The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-15
MERRY FIGHT
 ID BE WAGED IN CONGRESS
Reorganization Of New Sen ate And House Will Be Marked By Contest For President And Speaker
 COOLlDGE'S SUCCESSION WILL BRING ON FIGHT Blocs Are Placed In Strong Position Because Of Mar row Margin Of Control Now In Hands Of Republicans

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-Election- eering for the plums to be divided in the choice of officers of the Senate and House in the new Congress al- ready has begun.
 Rivalry is centered largely among the republicans, with their majority control of both bodies, but the dem ocrats also are divided over the ticket they will present for all offices from president of the Senate and speaker of the House down.
 Present indications are for the sharpest contest in the House. The reelection of Speaker Gillett Is said by organization leaders to be certain, and it generally is conceded that Representative J. J. Garrett of Ten nessee will be the democratic candi- date, but a spirited fight for leader ship honors and committee places Is in prospect. The progressive bloc Is demanding important committee as- signments, and, with enough votes to give control, if aligned with the dem- ocrats, the progressives are In a strategic position of power. This group is said to be more interested in the committee lihe-ups than in the contest for majority leadership, ap- bearing now to lie between Repre- sentatives Longworth of Ohio and Graham of Illinois.
 o o o
 Republican Slate.
 A call has been issued for repub- licans on December 1 to arrange a slate of candidates and a call for tho organization conference of repu blica n senators is to be issued next week, probably for November 30 or Decen- = Der 1. The outlook now is said to presage an agreement between the republican senators without much difficulty. through retention of the seniority rule. Under this the pres largely unchanged, with Senator Smoot of Utah succeeding former Senator McCumber of North Dakota as head of the finance committed
 Selection of the president of the Senate is the principal organization question. 1t is of unusual interest, since there is no vice president, and a salary of st2,000 year. plus tho use of an automobile and elaborate suite of offices. Senator Cupmins of Iowa has told friends that he would 1ike to remain as president, but he also desires 10 continue as chairman of the interstate commerce commit tee. A number of senators hold, how ever. that no senator holding an im- portant chairmanship should also be presiding officer.
 Senator Cummins is said to prefer retention of his chairn-anship, and. if he declines the presidency. Senator Curtis of Kansas, republican whip; Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin. Sena- tor Moses of New Hampshire, and Senator Jones of Washington, prob- ably will be urged for the place.
 If the Iowa senator should relin- quish his craftsmanship, on the other hand Senator IaFollette of Niscon sin, one of the organizers of the Pro- Eressive bloc, would be next in line to head the commerce committee finder the seniority rule, with Sena- tors Mclean of Tennessee, and Wat son of Indiana following.
 Senator Robinson of Arkansas is to be the democratic candidate for president of the Senate. At the dem- ocratic organization conference he will be chosen democratic leader, sue ceeding Senator Underwood of Ala bama, woh resigned last winter.