Evening star., 1923-11-26
MUCH STRIFE DUE
IN NEW CONGRESS
Succession of La Toilette to
Rail Commission Post
Worries Republicans.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

One week before the opening of
Congress finds the National Capital
I'm a state of nervousness over the
various situations that are develop
ing and likely to develop.
First, there's fight in the House
over the leadership between Repre-
sentative Graham of Illinois and Rep
resentative Longworth of Ohio. with
the "progressives" supporting Repre-
sentative Cooper of Wisconsin, on the
theory that holding the balance of
power they will be able to force the
selection of their own members for
important committee chairmanships.
Second the departure of Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge from the desk of pre-
siding officer of the United States
Senate makes it necessary to choose
permanent President of the Senate.
and Senator Cummins of Iowa, who
was President pro tenn during the last
session whenever Mr. Coolidge was
absent. is in line for the position. But
If he takes it Mr.. Cummins may be
forced to relinquish the chairmanship
of the committee on interstate COM
merce, and under the seniority rule
Robert NJ. La Toilette. senior senator
from Wisconsin, having served the
snf,sd in tb that
Out of the Interstate commerce
committee comes bills relating to
railroad and transportation matters
Mr. La Toilette would have great
deal of influence in shaping the gov
ernments railroad policy--or at least
sufficient power to keep the railroads
on the anxious seat with respect TO
that clause of the transportation act
which permits them to make b n
per cent return on their investment
Cummins Wants Post.
Mr.. Cummins wants to be president
pro tempore. Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge favors him for the position and
doesn't see any reason why Mr.. Cum
minis couldn't retain the commlttee
Craftsmanship too. That would be all
right if Mr.. La Toilette and his friends
consented, but they want to run
things in the interstate commerce
committee and if they do not get
what they want they can overthrow
scheme by simply uniting with the
democrats. The republican majority
is slender and the support OF the La
Toilette group is needed to carry on
republican parliamentary maneuVers
throughout the@session.
Senator La Toilette is SICK man.
He hasn't been very much In eVl-
dence during the last three weeks
Some of his close friends say, he
has an attack of the grippe. others
hint that his illness is more serious.
Anyway, it will probably become ap,
parent whether he is in physical
condition for the battle in the next
Congress when the Senate convenes.
Mr.. La Toilette is usually in his seat
on such occasions.
Means Higher Pay.
The presidency of the Senate car
ries with 1t an increase in salary
of $4,50O above the regular of $500
received by Senators and friends Of
Senator Cummins think the old
man. as they affectionately call him,
should have the added compensation,
as he isn't a wealthy man and has
spent most of. his life in the public
service not only in Washington, but
in his home state of Iowa, where he
gave his energies to the governor
ship Legislative battles which are
still the talk of the middle west.
While these situations are develop
ing inside the republican party, the
democrats are girding their loins for
a fight that may rival in interest
their adroit tactics in the middle of
the Taft administration. when in
1910 they took advantage of the mis-
plays of their opponents, who were
divided, and managed to appear be-
fore the public as united party
keen to reduce the cost of living.
Representative Garrett of TenneS-
see. leader of the democrats. in his
statement denying that the democrats
will play politics with the tax re-
duction program is laying the foun
dation for a campaign that will not
make II possible for the country to
charge the democrats with wreck
ing the tax program. though Mr..
Garrett knows the radicals in the
republican party will make all the
necessary attempts to Illustrate the
policy of the administration without
any assistance from the democrats.
Mr.. CARROTS pronouncement is con-
sidered a wise one from the view
point of strategy, as it places the
democratic party in the position of
wanting to aid in tax reduction-an
admittedly popular polfcy-but it
doesn't commit the democrats to spe-
cifc aid as against the radicals.
though when the showdown comes
enough democratic votes probably
will be mustered to save the situation
from becoming hopelessly deadlock
ed. The atmosphere is nevertheless
one of great uncertainty and doubt
as the day for the session approaches