Evening star., 1923-12-07

isfied they probably will acuuiesce In
the election OF Senator Cummins Of
Iowa as President pro tempOre of the
Senate.
If they are not, then they may be ex-
pected to nominate a candidate Of their
fight. making it impossible to elect
president OF the Senate. 1t Is necessary
Go. p. Against Election.
The republicans have gone on the as
sumption that II Is not necessary at this
time to have an election Of president
pro tempore, contending that Senator
Cummins, who was elected president
pro tempore in the last Congress. holds
over. The democrats on the other
hand. point out that with no Vice
President of the United States, as the
presiding officer OF the Senate.
to elect a permanent presiding officer
for this Congress.
Senator Cummins is not only Pres
ident pro tempore OF the Senate, but
also chairman of the interstate COM
merce committee. 1t has been urged
these positions. but the Iowa senator
has indicated that he will stand pat.
Senator La Toilette OF Wisconsin,
LEADER Of nas the ns ,e ssna,or
Cummins for the Craftsmanship Of the
interstate commerce committee. and
IL Senator Cummins should lose this
position he would, in accordance with
senatorial rules. become chairman.
There are several several vacancies S,an les on .,h the
Hcan progresstves are anxious to I'LL.
They are more concerned over the
filing OF these vacancies than over
the Craftsmanship OF the committee
- 80
road legislation that may como up.
Seek Other Posts.
The progressive group is making Q
fight also for assignments to other
treatment accorded them, It 10 expect
ed. will rest the question Of q COM
parativs speedy organization In the
Senate for . long drawn -out contest.
In addition to electtng a President
pro tempore the democrats will insist
upon the election OF other Senate Of
secretary and chaplain Of the Senate.
They will present slate of their
own for these Offices.
Resolutions liberalizing the rules
Of the House on the point stressed in
the recent clash between the. PRO
gressives" and regular republicans
in the House, as already introduced
by Representative Charles Crisp Of
Georgia and Representative r. Wsi-
ton Moore of virginia. both demo
Gratis, are being considered at the
democratic caucus this afternoon.
Would Provide Penalty!
It is understood that the Crisp and
Moore resolutions will be pressed by
the House minority as a comprehen-
sive program, dealing with the major
matters that have been under discus
sion during the republican deadlock.
Thes resolutions are by no means in
conflict. but are complimentary to each
other.
The Crisp resolution provides a
simple method of discharging any
committee that holds UP a bill for
more than thirty days.
The first Of the Moore resolution
would require that the chairman Of
resolution voted by the committee
vent the chairman from holding a
. batch Of rules in his pocket.
The second Moore resolution pro-
vides that the rule when presented
to tho House shall not be considered
by the House on the day It Is pre-
sented. except by a two-thirds vote.
This is to prevent any surprise"
action. II also provides that unless
the chairman of the committee on
rules calls UP the rule within five
days, any member Of the committee
The third Moore resolution IS to
repeal section 8 of rule 81, which
restricts the right to offer amend
nlents to any revenue bills under
consideration.
The fourth Moore resolution IL to
require advance notice Of business to
be transacted at any session Of the
House. What 1t does Is to direct the
Speaker on the Saturday before any
week the House is to be in session
20 post a bulletin showing as fully
as he is able to determine what busi-
ness will probablI be taken up dur
ing that week anu In what order.
It also directs him to print in the
daily record Immediately following
the recital Of the journal a statement
termine what business probably will
b. taken up the next day.
In the last Congress when this
question of notice was brought up in
the House by Representative Moore,
Champ Clark supported the proposi-
ton, and that was followed by House
Leader Monde1l's adopting the prac-
tice Of publishing weekly notice in
advance. That was. of course. simply
in the discretion Of the House leader.
Representative Moore's resolution
would make such notice compulsory.