Evening star., 1922-11-22
Seniority in Congress Committee
Chairmanships Again Under Fire.


The letter of Senator Medill McCor-
mick of Illinois to Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge, Senate republican lead
er. suggesting that the rule of SEN
iority in the selection of chairmen
of the various committees be abro-
gated, has been made a subject of
general editorial discussion. The con-
crete proposal meets with general
Endorsement But there is DISPOSE
tion in certain quarters to intimate
that. coming at this time. when radi-
calls of the La Toilette and Borah type
are the ranking members. and next
in line to the chairman of their COM
mittees, the plan contains a hidden
purpose 1t is conceded that the sub
ject will be one of fruitful debate in
party circles until the assembling of
the next Congress.
"Under a really responsible govern
ment the chairmen of the important
committees Of the House and Senate
must necessarily be men, regardless
of seniority. who are actively in sym
pathy with the White House policies
and who are prepared to stand or fall
.
the New York World tdemocratic)
holds, after admitting the soundness
Of Senator McCormick's arguments.
The World takes the position. how
ever. that "once the seniority rule
were abandoned the republican lead
ers would be adrift." and that "Sena-
tor Mccormick might as well ask
them to cut their own throats and be
done with it, The trouble does not
lie with the seniority rule. in the
view of the New York Tribunte Gre
publican), because what the major
ity requires is not only new leader
ship, but a new spirit and a new out
look. A better average of vigorous
and openminded republicanism is
what will be needed in the new SEN
ate before any change IN leadership
can lead anywhere" The Chicago
Tribune progressive republican, ex-
plains 1t would not oppose seniority
in itself"-in fact. it suggests that
long service should decide when
other considerations balance" but 1t
insists that the country demands the
best and that because of this the
rule should be abandoned so that
"men who have the qualifications Of
leadership can dominate the commit
tees. Somewhat similar is the posi-
ton of the Lansing State journal tln-
'dependenp. which believes that IL It's is
time changes were made In the RUE
whereby something else besides years
of service would count.
BECAUSE all efforts to end selection
by seniority have failed In the past
the Milwaukee Sentinel dndepence emu
feels that ut probably VILE VIII % % 1ese. se1r
and more practicable. instead OF set
ting up a speculative test OF htness,
to concentrate against cases OF oo-
yious and demonstrated unntness
Even this most modest task IS pounu
to cause considerable dimcultles.
With the senatorial situation as !. is
the Waterloo Tribune tndependent)
believes 1.-The progressives. known as
radicals, will fight for the seniority
rule now, because they beleVe-ana
have right to believe-that the regu.
lars would deny them the power that
comes with control of the great com
mittees of the Senate. UnQuestlon-
ably the Senate could better serve by
abrogation of the seniority rule, but
this fact is lost sight of in the rae
tional fight to come" 1t cannot De
denied, the Petersburg Progress anu
Index Appeal dndependent argues
that 1.-The seniority rule is one when
has never worked in either branch OF
Congress in the interest of the pubic.
But those who undertake to force
either house to abandon the seniority
system will be entering upon the ngnt
Of their lives" And the Sprlnghead
Union independently insister that
"the advisabtlity of the change should
be considered entirely on the basis of
merit without the injection of the is
sue Of party expediency.
The Boston Transcript Independent
republican) unqualifiedly indorses the
abrogation of the rule Of seaiority. M
both in the Senate and the House, be-
cause sunless it is adopted party dis
integration at Washington will con-
tinue and that sense of party spon-
sorship' in government. without wnlcn
nd party is At to govern, will crow
weaker instead Of stronger: It ike
wise is the opinion Of the 1ndianapo-
lis News (independentlt that "the pro-
posed change is very decidedly in the
public interest, and would ud tend to to
least. less inefacient." On the other
hand, the New York Times tindepend-
ent democratic) points out that
change at this time would affect aen-
ators such a. Borah and La Toilette.
ana says that 70 the 9reai trouble. In
the opinion Of Mr.. Mccormick. adding
that mot by any device can you lead
lnau yvhO fefuSn u be led. Whatever