Evening star., 1931-12-09
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

1t isn't because the Job of President
pro tenn. of the Senate carries with 1t
either glory or power that time was
wasted over 1t at the outset of the
new session. What Is at stake is the
question whether the Republican reg
ulars or the Republican Progressiyes
shall rule the Senate roost-whether.
in other words, the dog shall wag the
tail or the tail wag the dog The
@. O. P. high command is bent upon
determining as soon as possible to just
jackass" are capable of hamstringing
Senate. At the Progressive confer
ence in Washington last March there
was loud talk about the balance Of
power which Senator Norris and his
cohorts would WELD In the upper
branch OF Congress. II they can pre-
vent q majority vote for Senator Moses
and force the election Of somebody else
as President pro tenn, the ProgreSsives
will start out in the Seventy
Congress as victors. The post to which
Moses would cling is devoid of real
authority and does not rank high as an
honor. But it Is d symbol that the
party to which the occupant belongs
Is boss Of the chamber. Hence, the
Republicans struggle to keep the sage
Of Concord on the rostrum.
y
Though their margin Of superiority
is numerically slim, the House Demo-
Gratis will evidently stand no nonsense
from the Republican minority. They
served notice to that effect ON Monday,
before Jack Garners speakership was
Is minutes old. Representative Hawley
of Oregon, on behalf of the Republican
caucus, had just presented its slate for
clerk, sergeant at arms doorkeeper and
postmaster Of the House Unmistak-
ably in the hope that separate vote
for each Official might accidentally re-
suit In Republican selection here or
there, Hawley sought roll call on in
dividuals instead OF on the slate. Repre-
sentative Rainey Of Illinois, who'd only
moment before become Democratic
majority leader, objected instanter. 1--WE
are all going to be in our seats" the
white-haired, Romanesque Illinoisan
shot back, AS far as we are concerned.
We viii have no diflculty In keeping
the Democrats present. We have
clear majority, so why not proceed in
the usual way?" Hawley got the point
and withdrew his proposal without
further ado. The brief episode indicated
that the Democrats, being in the saddle
purpose staying there.
Sidelights from first Confessional
Directory Of the Seventy second Con-
grsss; Senator Jim Ham Lewis omits
date OF his birth. Italy now has two
native sons in the Horse-Palmissno
oil Maryland and Cayicchia of New Jer-
sey. Representative Campbell OF Iowa
nsts only his family record-names of
parents, deceased wife and living child,
"Ec, Jr. Shrinking violet laursis 90 to
representatives Celler and La Guardia.
both OF New York, whose autobiopra.
phies consist merely of their names
Senator Austin of Vermont was IN
CHINA In 1857 negotiating loans to
Chlnese government. Representative
Crump OF Tennessee, Democratic boss
OF memphis, newcomer to Congress. re-
celVed 25,1o6 votes at the 1880 election.
as against 1888 polled by two op-
ponents. Representative Withrow, Re
puciican Progressive Of Wisconsin, serves
MS nrst term after three years duty as
legislative agent of the railroad brotbeT-
hoods at Madison. Representativs
Andrews Of New York, another congress
Monal freshman. was foot ball coach at
princeton In 1918 and 1915. Senator
Coolidge. Democrat, of Massachusetts
never attended anything but a business
college. Representative Joachim Octave
Fefnandez, Democrat. Of Louisiana gives
ms progression as 'demurrage and stor-
sge tarin expert Representative G,
MURRAY Turpin, Republican, OF Penn
syNanla steals Jim Davis thunder as
SSohkIess champion Joiner" catalog-
ing memberships in Is organizations.
y
Jonn snure OF Iowa, who has iust
been elected chairman Of the STANDING
Sommittes OF Press Gallery Core