The New York herald., 1922-01-05
AGRICULTURAL BLOC
TURNS REACTIONARY
INGRASP FOR POWER
Abandons Principles With
Purpose of Debating Ma
tiOnal Legislation.
ALARM In THE CAPITAL
Group May Land La Toilette
in Post Threatening
Railroads.
FARM RULE OF FINANCE
Senate Committee to Reflect
Minute Ratio Of Govern
mnnf,s RavnnIns
FARM RULE OF FINANCE
ny LOUIS sEIBOLD.

Special Dtoputch to TIE New YORK arRArp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., Jan. 4.
The Republican partners in the BIZ
partisan agricultural bloc. which pur-
poses to dictate legislation for the en-
tire country, have abandoned the pro-
gressive views they held a few years
ago and accepted the reactionary doc
trines they then opposed.
BY doing so they not only win win
the craftsmanship OF the Senate
Finance Committee, which is the most
important subordinate body in either
house, but may advance Senator Rob-
ert M. La Toilette, the Wisconsin
radical. to a place of commanding in
fiuence in Legislative councils.
In view OF this fact members Of the
Senate generally are brought face to
face with the question of the senior
ity rule, through the operation OF
which Senator Porter J. McCumber
is to become chairman of the Finance
Committee. 1t was not until to-day
that the further possible consequences
of respecting the seniority rule were
fully revealed.
In Toilette Mny he Included.
1t has developed that IL this archaic
process OF selecting chalrmen and fill-
ing vacancies in Senate committees
should be observed Senator La Fol
ietto. conceded BY both parties az the
most radical member Of the national
Legislature. may become Il member OF
the Conference Committee. which al
ways is named to confer with the
representatives, Of the House over dis
puted questions on taxation, the tariff
and other tremendously important ma
tional policies.
The elevation OF Senator McCumber to
the chairmanship OF the Finance Com
mittee may make the Wisconsin Sen
ator eligible for the conference com
rnittec. circumstance which is OBJ
viously calculated to cause general
alarm to both Republican Congressional
leaders and the Harding Administra
tion.
In considering the emergency tariff
and the last inbarnal revenue measure
the Senate appointed three Republicans
and two Democratic members of the
Finance Committee to confer with Rep
resentatives of the lower House. If
that plan should be followed and the
seniority rule observed In the future.
Senator La Toilette would be eligible
for membership on this Senate confer
ence committee.
Senator La Toilette is the third meIn-
Der OF the Finance Committee, Senator's
McCumber and Smoot only preceding
him. He is Furthermore an ardent
champion OF the agricultural bloc.
Differences of View Expressed,
Some Senate leaders assert that their
Wisconsin colleague would not be eligi-
bic for the conference committee be-
cause. under ordinary procedure the
Senate representatives would be limited
to three. which would leave him just
outside the breastworiks. There arc ad-
herents OF senator La Toilette who de-
clare that the practice established In the
emergency tariff and revenue confer
ences VIII be continued.
Tho Republican leaders who do no,
view the agricultural bloc with favor
are quite sure. however. they will be
able TO keep him off conference com
mittees. They admit that the possible
advancement of the Wisconsin Senator
Is disturbing.
The possible elevation Of Senator La
tcllette TO a position which will give
him an opportunity 10 supervise the
final construction OF important revenue
producing legislation is viewed with
alarm by some friends OF the Admins
tration. who regard him az being more
OF Democrat than q Republican.
The Wisconsin Senator is the author Of
much legislation that has proved de-
structive OF the political policies Of the
Republican party. His attitude during
the world war was particularly offensive
TO the Wilson Administration and re-
suited In charges being brought against
him for disloyalty. which were dis
missed. Tie recs ntly opposed reduc tion
OF the surtRx on incomes and will prob
ably do SO In the future. As member
OF the conference committee his opposi-
tion might possibly result IN defeat OF
the entire measure.
The seniority rule which promises 70
revolutionize Senatorial conditions IN
more respects than one may eventually
rlace Senator La Toilette at the head
of the Committee on Railroads Sena-
tor Cumnns of Iowa is chairman or
that body. Upon his retirement the
next Senator IN Inc under the seniority
rule would be Senator Townsend OF
MICHIGAN.
Possible Changes.
Mr.. TOWNSEND Is now chairman OF the
Committee on Post Offices. He has made
the Improvement of the postal system
matter of deep and comprehensive study.
II Senator Cummins should retire Scna-
tor Townsend might elect 10 remain at
the head OF the postal committee. The
next man TO him is Senator Ia Toilette,