Evening star., 1924-01-10
CUMM|NS TO KEEP
RAIL COMMITTEE
DUTIES IN SENATE
Defeated for ChairmanShip,
Wins Approval as Ranking
Republican on Body.
SMITH ASSURES PROGRAM
WILL BE HANDLED SANELY
Icwa Member Regarded as Likely
Of Election as President
Pro Tempore.

yesterday as chairman of the Senate
interstate commerce committee, will re-
main as the ranking republican member
OF that committee.
The question as to his right to
membership on that committee was
raised in the Senate yesterday by
Senator Dill of Washington, demo-
crat. At the opening of the session
today Senator Curtis of Kansas, the
republican whip. brought up the
matter and declared that in his opin-
Ion the Senate had elected Senator
Cummins member of the committee,
although when the committee names
were first presented the chairman
ship was reserved for future action
Senator Dill said that in raising the
question as to Senator Cummins' mem
bership on the committee he had not
been opposed to the senator serving on
the committee, but merely wished to
straighten out a parliamentary situa-
ton.
No Objection Made.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
democratic leader OF the Senate, said
that no objection had been made to
u
on the committee at the time the chair
nlanship was held up. In order to bring
the matter to a conclusion Senator
Robinson asked unanimous consent that
the assignment of Senator --ammins to
the committee be approved There was
no objection.
senator Ellison D. Smith Of South
Caroilna, democrat, elected late yes
a6C fr-,,,
Senate Interstate Commerce commit
Tee by the democrats and a group of
progressive republicans and farm
IaDor senators, today was making
IlahS Tor carrying on the work of
the committee.
Elevated to the chairmanship Of the
Senate Interstate Commerce commit
tee with the aid of the insurgent re-
publican and farmer-labor group,
Senator Smith, democrat of South
Carolina, sent forth the word today
that the committee would handle, rail-
road legislation "sanely and IN tfie
manner the people will want their
representatives in Congress to act
on it."
Senator Smith said he probably
would call the committee together be-
fore the end of this week or early
next week First action will be on the
nomination of two members of the
Interstate Commerce Commis ssion and
several new members of the Railroad
amendment of the transportation act
have been referred to the committee.
y Smith to Anounce Plans. I
The interstate commerce committee
must handle all proposed railroad
legislation. Senator Smith said that
as soon as possible he would an
nounce his plans and views on rail-
road legislation.
1t was announced from democratic
sources some time ago that the right
President pro tempore of the Senate
would be questioned. The regular
republicans have held that Senator
Cummins held over as President pro
tempore from the last Congress and
that an election Is not necessary. The
democrats, on the other hand, have
insisted that an election of Presi-
dent pro tempore at the opening a
tion may be raised any day by the
democrats. 1t is believed, however,
that Senator Cummins will be re
tanned as President pro tempore; that
the progressiveS who voted against
him as chairman of the interstate
commerce committee would support
him for President pro tempore.
Detection Ends Deadlock.
Four insurgent republican and the
two Farmer Labor senators threw
their support to Smith yesterday.
thus not only breaking a deadlock
which has existed since December
10, but also giving the country con-
vincing manifestation that their con-
troll of the balance Of power in the
Senate is as complete as is that of
the republican insurgents in the
House.
On the thirty-second and final bal
lot of the deadlock, Albert b. Cum
MINIS Of Iowa. who had the indorse-
ment of the republican organization
for reelection, received only twenty
nine votes as against thirty nine for
Smith and six for Senator Couzens,
republican, Michigan, who had been
the third choice of the insurgents.
Smith received only one vote more
than the necessary majority of the
seventy-four senators voting.
Whether Senator Cummins remains
as member OF the Interstate Com
merce committee, which handles rail-
road legislation was questioned yes
terday in the Senate by some of the
insurgents. Republican organization
leaders hold, however. that he is
member despite his defeat for the
chairmanship.
Bruce Votes for Cummins.
On the ballot which elected Senator
Smith, one democrat, Bruce of Mary
land, voted for Senator Cummins, as
he had done since early in the dead
lock, when the insurgents threw their
strength to the South Carolinan and
failed to elect him by a margin of
one vote. Since that time the insur-
gents had supported, in turn, Senator
La Toilette of Wisconsin, their rec
ognized leader; Senator Howell of
Nebraska and Senator Couzens.
The republicans voting for Smith
were: Brookhart, Iowa: Frazier and
Ladd, North Dakota, and La Toilette.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, another
of the insurgent bloc, continued to
vote for Couzens, as did Senators
GoodIng, Idaho: Capper. Kansas:
Howell; Jones, Washington, and Nor
beck, South Dakota On the other
Swo ballots taken during the day the
Insurgents supported Couzens.
Of there are precedents for the cleo
tion by the Senate of a committee
chairman from the party opposite to
that In control officials fail to recall
it and they have been unable to find
a record of it in their search Of Sem
ate files.
Early Organization Seen.
Early organization of the Interstate
Commerce Committee Is looked for
and pressure Immediately will be
brought for the approval of bills
amending IL not repeating the trans
portation act 1t would appear that
majority Of the committee is favor
(Continued on Page 2. Column 81