Evening star., 1924-01-18

ELECTION by the United States Senate
Of Senator Ellison D. Smith of South
Carolina, democrat, to be chairman of
the very important interstate com
merce committee, through the action
of Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette and
his associated insurgents lining up
with the democrats, has not con-
vinced the editors of the country that
there will be any real remedial ac-
ton proposed by that committee in
railway legislation. It is accepted
that the Senate action simply en-
phasizes the new rule Of discomfort
in politics. The viewpoint Of the ed
itors who feel this way Is well exem-
plif1ed by the democratic Baltimore
Sun, which recalls that, after all, any
railroad legislation Will be decided on
the floor of the Senate and not in the
committee and asks. IF senators are
sincere in their desire to settle the
issue on right lines. and are not mere
ly desiring to make political capital
out of it, why all these melodramatic
and foolish grandstand plays? Some-
times-in fact. very often-the Sem
ate of the United States makes the
people of this country very tired. And
folks back home are almost driven to
ask why not abolish the Senate rather
than the Supreme Court, as some SEN
atorS Suggest?'
La Toilette" the New York Times
independent democrat) agrees, but
it would puzzle him to tell any in
quiring little Peterkin what the fight
ing was about. Senator Smith doubt
less has ideas of his own about rail-
way Legislation. but Will not be found
leading a: wrecking gang. Senator
Smith will not be able to.eontrolS Sthe
vote of either his committee or of a
majority of the Senate. If any man
is concerned to know what Is the
prospect that the transportation act
will be radically amended this year,
he should look to the policy of the
administration and to that of the re-
publican majority IN Congress"
+ y X X
1t is2the belief OF the Hartford Cou-
rant independent republican,. how
ever, that "ft Is better to have the
question settled badly than not at all,
and now at least this important COM
mittee can get under way and tackle
some Of the important things. that 1t
was to consider" Incidentally the
Springfield Republican Cndependent)
can find no. precedent in the history
OF the Senate for what has happened. -
because Senator Cummins has been
thrown out, not for disloyalty' to
the administration, but because the
administration was too feeble to save
him from an insurgent raid" -
The Brooklyn Eagle Independent
democratf, Is convinced a party. dis
advantages that may prove a grave
one was to have Senator Smith chosen
Fchatrman In q year when democrats
cannot hope to write any new laws
into the statute books. La Toilette
has struck his first blow effectively.
There are other blows to come. Also
he seems to hold Wisconsin, and a
OF Wisconsin, in the hollow Of his
hand, and the republicans who seek
to elect q President next November
will not be anxious to ALLEVIATE any
electoral votes. That also Is worth
the consideration Of observers" -Tc
which the Louisville Courier Journaa
(democratic) adds, "having the chair
quire of Senator Smith, as OF the dos
that tried to catch the train, what is
he going to do with It. Whether one
calls the election OF Senator Smith
victory for the progressiyes,, or q VIC.
tory for the western republicans, or 9
Iis boastingsof it ass victoy for the
La Follette's was rule or ruin
attitude, insists the Grand Rapids
Herald (republican)i> and 1T Is the
country that loses when senator
perienced railroad economist in Con.
gress, once rated as a violen,
progressive before the red days OF
hectic radicalism, is relieved Of
|. .ptlotage, at the head of the key
icompafttee.@ How many more exhibits