Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-12
DEMOCRAT HEADS REPUBLICAN
COMMITTEE; EMBARRASSMENTS
ARE SEEN FOR BOTH PARTIES
Cummins' Status May Cause
New WrangIe- Committee
Evenly Divided on Esch-
Cunnn1ins Act
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
4oS Evans Bldg.
BY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-The
election of Senator Ellison D. Smith,
Democrat, of South Carolina, Wed
nesday, as chairman of the inter
state commerce committee Of the
Republican senate results in a situa-
ton like this:
Because of insurgency in the ranks
OF the party supposedly in control,
the senate has smashed the hitherto
sacred rule of seniority in commit
tee assignments.
Thi revolutionary action and the
hybrid makeup of the interstate COM
merce committee render it unlikely
that there will be any important
railroad legislation at this session Of
congress.
Gratis, although voting to elect Sena-
tor Smith as the Democratic caucus
nominee, are today harassed by the
fear that a political blunder has
been made; that Democratic chair
man at the head Of a Republican
committee will be namstrung, and
that the Democrats, in the next
cmapaign, will be blamed for fail
ure to amend or repeal the Esch-
Cummins transportation law. This
is the greatest issue before this
strangely nlade-up senate commit
tee.
Is Cummins on Committee?
Meanwhile, there arose today to
plague both sides, and particularly the
Republicans, the contention that
Senator Albert B. Cummins, defeat
ed for the Craftsmanship, is not even
q member of the committee on which
he has long served. Senators are at
odds over Mr.. Cummins' status and
the Craftsmanship row may be sue
ceeded by a wrangle over whether
Mr.. Cummins is on or off the COM
mittee.
AS it stands, the committee seems
split about fiftyhfty on the Esch-
tee is likely to determine fate of rail.
road legislation amendments.
IL Senator Cumnins is kicked en-
tirely off the committee, then Sena-
tor La Toilette stands next to Chair
man Smith on the rolls. The senior
ity of Mr.. La Toilette, a Republican
radical, caused Republican regulars
to vote consistently for Mr.. Cum
Minis as chairman, and regardless Of
the fact that Mr.. CumminS is now
presiding officer of the senate since
the elevation of the presidency of
Calvin Coolidge. Had it not been
for Mr.. La Toilette there would
have been no attempt to have Mr..
Cummins hold two jobs. NeVerthe-
less, veteran members OF tie senate
today deplore the first sacrifice of
the seniority rule, even to make a
Roman holiday OF the craftsmanship
ambitions of Mr.. La Toilette.
1t was Senator La Toilette, him
self, however, who turned the vot-
ing tide to Mr.. Smith on the thirty
second ballot of the senate deadlock
He and a handful of followers voted
for Mr.. Smith and made his election
possible by a majority of one. Pre-
viously this little group had voted Ell
ther for Mr.. La Toilette or Mr..
Couzens, of Michigan.
Smith to Make Statement
Senator Smith, the first Demo
cratic chairman OF a Republican
committee in the history of the SEN
ate, promised a statement OF his
plans and policies Thursday after
noon. Issues before the committee,
he said, were too vital to be discuss
ed offhand Immediately following
his election as chairman.
Pending the statement of Chair
man Smith his detailed views on the
railroad questions are unknown, ex-
cept that he voted against the Esch-
Cummins transportation act and is
still opposed to that measure. He
has made no comment on railroad
matters within recent months.
Assuming that Senator Cummins
will a. least retain his membership
on the interstate commerce commit
tee, or that regular Republican will
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