San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20
DEMOCRAT WIN
TO GIVE TEXAS
GOOD POSITION
Predict That Lone Star Will
Be in Line for Enviable
Place.
MAY EXERCISE RIGHTS
Representatives Can Get
Leadership Of Many
Committees.
MAY EXERCISE RIGHTS

this prediction is freely made by con-
sentative members of both parties-no
state will be in a more enviable po-
sition for place and power than Texas.
IL the Texas members of the House
care TO exercise their rights under the
seniarity rule they will be entitled 20
chairmanships of no less than ten
committees. several of which are
among the most powerful in the
House.
No doubt there will be a great hue
and cry against the seniority rule,
particularly by newly elected Demo-
Gratis from states north of Mason and
Dixon's line 1t will be roundly de-
nounced and the charge made, as
usual, thar 1.-THE South is in the sad
die" Then after good deal of blah-
blah the Democratic caucus of the
Sixty-ninth Congress will reaffirm in
principle its allegiance to the senior
ity rule, under which the experienced
men of each party, who remain in
Congress term after term. win the
higher places on the several commit
tees.
May Not Be Reelected.
OF course there is no certainty that
the men comprising the Texas dele
CATION in Congress will be reelected
this fall. Some undoubtedly will face
opposition in the primaries and the
voters OF their own party may rele-
gate them to the political shelf this
summer. If new man is chosen lie
does not fall heir to the committee
assignments of the member he defeats,
however, but takes his place with the
other baby" congressman of the party
to which he belongs. If his party Has
the majority and is able to organize
the House he may obtain fairly good
committee assignments; if not, he
takes pot luck
Assuming the sitting members in the
House from Texas ,are returned. they
will be able to WELD power on the
committees second to no state in the
union. The chairmanships of big COM
mittees which will be aheirs, if they
wish il, will include John n. Garner
ways and means: Joseph j. Mans
field, rivers and harbors; Fritz G..
Lauham. patents: Fritz G.. Lanham.
Industrial arts and expositions !; Quinn
Williams. expenditures in the Posi-
office Department Thomas l.. Blan-
ton. expenditures in the Department
of Labor; Thomas J.. Blanton, en-
rolled bills; Quinn Williams, cleo
tions, No. >; G. b. Hudspeth. cleo
ions, No. 1; John G. Box, claims.
Seek Other Jobs.
1t is not improbable that one Or
several of these members. if reelected
Ind with their party in power, might
surrender chairmanship of a minor
committee for u place well up the
list ON some more important commit
ee. In this they would have prefer
Pnce over new members; another in
Btancc of the seniority rule. These see
bndary places on the big committees
ire eagerly sought.
James p. buchanan is next TO the
banking member on the all powerful
appropriations committee Marvin
ones is the third Democrat on the
grieultural committee: John &. Box.
ecoRd man on alcoholic liquor traf-
ic; Thomas L. Blanton. second on
District of Columbia: Eugene Black.
fifth on banking and currency: Tom
'onnally, third on foreign affairs :;
Ohm c. Box. fourth on immigration
nd naturalization Quinn Williams,
bird on insular affairs: G. Il. Huds-
eth, second on irrigation of arid
ands: Hatton W. Summers, second
judiciary; Clay Stone Briggs,
purth on merchant marine and fish
ries; Daniel L. Garrett, fourth on
lilitary affairs; Luther A. johnson,
|xth on labor; Morgan G. Sanders,
eventh on naval affairs: Luther A..
ohnSon. seventh on pensions. and a
Ike position on flood control: Fritz
Lanham. third on public buildings
nd grounds: Luther \. Johnson,
bird on reform in the civil service
b. Hudspeth. fourth on roads :;
homas l.. Blanton, fourth on woman
Iffrage.
Number Not Power.
1t is likely that the relative posi-
ons of these men on the committees
i'll be raised by the defeat. either at
e primary or in the election of the
len who now precede them. Thus It
light very well happen that Texas
ould pick up another craftsmanship
two in this way. 1t should bel
prne in mind. however, that the num-
er of committees on which a meu-
er has assignment doesn't in all
ses represent his power There are
vera of the committees in the Houssl
Iemed Of such Importance that if III
ember belongs to one of these heI
mot hold n position on any other
mmittee. These include ways andl
cans. appropriations. military af-I
irs, banking and currency and agri-
lture.
There is another committee in thel
ouse which is deemed all powerful
Id on which Texas at present has
place. This is that of rules, which
termnes procedure. The Democrats
ly have four places on it but inl
event they control the next House
ey will have eight and among thei
II additional Democrats there would
one from Texas.
Finally there will be the question
the speaker and majority floor lead
and should the Democrats win theI
buse these will be the two plums on,
ich all the older and more influen-
members will set their eyes. III
ecedence is followed it is likely
ID Representative FINS ]. GARRETT
Tennessee, now minority floor
der, will be chosen speaker and N
n event there will be a general de-
nd on the Democratic side of thel
|use TO make John y. Garner the
rty floor leader.
be he will be permitted under the
es to accept this and still hold his
ce on the ways and means commit
the offer will be alluring but it IS
altogether certain he would sacrl-
a place he has won after mOreI
n 20 years of service merely toi
ome floor leader.