Evening star., 1946-11-08
D. G. Committee Outlook

Advent of new Republican dom
mated Congress may mean more to
District citizens than the customary
changes in leadership of committees
handling local legislation. The
Eightieth Congress. if it carries out
fully the congressional reorganiza-
ton plan of its predecessor, will
accord relatively greater Importance
to service on the Senate and House
District Committees, for those COM
mittees will be among the select
survivors of the proposed committee
reduction program.
With fewer Craftsmanship "plums"
available, there should be keen RI
valry for the honor of heading the
District Committees and the sub
committees on District appropria-
tions. The added prestige attaching
to such appointments should re-
dound to the benefit of voteless
Washingtonians who depend on
these groups for laws and appro-
priations affecting their general
welfare.
Whatever the outcome of the
overall congressional reorganization
plan, the new Congress will bring
shakeup in the leadership and men,
bership of four committees in whose
hands rest the legislative hopes of
District residents. COP control of
both houses means the unseating
of Senator Bilbo of Mississippi as
chairman of the Senate District
Committee, of Representative Nc
MILAN of South Carolina as chair
man of the House District Commit
tee and of Senator OMahoney OF
Wyoming and Representative Coffee
of Washington as heads of the local
appropriation subcommittee.
Although their successors remain
a matter of speculation, the roster
of those in line is such as to as
sure Washington of good committee
leadership on Capitol Hill. Senator
Capper, whose long and sympathetic
interest in the welfare of the Capital
and its citizens is too well known to
need elaboration here, Is in line to
succeed Senator Bilbo, but he may
choose to head the Agriculture Com
mittee instead. Next in line is Sena-
tor Buck of Delaware, whose expert
ence as businessman and Governor
should be helpful to him in dealing
with District affairs. The new head
of the House District Committee will
be either Representative Dirksen of
Illinois or Representative Bates of
Massachusetts,, both of whom have
given sympathetic attention to Dis
trict problems. Mr.. Dirksen Is said
to be willing to serve provided he is
permitted to remain on the Appro-
priations Committee. 1t is to be
hoped that such an arrangement
will be feasible.
Other assignments similarly might
interfere with acceptance by Sena-
Gol doll VI 4uA11I4JCobd clAAo 4SSPA
sentative Stephan of Nebraska of
District appropriations subcommit-
tee chairmanships. Both are famil-
lar with the local situation. Mr..
Stephan long has been an outstand-
ing friend of the District.
OF the several Senators and Rep
resentatives who will not return to
the local committees next session,
none will be missed locally more
than Representative Randolph of
West Virginia. AS former head of
the House District Committee and
more recently as chairman of the
Civil Service Committee, Mr.. Ran
dolph had proved to be a vigorous
champion of voteless Washingto-
mans in general and Federal en-
ployes in particular. His defeat in
the election constitutes a real loss
to the District of Columbia.