The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-12-05
Michigan in
Washington
Nv ESTHER V. ". TUFTY

The outlook is Frightening for
streamlining Congress. It's been
talked about for years. About the
l ,nsense % two or more commit
tees working on the same burning
issue. About the lack OF adeqla e
clerical help when a big inyeslga'
ton is in full swing. And some
more daring members even admit
certain committees could be elm
mated entirely,
For the folk back home, all this
excitement about streamlining
doesn't seem very important. But
the man they elect to Cong. ess Is
either big or little in prestige and
headlines in accordance with his
committee activities. Actually that
| Is where the real work is done, not
| in those flows of oratory on the
floor of the Senate and House.
None OF the proposals under con
sideration by the House Rules Com
mittee touch seniority rights so
sacred to congressman. \ new.
conner to Congress is always ap-
palled at the Importance of rank.
He finds it's tough to get on a ma
jor -lL.mittee and then he must
sta't at the bottom. Only death
at the polls, or otherwise. of those
who rank him will bring him within
sight of the Craftsmanship OF com
mittee. Some members have been
in Congress for 20 years without
reaching that goal. A sad by-pro-
duct is that frequently the least
qualified man becomes chairman
just because he has been in Con-
gress a longer time than others
on his committee.
The seniority caste system
hidef many a promising young man.
He soon learns he can do little. Ex-
cept get elected again and again to
build up seniority and by that time
he's lost his fire.
In the middle OF the debate over
expediting such movement is Earl
Kitchener OF Adrian, on the House
Rules Committee. He has plenty
Of seniority as he begins his 25th
year to Congress in January. But
also he has been the victim OF the
seniority system since his one de-
feat in 1888 put him at the bottom
of his two committees when he re-
turned. Now he nears the top
az in.
The Adrian Republican Is Opt
mistc that at least the committee
will report favorably on a FIJI stu
dy for reorganization Careful to
say "reorganize" for eHi iency.
rather than "streamlining' which
Senator Maloney doesn't like). Ii
is likely the more specific Smith
! bill which includes remedies. will
be DELAYED until the new study is
complete.
Kitchener cited recent example
of committee Overlapping as the
city of Washington started move
ment for a big auditorium. Two
bills were introduced in the DIS
trict Committee and one is now be-
fore the Buildings and Grounds
Committee.
One reason that Congressman
Kitchener is hopeful is based m
what happened back in 1921 when a
like movement was afoot to stream
line the system of appropriating
funds. Most members have forgot.
ten the time before the days OF
one budget director who is re-
sponsibe TO the President and the
comptroller responsible to the
House for proper expenditures OF
appropriated funds. But in the
good old days every committee
wrestled with a budget director
Of its own. Then the Appropria
tions Committee didn't have the
power 1t has today, because It Just
handled. matters not of concern to
the other committees.
II your son happens to be an Of
ficer in London. there's a woman
he may not ..now there who brings
him much happiness. That is, il
you believe that TO please him is
to feed him well. She's a woman
known to many an Ann Arbol
medical stu lent when he grabbed
quick meals at the Victor Vaughan
House. n dormitory at the Uni
versity OF Michigan.
Her name is Irene Boelts. frs
lieutenant in the WAC. who shames
the women weary of preparing
three meals a day with her job 81
more than 5000 meals a day II
England. where shortages are
shortages and a real lemon or egl
luxury item
AS the dietician Of the consolidat
ed officers mess at famous eros
ve1or House. known to every Yanl
who hits London, sh has been dub
bed presiding genius.
It's said it was tn speed II
serving that brought such busy not