Evening star., 1937-04-04
COP. SENATOR'S RUSHED
TO ULMINORITY DUTIES
Ranks Trimmed to l6. Lawmakers Must
Serve on Many and Varied Com.
mites to Keep Opposition Alert.

Probably one of the most important
Of the committees of the Senate is the
Committee on Agriculture and For
estry. Three Republicans are serving
on that body-McNary, Capper and
Frazier. The study Of the problems
of agriculture is as important as any
matter before Congress at present and
there Is probably as much room for
controversy over the various pro-
posals to relieve the agricultural situ-
alton as over any issue now being
considered Yet the Republican mi
nority can spare but three men to
serve on this committee.
The three, however, cannot confine
themselves to agricultural matters
Take McNary, for instance. He serves
also on the Commerce Committee,
which handles matters such as the
defunct N. R. A.; on the immigration
and Reclamation Committee, on the
Manufactures Committee and on the
Library Committee. He serves also
on four special committees
ment Organization, Conservation OF
Wild Life Resources. Investigation OF
the Executive Agencies Of the Govern
ment and Silver.
A little reflection indicates that
Senator McNary is up to his neck IN
New Deal matters in these various
committees.
Senator Capper adds to his Agricul-
tural Committee duties the post OF
ranking Republican on the District OF
Columbia Committee, ranking Re
publican on the Claims Committee,
ranking Republican on the Finance
Committee and membership on the
Foreign Relations and Immigration
Committees.
In other words, he must be prepared
to take the minority leadership in the
debate involving matters concerning
the District of Columbia, claims
against the Government and taxation.
Frazier also finds himself burdened
down with the minority leadership on
| four committees He serves agricul-
ture, banking and civil service as q
committee member and is the ranking
Republican on Indian affairs, mines
and mining, pensions and post Offices
and post roads.
On four general matters of legisla-
ton and matters involving great prob
lens he must become the minority
authority and spokesman.
Judiciary Group Duties.
One of the most important of the
senatorial committees right now is the
Judiciary Committee, which is con-
sidering the proposals by President
Roosevelt for a revamping of the
judicial branch of the Government
and the enlargement of the Supreme
Court.
Two of the Republicans on that
committee are Senators Borah and
Austin. Borah is the ranking Repub-
lican, but he is also ranking Repub-
lican on the Education and Labor
Committee and the Foreign Relations
Committee. Each Of these two is
knee-deep in important problems, yet
Senator Borah must keep intimately
informed with the problems Of each
and those of the Judiciary Committee
% WCA. 4A4 4AAo OF Q oAAAAC, ~ eAA4J, AAS
must devote himself to the work Of
the special Silver Committee and that
handling public lands and surveys.
Senator Austin divides his time be-
tween the Judiciary Committee and
those on the District of Columbia,
immigration, interstate commerce,
military affairs, privileges and elec-
tions, public buildings and public
grounds, investigation of ocean and
airmail contracts, investigation Of
campaign expenditures and receiver
ships and bankruptcies.
These illustrations indicate the prob
lens which face the older members of
the Senate They seem almost insur-
mountable problems, but back OF each
Of the more experienced Senators lies
years of service in the Senate with .
gradual accumulation Of Information
which makes possible the shift from