Evening star., 1923-04-29
SENATE TECOMMTTTEELINE.UP
VITAL TO WORLD COURT
Presidents Definite Stand on Issue
Rouses Interest in Changes to Be
Made in December.
By G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

BE q. GOULD LINCOLN.
The firm declaration by President
Harding that he will continue to seek
the adherence of the United States
TO the Permanent Court Of Interna-
tional Justice has reused interest
again in the probable makeup OF
the Senate foreign relations commit
tee which must handle the proctocol
transmitted to the Senate by the
President before the last session
closed 1t will be recalled that the
democrats charged the committee was
stacked against the league Of ma
tions when the league was an issue.
The Senate does business largely
through its standing committees
though probably less so than in the
case Of the House. But when a stand
ing committee has gone on record In
favor of a proposition, 1t gives that
proposition strong standing when 1t
comes into the Senate itself for
action. Senate committees are over
ridden at times, it is true. but In the
main they are sustained. A hostile
committee can bottle up a measure
for months, and even for years, on
the other hand.
Many Vacancies Exist.
When the new Congress opens. the
committee assignments must be made
The Senate committees are really con-
tinuing committees. since the Senate
itself Is a continuing body, only one
third of its membership coming up
for election every two years. But
the elections last fall tore many holes
In the membership and vacancies
must be filled.
The seniority rule governs almost
Invariably in making Senate COM
mittee assignments. 1t is expected
10 prevail in the next Congress. Sem
ator Mccormick of Illinois, repub-
lican in a letter to Senator Lodge
months ago, proposed to get away
from this rule. and that the commit
tee assignments be made on merit,
Willingness to work, etc. There are
senators who would like to see such
a change, but they are not expected
TO GO to the mat for 1t. They as
sert that as the committees are now
constituted. probably four or five
members do the great bulk OF the
work of each committee. and the
rest follow along. Occasionally
"tirone" is promoted through the
seniority rule to a committee chair
Inanship. They would like to avoid
this, but the senators see no sub
stitute for the seniority rule that
would not cause ructions and heart
burnings at the outset Of the Con-
gress that might delay and endanger
important legislation.
G. o. p. Majority Cut.
When the last Congress came into
being the republicans had a much
larger majority than they will have
in the next Congress. In consequence
when the committee assignments are
made the democrats will have larg-
er representation on the committees
than at present. 1t is the practice of
ths republicans and the democrats
alike. however, to hold good work
inE majority" on several OF the ma
jo. committees-the foreign relations
uGmmittee. the commerce committee,
the interstate commerce committee
and the appropriations committee, for
example, and the republicans will in
sist upon doing so in the next Con-
gress.
Tho last elections shot to pieces"
the foreign relations committee.
Three republicans. McCumber. New
and KelloRg failed of reelection.
Two democrats, Hitchcock and Pom
creme, were defeated, and Senator
WILLIAMS of Mississippi declined to be
a candidate to succeed himself.
The republican members Of this i'm
portant committee who will be In the
next Congress. in their order OF
standing, are Senator Lodge. chair
man. and Senators Borah, Idaho;
Brandegee, Connecticut: Johnson, CAL
ifornia: Moses. New Hampshire; Nc
Cormick. Illinois, and Wadsworth,
New York. Practically all Of these
are regarded as bitter foes OF the
league. and some of them have an
nounced their strong opposition to
the entrance OF the United States into
the world court as now constituted.
New Members Important.
Much will depend, therefore, upon
the senators selected to fill the va
cancies 1t has been reported that
Senator Pepper of Pennsylvania is
to get one vacancy The others will
be eagerly sought. There will be a
struggle between the old irreconcil-