at hand. whatever Il may
be, with the determinstion 10 accomplish
II, 10 layips the fcundsties for whatever re-
sponsibility may came to him."
The majority floor leader h responsible
for getting the Job done on Capitol Hill.
Under the old regime the speaker sppointed
all committees. That made him very in
fuentisl. The Chairman Of the committss On
ways and means, appointed By the spsshsf,
was the door leader, and these tvo fsnfis-
men, together with the chsirman Of the
committee on rules, who vas alsc appotntse
BY the speaker, were Q sort Of triuDvtrsts
who were all powerful. Such vas - case
in the days when Cannon vss Sesku,
Payne was chairman Of the conmittss on
ways and means and Dslsel Chairman q
the committee on rules.
The making up Of committees 10 ns~ the
duty, on the majority side, Of fss con-
mittee on committees. II is aiss the duty
Of this committee on committees d nominats
the 6oor leader, who becomes eI -o6cio chair.
man Of the COMMITTEES on committees. 10
is also the duty Of this committee. which 10
composed Of one member from each state
from which there are Republican congress
men, to select a steering committee Of I've
members, Of which the hoor leader 10 the
chairman. All these selections are subject
to the approval Of the conference composed
of all Of the majority. or Republican, mem
bers.
The door leader Of the House Of Repre-
sentative, therefore, as chairman Of the com
mittee on committees 10 charged with cor
siderable responsibilities in the matter OF
the assignment Of members 10 committees,
and, as chairman Of the steering COMMITTEES,
he is charged with responsibility touching
the policy to be adopted and the leriSlstion
to be considered by the House. II Is the duty
Of the 6oor leader from time to time 70 pre-
sent to the House the plans, purposes and
program Of the majority. II is his duty to
arrange procedure and, in corporation with
the steering COMMITTEES and the standing
committees Of tbe House. to determine the
sequence Of the consideration Of legislation,
the length Of sessions, etc.
The new plan Of organization and the
new rules Of the House make the speaker
the presiding ofbcer Of the House without
the great authority he formerly exercised
But Floor Leader Mondell early adopted tn
practice Of almost daily meetings Of tn
steering committee, preceding the meetinI
Of the House. At his suggestion these meet
inrs are held in the speakers once with tn
speaker q participant, and thus the spesfe
becomes in practice q member Of the steer
ing committee.
As floor leader Mr.. Mondeii has sdopte
the plan Of frequent consultations eetvee
the steering committee and the mtlorit
members Of the sta ndinE committees, Wit
view Of agreeing upon legislation. pro
gram and procedure. There has slso bee
inaurursted the policy Of occasional meet
ines Of the steering committee Of the senst
with the steering committee Of the House-
thus establishing q method Of ccmnunicstio
and corporation which u eompsrstivei
new.
This method Of procedure, this plan
organization. is 50 different from the old
time methods that the public has hardly cor
to rrssp IT, Mr.. Mondell once ssid vhs
asked what the duties Of the boor lead
were, 1T is the duty Of the floor lead
to be informed as to the mstured opinic
Of the majority on matters to come befo
, the House and TO aid in rendering ii
, opinion effective through lerislstiv. action
Along with these vital changes In o
t,nization is coming the change Of method
o appropriation. The budget bill ~as veto
= by President Wilson becsuse be did =
approve Of one Of its minor features, B
n the Hous. Of Representatives has carr
N out its part Of the budget reform BY pl,ci
e the responsibility for all appropriation
n one great committee, and eventually q
/ probably in the near future the budget "
= as whole, become an accomplished 70
j. Then we shall have the new plan Of ,
i g,niIstion working under budget reforn-