Evening star., 1948-11-05
Neqro House Member in Line
To Head Major Committee
BY the ksseeicisd Press

An outright race issue confronts
the new Democratic majority of
the House-a Negro is in line to
head a major committee of Con-
gress.
He is Representative William L.
Dawson of Illinois, Georgia-born
Chicago attorney who was re-elect-
ed Tuesday to his fourth term.
Mr.. Dawson actually is only the
second ranking Democrat on the
Executive Expenditures Committee.
But the No. man-Representative
Mccormack of Massachusetts,
slated to return to his job of ma
jority floor leader. And the ma
jority leader customarily does not
have any committee assignments;
he never has carried the burden
Of q major Craftsmanship.
Democratic committee assign
ments in the House are arranged
by the party's members of the Ways
and Means Committee. This groups
recommendations are submitted to
o caucus of all House Democrats,
then to the entire House.
The Ways and Means members
recommendations usually are ap-
proved by the caucus, since they
are worked out with the party's
leaders and committee chairmen.
Acceptance by the House Is just
a formality.
Almost without exception, chair
manships are decided on committee
seniority; that is, on how long a
man has been on the committee,
rather than how long he has been
in Congress.
II tradition is followed in his case,
Mr.. Dawson will be the first modern
day Negro member of Congress to
head an important regular commit
tee He represents Illinois 1st Dis
trict, which has sent Negro members
to Congress for many years. The
only other present Negro House
member is Representative Adam C.
Powell, jr., of New York, who won
reelection to his third term on the
Democratic and American Labor
Party tickets. He ranks fifth on the
Labor Committee.
Has Board Authority.
The Expenditures Committee has
board authority to look into all the
executive departments of the Gov
ernment. Its jurisdiction covers any
activity involving the spending of
Federal money.
Under the Craftsmanship of Re-
publican Clare E. Hoffman of Mich
igan, this committee during the
past two years has investigated the
State, Commerce, Justice and Agri-
culture Departments, as well as the
Federal Communications Commis-
sion and housing agencies,
Among the nine holdover Demo-
Gratis on the Ways and Means Com
mittee, with six to be added in line
with the party's new majority sta
tus, four represent Southern States
where President Truman's anti
discrimination civil rights program
provoked storm Of protest.
They are Representatives Dough-
ton Of North Carolina, Cooper of
Tennessee, Mills of Arkansas and
Camp of Georgia, all from States
Mr.. Truman carried easily despite
the States Rights uprising. A fifth
member Is Representative Gregory
of border-State Kentucky, which
also landed safely In the Truman
column.
Heavily Sprinkled With Southerners. !
The other four Democratic men, |
bers of the committee actively sup
ported Mr.. Truman's civil rights pro-
gram. They are Representatives
Dingell of Michigan, Lynch Of New
York, Forand of Rhode Island and
Eberharter of Pennsylvania.
House and Senate committee
chairmanships will be heavily sprin-
kled with Southerners in the Eighty
first Congress.
In the Senate they will go to
Texas, South Carolina, Arkansas,
Tennessee, Oklahoma and Maryland,
among others. House chairman
ships will include representation Of
both Carolinas, Virginia, Mississippi,
Georgia and Tennessee.
Tuesdays balloting handed the
Democrats 54-42 edge in the Sen
ate and a 90-vote House margin.
With all races finally settled, the