The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-08
EDITH HOUSES ARE NOW REORGAN|z|MG
Republican And Democratic Leaders Strive To Con-
 pIete Assignments

WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.-(By Asso- ciated Press.)-while Congress marked time today its leaders went ahead with the reorganization of committees which is necessary. be- fore either the House or the Senate can proceed with the serious business of the session.
 Republican and democratic leaders alike were striving to complete com mittee asst gnments by Monday when both houses will reconvene after a week -end recess. Senate democrats I are prepared to launch at that time their fight for reorganization of the Senate, but their motion to proceed
 to the election of a president may be deferred until committee assign ments have been finally determined in that body.
 The attitude of the republican in surgents in the prospective contest and may not be determined until after the makeup of the various committees is announced.
 1 Senator I.aFollette of Wisconsin, recognized leader, still is confined to his home and 1t was said today at his office that if he followed the advice of his physician he would not attend the session next Monday.
 A sharp fight developed today in the republican committee on commit tees over assignments of senators to the foreign relations committee, be- fore which is pending President | Harding's proposal, for American ad reservations. President Coolidge, in his message to Congress yesterday 1 indorsed participation of the United States in the court with the ex- pressed stipulation that America was not to become involved in the League of Nations.
 Seek Place On Committee
 Fully a score of the 51 Senate re- publicans asked for places on this committee and it was reported that the committee on committees had narrowed the field to five-Lenroot of Wisconsin, Willis of Ohio. Pepper of Pennsylvania, Edge of New Jer- sey and Elkins of West Virginia. Three places are to be filled.
 ] There is a tacit understanding that ] Senators Johnson and Shipstead, the two farmer-labor members from l Minnesota will be taken care of in
 assignment by the creation of addi-
 tional places.
 Republican leaders have hoped to
  ready for a party conference before the Senate meets Monday. but 1t was said that unless more rapid progress i was made tomorrow than was pos sible today this could not be accom- pllshed The democratic steering committee expects to complete it's work on committees tomorrow.
 More Places For Democrats.
 On the House side of the repupli-
 ,v,ait 1 first meeting decided to give the democrats. Increased representation i on all the standing committees ex- | cept the all-pow rules commit 1 tee. The minority will have four members as against eight for the ma 1 iority on rules-the same ratio in eI- | feet during the sixty-seVenth eoh- gress.
 There will be Il democrats on\ the ways and means committee to 10 re
 publicans, the committees member ship having been increased by one in assure republican control This Is the committee which will initiate any tax reduction legislation.
 On the appropriations committee
 the ratio will be 21 republicans to II democrats. On the major committees which will have memnersnip oi The committee on committees made
 tentative assignments of republicans to have a dozen committees, Whlle
 democrats of the House. meeting Tn caucus, selected the II ways , anu
 means committee members who VIII , designate the democrats to serve oil
 the other committees.
 The minority caucus adopted
 resolution recommending the crea ] ton of new House committee 10 ' handle all legislation affecting War ] | veterans. Republican leaders have reported , ,hey also favor such a move
 Fail To Unseat Martin.
 An unsuccessful fight to unseat Ranresentatiye Martin of Louisiana , as a member of the ways and means , l committee because of his votes on i the tariff was launched in the demo
 cratic caucrs by Representative Dominick of South Carolina Mar . tin was reseated by a vote or iIo .e !. 1e. Four former members or this D committee were returned-Rainey or ! illinois. Hull of Tennessee. Dickinson . of Missouri, and Casey Of Pehhsyi
 vania. Representative Garner oi Texas will be ranking democra,i,c :, , member. succeeding the late Siauue s finder the slate determined upon Inv the republican committee on com = mittees Representative Green oi Iowa will become chairman or tne . | WAYS and means committee. io n. II republican vacancies these mempers . |, were selected: Chindbloom, iiiinois' Kearns, Ohio; Mclaughlin, Mlchisan' T and Crowther, New York.
 Representative Frear of Wiscohsin, 1 one of he leaders of the insurgents | retains his place on the committee. 1 Insurgents who have held places on I inc other committees discussed touay l also were retained, Representatlve Peayy of Wisconsin being the oniy new member of the House allied Witn the insurgents to land place on n l committee-rivers and harbors.
 The two republican vacancies on the commerce committee, which deals 1 win railroad legislation, went to 1 Wyant of Pennsylvania, and Burt- ness of North Dakota.
 | The republican committee OH committees will continue its slate
 making tomorrow with the eXpec- tation of determining assignments 10 the rules and steering committees, | The democrats of the ways ana means committee will begin their as- | sienment work at the same time. security holders would be willing l voluntarily to make such an eX-
 change If minority should refuse.
 if would be entirely feasible to in-