The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-13
ILLINOIS SOLON
 CLAIMS PRESENT
 SYSTEM UNF AIR
Asks That Steering Commit tee Be Made Representa- tive of All Sections
 of Country
By Associated Press


 Washington, November 12.-Aboli- tion of the Senate's seniority rule, by which the chairmanship of a com mittee goes to the member with the longest continued service thereon, is suggested by Senator Mccormick of Illinois, chairman of the republican senatorial committee, in a letter to Senator Lodge, the republican lead CT, made public today
 The letter also urged that the steering committee, of which MT. Mccormick is a member, be made representative of all sections and thought on the republican side, and disclosed that Senator Mccormick had discussed the question with Sem ator Curtis of Kansas, assistant re- publican leader, and .others.
 Stating that the seniority rule served very we'll in the old days" and had resulted generally in ap- pointment of good chairmen, Senator Mccormick wrote Senator Lodge that the republican conference and the republican steering committee owe 1t to the country to put aside the rule. just as the conference owes 1t to the country to make provision for the selection of a truly representative steering committee which shall meet regularly and as occasion requires with the corresponding committee of the House..
 Senator Mccormick declared that while in majority of instances, the men who have become chairmen throu seniority have been good chair men, there have been others who were unfitted for their posts by req son of extreme old age, or of failing health, or because of grave differ- ences. of opinion with the majority of their republican associates"
 The seniority system also prevails in the House.
 Notice already has come from sen ators of the irregular republican group that they intend to fight the seniority rule and demand what they consider adequate representation. Their fight is expected to center about two or three important chair manships. The democrats have not shown any inclination to abandon the seniority rule.
 Chose Three Chairmen
 Chairmen of three important Senate committees, finance, naval and post office, are to be chosen in the next Congress. Chairman McCumber, fi- nance; Townsend of the post office, and Senator Poindexter in line for the chairmanship of naval committee will be out after March 4. Senator Shoot, Utah, is in line for the finance com mittee chairmanship and Senator Sterling, South Dakota, for post of- flee. Mir. Lodge is second man on the naval, but it is known he desires to continue at the head of the foreign relations committee. Senator Hale. Maine under the seniority rul would be in line for the naval chairman ship.
 On the finance committee, besides the chairmanship there will be one democratic and three republican va caneies in the new Congress, Senator Calder. New York; Sutherland, West Virginia, an' F'relinghuysen of New Jersey were defeated and Senator Williams, democrat, Mississippi re- tired. It is predicted that Senators Wadsworth and Edge will succeed Senators Calder and Frelinghuysen.
 Important Changes
 Another important committee in which there will be an unusual mum Der of changes is the interstate com merce body which will have to deal with efforts to abolish the railway labor board and to amend the trans portation act and the Adamson eight-hour law. Six members must be replaced Four republicans. Sen ators Townsend, Kellogg Poindexter and Frelinghuysen were defeated with one democrat. Senator Pome- rene, Ohio, while another democratic member, Senator Myers, Montana, was not a candidate for reelection.
 On the foreign relations committed three republican members. McCum- Der, New and Kellogg and three democrats. Pomerene, Hitchcock and Williams, retire. The foreign -rela- tions post is regarded as particularly desirable and vacancies always are the subject of sharp competition.