Evening star., 1923-12-14
Election of couzens as |. &C.
Head May Break Row
in Upper Branch.
lNSURGENT-DEM0CRAT
ALLIANCE PLANS MADE
Unity Sought to Gain Control Of
Ways and Means
Committee.

" > SdLtiZdtlOH troubles or the re
Punllcan House leaders increased to
day at the same time that the Senate
orsanlzation row was showing signs
or Subsiding.
The republican insurgent group i'll
the House. negotiating with the
democrats for a coalition to control
the powerful rules committee. made
such progress that a floor fight on the
subject seems likely to develop when
brought in for approval
On the Senate side d well defined
movement developed to end the dead
lock over election of a chairman or
the interstate commerce committee
pE the selection OF Senator Couzens-
republican, Of Michigan There were
indications that he would be salts
factory to the republican Senate insur-
gents. who have effected a deadlock
py refusing to support Senator Cum
MINIS of Iowa, the regular republican
choice for the chairrnanship, and that
some OF the organization leaders who
nave voted for CumminS throughout
also would be willing to throw their
strength to the Michigan senator
"hen bailoting is resumed Monday.
II mad been the plan of the majority
mouse leaders TO present their com
mlttee states for approval today, but
instead they asked for an adjourn
ment until tomorrow ten minutes af-
yer the session began. Immediately
announced that the democrats would
hold caucus Monday before the House
convenes.
The republican steering committee
is in conference this afternoon
House Leader Longworth does not
intend TO present the slate of com
mlttee assignments in the House 10
morrow, but Immediately after ad-
lournment a conference of the repub-
lican members will be held.
ir
announced for 1890 tomorrow morn
ing, was postponed until Mondav
morning. Minority Leader Garrett an
nounced.
In their negotiations today some
or the democrats and insurgents con-
sidered a plan TO displace from the
rules committee Representatives Bur
ton OF Ohio and Tiison of Connecticut,
organization republicans by electing
in their places Representatives Ayres
democrat. of Kansas and Repre- Senta-
tive Nelson of Wisconsin, leader of
the republican insurgents. The move
grew out Of a refusal by the repubIi-
can leaders to give more than five
places on the committee to the demo-
Gratis and to assign any out-and-out
insurgent to membership
IT the effort for a coalition proves
successful. the republican orgauiZa-
tion would have six members on the
rules committee, the democrats five
and the insurgents one. The COM
mittee has a large part in controlling
the House Legislative program.
In reply to questions put to him
by democrats when he asked for ad-
Longworth, the republican floor lead
er, said he hoped to have the House
consider committee assignments to-
morrow.
"A few details must still be worked
out" Mr.. Longworth told the House
Republican organization leaders
generally were reluctant to discuss
the situation, ana the insurgents and
reveal their plan of campaign or esti-
mate their probable strength. 1t was
generally admitted that nothing def
mite would take shape until the demo-
Gratis had caucused tomorrow. At
party conference Wednesday the
three-to-one vote a proposal for
coalition with the insurgents.
The real situation, as seen by some
observers, seems to be that the pro-
mined effort to get Representative
Nelson a place on the rules commit
tee and is endeavortng to do this by
enliSting the cooperation OF GER
that some of the democrats are favor
ably disposed toward such a coalition
after having held conferences with
William Jennings Bryan.
Leader Garrett and Representative
John Garner of Texas. the leader of
the democratic forces on the ways
and means committee which drafted
the democratic slate for committee
places, are set against the proposed
coalition. Representative Garrett is
in the position that he is likely some
day to be Speaker with scant ma
jority and with that prospect in mind
cannot afford TO establish any prece-
dent now through uniting with an
insurgent group within the party in
power.
What will probably result is that
the republican organization will de-
eide that it is fair to grant another
democratic place on the rules com
mittee. Such action would meet any
democratic dissatisfaction and thus
remove any motive for joining with
the "progressives." That would mean
that Representative Nelson would not
be placed on the committee and that
the "progressiveS" would be in the
position of having forced the repub
lican organization to give enlarged
democratic representation on the i'm
portant rules committee.
The attitude of Minority Leader
Garrett and Representative Garner is
that as far as committee appoint
ment is concerned they are bound by
a gentleman's agreement to approve
the slate as presented by the rcon-
sentative republican organization.
It was whispered around the cor
ridors today that Representative Will
liam A. Ayres of Kansas is the man
selected for the additional demo
cratic place on the rules committee
If an additional place is allowed
Representative Ayres has previously
declared that he does not desire such
appointment, preferring his position
on the appropriations committee. He
has also declared against coalition
with the "progressiYes." but he does
feel the democrats should have ad-
ditional representation on the rules
committee.
The man who is being considered
today for appointment If the demo
Gratis get the additional place is Rep
resentative Tom McKeown of Okla
homa.
Senator Couzens of Michigan, re-
publican loomed UP today as a pos
sible compromise candidate for the
Craftsmanship of the interstate COM
merce committee.
The Michigan senator has recently
been appointed member to the. COM
mittee. During the contest in the
Senate over the election of a chair
man to the committee he has voted
consistently with the regular repub-
licans for Senator Cummins for the
office of chairman of the interstate
commerce committee.
Senator Couzens could command
the support, it is said of the pro-
gressive vote, consisting of five re-
(Contjnued on page Q Column 9O