The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-01-10

Made |. C.. e..
Chairman
Progressives Demonstrate Con-
troll of Balance of Power Is
Complete = Nebraskans
Vote for Couzens.
Repeal of Rail Act Seen

Washington. Jan. 81 democrat,
Ellison u. Smith OF South Carolina.
vas elected TODAY by the senate as
chairman Of the intersl ate comnercs
committee. one Of the ranking COM
fnittees of tie new republican con-
gress.
Four iusurgent republicans and the
two farmer-labo senator's threw
their support 10 Smith. thus not only
breaking a deadlock which has ex-
listed since December 10, but also
giving the country convincing mani
festation that their control of the
aalance Of power in the senate is as
complete as is that of the republican
insurgents in the house.
on the I'D an dflnal ballot of the
deadlock. Albert 3. Cufnmins OF Iowa.
who had the endorsement of the re-
publican organization for reelection.
seceiyed only 90 votes as against 81
for Smith and six for Sena tor Cou-
zen. republican. Michigan who had
seen the third choice Of the insur-
gents. Smith received only one vote
more ,han the necessary majority of
the "a senators voting.
Organization Nearly Complete.
With the deadlock broken. organl-
zation of the Gsth congress is com
plete except for an expected fight
over tbs office of senator president
protein. The situation as to this mat
ter was somewhat obscure tonight.
Senator Cummins is without the en-
dorsement of the republican party
conference for this place. as party
leaders have held an election TO be
unnecessary. With the Iowa senator
deposed from the chairmanship OF
the committee which handles railroad
legislation. the insurgents have indi-
Gated they would support him for re
election as president pro TEN, but
there have been rumhlings Of some
opposition from the republican or
sanization.
Whether Senator Couzens remains
as q member of the Interstate Com
niece committee which handles rail-
road legislation. was questioned To-
day in the senate by some OF the in
surgents. Republican organization
leaders hold. however. that he is
Craftsmanship.
On the ballot which el5ctehr Senator
Smith. one democrat. Bruce of Mahry-
| land. voted for Senator Cummins a.
he had done since earl yin the dead
lock. when the insurgents threw
their strength TO the South Carolina
senator and failed TO elect him BY a
margi nof one vote. Since that time
the insurgents had supported in turn.
Senator La Toilette OF Wisconsin.
their recognized leader; Senator How
ell OF Nebraska and Senator Couzsns.
The republicans voting for Smith
today were Brookhart, Iowa; Frazier
and Ladd. North Dakota. and La Fol-
letfe. Wisconsin. Senator Norris. Ne
braska, another OF the insurgent bloc.
continued to vote for CouEsns as did
Senators Gooding. Idaho: Capper.
Kansas: Howell Nebraska: Jones.
Washington. and Norbeck. South Da-
kota. on the other two ballots taken
during the day the insurgents sup
ported Couzens.
Establishes Precedent. Belief.
IL there are precedents for the
election by the senate OF a commit
tee chairman from the party opro-
site to that in control. officials fail TO
recall it. and they have been unahla
10 find a record OF 1t in their search
OF senate files.
Early organization OF the Inter
state Commerce committee is looked
/ for and pressure Immediately will hs
| brought for approval Of bills amend
ing II not repeating the thransporta-
! ton act. Ii would appear that a
ma jority 81 the committee is favor
able to the repeal OF the so-oalled rate
making section OF that act and per-
Taps some other changes, but wheth-
er straight repeal measure can be
voted on seems doubtful.
4 Chairman Smith was one Of those
who fought the transportation act.
both in the committee and on the
floor OF the senate and il was be-
cause Of his position on the measure
that senator la Toilette fhrom his
sick room publicly endorsed Nr.
! Smith for the craftsmanship last
month, declaring his election would