Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-01
Senate Faces Problem
Of Seniority in Naming
Judiciary Chairman
McCorrun and Van Mugs,
Ranking Members. Joined
Committee Same Day
By ]. A. OLEARY.


An unusual problem in seniority
Is developing on Capitol Hill in fill
ing the impending vacancy in the
Craftsmanship of the important Sem
ate Judiciary Committee, where the
two ranking DemocratS-Senators
McCarrap of Nevada and Van Nuys
of Indiana-entered the Senate on
the same day and became members
of the committee on the same day.
Ordinarily major chairmanships
are handed down almost automati.
cally to the senior member who
does not already have an equally
important Craftsmanship which he
desires to retain. But in this rare
case the Democratic Steering Com
mittee probably will have to decide
the question of who has first call
on the judiciary post.
The issue, however, is not as lively
q one as it might be if either of the
ranking members was a strong New
Dealer. 1t so happens that both
Senator Van Mugs and Senator Nc
Carran have shown independence
OF Judgment in passing on New Deal
proposals during the last seven
years.
May Effect ID. c. Craftsmanship.
1t is within the realm of posi-
bility that the settlement of the
judiciary craftsmanship could have
some effect on the selection of a
new chairman for the District of
Columbia Committee, to succeed
Chairman King, who leaves the Sem
ate at the end of this Congress.
The three top-ranking Demo-
Gratis on the District group-Glass
Of Virginia, Tydings of Maryland
and Bankhead of Alabama-already
have other chairmanships. Senator
McCarran is next in line, and would
be entitled to the District post if
he does not become head of judi
ciary. If Senator McCarran is
named to lead the Judiciary Com
mittee, Senator Reynolds, Democrat,
of North Carolina, would be in line
to guide District affairs.
Judiciary Is Chief Interest.
Although administration leaders
have seven chairmanships in all to
fill early in January as a result of
election changes, interest centers
chiefly around the Judiciary Com
mittee because of the seniority
problem involved in it. The present
chairman, Senator Ashurst of Ari-
iona, was defeated for renomina-
ton this year.
Senator Connally of Texas, is ex-
pected to become chairman of
privileges and elections, succeeding
Senator George of Georgia, who
moved into the key position of for
eign relations chairman since the
death of Senator Pittman.
II Senator Connally takes privi-
leges and elections, his present post
of chairman of public buildings and
grounds probably would 60 to Sena-
tor Maloney of Connecticut.
Senator Byrd of Virginia. appears
most likely to become chairman of
the Rules Committee, succeeding
Senator Nicely of West Virginia, who
has just been elected Governor of
his State.
Senator Brown of Michigan is in
line for the Craftsmanship of the
Claims Committee, being vacated by
Senator Burke, who was defeated
in the Nebraska Democratic pri-
mary this year.
Pension Committee Open.
The defeat of Senator Minton of
Indiana opens up the Craftsmanship
of the Pensions Committee, where
Senator Schwartz of Wyoming is
the probable successor.
In addition to these chairman
ships, Democratic and Republican
leaders have number of vacant
seats to fill in the membership of
most of the major committees. All
of these organization problems will
be put off until the first week in
January. when the new Congress is
assembling
If the Craftsmanship of the Ju-
dietary Committee, which handles