Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-10
Smith, South Carolina,
Elected Chairman In
terstate Com merce
COmmittee-32d Bal
lot Ends Battle on
Since Dec. 1O-DOubt
over Election Presi-
dent Protein

Washington. Jan. O. Democrat.
vus D. Smith, of South Caro-
~. was elected today by the SEN
eco a. chairman of its interstate
commerce committee, one OF the
,,nxing committees OF the new Re-
,ublican congress.
Four insurgent Republicans and
,wo Farmer-Labor senators threw
their support to Smith. thus not
.,lv breaking a deadlock which
"a, existed since December 10. but
alan giving the country convincing
rapjfestation that their control of
tho balance of power in the senate
1. a. complete as is that OF the
Republican insurgents In the house.
IN the thirty-second and final
ballot Of the deadlock, Albert b.
rnmmins Of Iowa. who had the en-
dor,ement Of the Republican organ
,,,tIon for e-election, received only
~ votes as against 80 for Smith
and ok for Senator Couzens, Repub-
ljean Michigan. who had been the
third choice OF the insurgents.
Smith received only one vote more
than the necessary majority OF the
"a senator's voting.
With the deadlock broken. organ
izaton OF the GSth congress is COM
plete except for an expected fight
oyer the office OF senate president
pro.tem. The situation as to this
matter was somewhat obscure to-
night. Senator Cummings is with
cut the endorsement of the Repub-
lean party conference for this place.
"a party leaders have held an cleo
ton 10 be unnecessary. With the
Iowa senator deposed from the
craftsmanship of the committee
which handles railroad legislation,
the insurgents have indicated that
they would support him for re-elec-
ton rs president pro TEN. but there
has been rumblings OF some Oppo-
Stion from the Republican organ
xatiOn.
Whether Senator Cummins re-
mains as member OF the interstate
commerce committee. which handles
railroad legislation, was questioned
today in the senate by some of the
insurgents Republican organization
leaders hold. however. that he is u
member despite his defeat for the
chairmanship.
On the ballot which elected SEN
ator Smith. one Democrat. Bruce. of
Maryland. voted for Senator Cum
Minis as he had done since early in
the deadlock, when the insurgents
threw their strength to the South
carolinlan and failed to elect him
by margin of one vote. Since that
time the insurgents had supported.
In turn. Senator Lafollette of Wis
consin, their recognized leader:
Senator Howell. of Nebraska, and
senator Couzens.
The Republicans voting for Smith
Today we're Rrookhart. Iowa: Frazier
and Ladd. North Dakota: and La
Toilette. Senator Norris. of Nebraska.
another of the insurgent bloc, con-
uhued to vote for CouZenS as did
Senators Gooding. Idaho: Capper,
Kansas: Howell. Jones. Washington.
and Norbeck. South Dakota. On the
u'hef TWO ballots taken during the
gay the insurgents supported Cou-
isns.
II there are precedents for the
secton by the senate of a commit
ne chairman from the party oppo-
we to that in control officials fail
recall 1t and they have been I'M
Ae'e TO find n record of 1t In their
search of senate files.
Early organization OF the inter-
s9te commerce committee is look
Tor and pressure Immediately will
70 brought for the approval of bills
amending II not repeating the tran
spof'ation act. 1t would appear that
majority OF the committee is ia
w.an'e to the repeal of the So
ss.ea rate-making section of that
w. ana perhaps some other changes.
.s n whether straight repeal mea-
~" sa,e can he voted out seems doubt
enairman Smith was one Of those
s av fought the transportation act
so m IN the committee and on the
c ue OF the senate and it was be-
H suse OF his position on the measure
, maI senator Lafollette from his sick
w. m publicly endorsed Mr.. Smith
gu ue Craftsmanship last month de-
Tag that his election would ne a
TIA