The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-12-18
Insurgents
to Swing @
toDe1nocrat
Compromise on Couzens to
Head Interstate Commerce
Committee Fails-How.
ell Also Loses Out.
House States Approved

tne senate over the election OF ar
interstate commerce committee chair
man continued today but the house
perfected its organization by approx.
ing its standing committee states.
Five more ballots were taken by ths
senate which will resume voting to-
morrow with the expectation that
the republican insurgents will give
their support to Senator Smith OF
South Carolina, ranking democrat on
the committee. This vote with that
OF the democrats would result in his
election.
The insurgents today supported
first Senator Howell, republican, Ne
praska. and then Senator Couzens, re-
publican, Michigan, who on the last
ballot received total of 12 votes.
In addition to that OF the insurgents
he drew support from Senator'S Cum
minis. Iowa. who has been endorsed
by the republican party conferences
for the chairmanship; Gooding, Idaho;
Jones, Washington; Norbeck. South
Dakota, and Borah. Idaho.
SuiiifiiluS NEARLY NInS.
On the first ballot today Senator
cummins lacked only two votes OF
the ma jority necessary for election.
Forty-three senators supported him
| as against 80 for Senator Smith; six
| for Senator Howell and one for Sen
ator Couzens.
Smith held his strength on the sec
| ond ballot. but Senator Cumnins lost
two votes which were transferred to
Senator Couzens. whose total was
nine. Howeil's vote dropped 20 one.
| On the third ballot the vote was.
Cummins. 80; Smith. 3s: Couzens, II
On the fourth It was Cumnins. ss:
Smith. 80: Couzens. Il. The fifth
bailet-the 1ith since the deadlock
eegan-found Cummins and Smith
again tied with IS each while Couzens'
vote was increased TO l2.
| On all OF the ballots the democrats
voted solidly for Senator Smith. ex-
cept Senator Bruce OF Maryland. who
continued to support Senator Cum.
Minis
Insurgent on Rules Body.
! The house wound up its organizs-
ton which had been hanging fire for
two weeks IN quick order. Democrats
demanded debate on the republican
committee assignments which had
been revised to include Representa-
tive Nelson. Wisconsin. insurgent
leader. on the rules committee but
the insurgents with three exceptions
voting with the republican organize
ton. The democratic states were ap-
proved by viva voce vote.
The house action enabled commit
tees confronted with pressing legisla-
ton finally TO get down 10 work, the
appropriations committee meeting at
once 10 perfect its organization. Di-
vision of the committee into subcom-
mittees for the framing OF the annual
supply bills will be completed tonor-
row.
The Ways and means COMMITTEES
which must pass on revenue legisla-
ton before II can be considered by the
house. viii hold its initial meeting 10
morrow with the prospect that an ef-
fort viii be made to give the soldiers
bonus bill priority over the Mellon tax
reduction program. =
Bonus Before Tax Cut
Two members Of the committee
Frear. Wisconsin. republican insnr-
gent. and Rainey. democrat. Illinois
ANNOUNCED today that they would Of
fer resolutions TO sidetrack tax revi-
sion until the bonus bill is offered To
the house. Favorable committee ac-
ton viii be sought by honus propcn-
ents on the measure introduced by
Repre- sentative Mckenzie. republican.
Illinois. which in its essential features
is the same as the bill vetoed by Pres
ident Harding.
In mapping its legislative program.
1.-THE ways and means committee will
be urged by some Of its membership
to delay action on the proposed con-
stitutional amendment which would
prohibit further issuance cf tax sx-
empt securities. until an authoritative
lopinion can be obtained as 70 whether
adoption Of such an amendment is
necessary
| Before renewing the vote today on
the interstate commerce committee
chairmanship the senate reelected It's
officers with the exception cf q pres
ident pro tenn. Senator Lodge OK
Massachusetts. republican leader. an
nounced that republicans regarded as
unnecessary the reelection ~ Sen-
ator Cummins as the president pro
tenn.
Westerner Demo Choicc.
The democrats IN party conference
have selected Senator rittnaan Of Ne
vada as their candidate fer president
pro tenn and they plan 20 move FOR
an election after the interstate CONF
merse committee chairman has been
selected
The vote ,cdA on the senate otfi.
GERS indicated. however. that their
move would he Unsuccessful Al ef
tho republican insurgents and the ,we
farmer.lahor senators fom Minnesota.
Shirstcad and johnson. voted With ne.
publican oraNulasti0u senators for the
~. election ~ senate Officers same
leaders 81 the Insurgents have said
from the flrs, they were eet opposed
To senator Cummins a. president pro
item