Evening star., 1955-01-09
Vifginidns Ask
Berfhs
In Congress
Democrats Anxious
10 Get Jennings on
Agriculture Group
BY Alex +. Preston

assignments IN the new congress
for two Of their members.
Principal interest In the eight
man Democratic delegation cen-
ters around getting freshman
Representative Pat Jennings OF
the 9th District 3 berth on the
Agriculture COMMITTEES.
The two-man Republican team
Is working hard TO keep one Of
It's members. Representative Pom.
Of the 9Th District. . law partner
Of q. o. r. National Committees
man Ted Dalton, on the judi
ciary Committee. With 56 new
Of Congress. this might
be dificult.
Reports Due This Week.
Outcome Of these efforts may
Be resolved late this week or next
when the Committee on Cons
mittees Of both parties submit
their reports for final House
Getting Mr.. Jennings assigned
to Agriculture may be crucial
with the Democrats. The fact
that the Virginia caucus agreed
to back him last week may be
recognition that Mr.. jennings
needs that help to hold onto his
seat, which was the only one Of
three captured from Republicans
in Virginia's congressional races
last fall.
Mr.. Jennings predecessof.
Republican william Wampler.
served on Agriculture. He
warned his Southwest Virginia
farm constituents during the
campaign that they would lose 3
voice on D committee vital 70
their interests II he were de-
feated.
Democrats scofted and prorn-
ised they would see to Il that
the farmers were taken care Of
equally well In that regard.
DifIiculties Explained.
So now comes the test. The
difiiculty arises over the fact
that Representative Abhitt.
Democrat. Of the 9TH District.
already Is 4 ranking member on
Agriculture. Other farm States
with new members are clantor-
ing for this assignment.
Mr.. jennings chief claim is
that he would be replacing an
other Virginia member Of that
committee. albeit q Republican.
yirginia's ofilcial voice Tor this
assignment win be Representa-
tive Harrison Of the 7th who has
returned to the Ways and Means
Committee after being bumped.
when the q. o. r took control
ct the last session. AS . DEM
ocratic member Of Ways and
Means. Mr.. Harrison auto
matically serves on the Commit
tee on Committees under his
party's rules.
+ Z + p. y +
Smiths Voice vital.
It Is generally conceded. how
ever, that the most influential
voice that could be raised LII be-
half Of Mr.. Jennings Is that of
Representative Smith Of the 9Th,
dean Of the Virginia delegation
who, takes over as chairman Of
the powerful Rules Committee
this session.
Mathematically. Mr.. Pon,s
chances Of remaining ON the
Judiciary Committee appear to
be better. although he was the
lowest-ranking member Of that
group. which Is highly priced By
lawyer-legislators. He was as
signed there for part Of the last
session to Ill q seat vacated by
Representative Poulson who re-
signed to become mayor Of Los
Angeles.
Judiciary was divided is to ii
In favor Of the majority party.
hence the Democrats viii gain
two seats, II the ratio Ii e0n-
tinued. However. two former
Republicans on the committee
lost out In Novenbcr's elections,
moving Mr.. Potf UP from 18th
To 18th rank.
Representative Broyhill of the
10th, Virginia's member of the
q. O. r. Committee on Com
mittees, Is plugging to keep Mr..
Pom where he wants to be.
4 think his chances are very
good unless the Democratic
leaders change the 1914 ratio =
Mr.. BroyhiIl said.
Broyhin Advances.
MI: Eroyhiil.s seniority. mean-
while. has advanced to the ex-
tent that he Ii virtually assured
Of maintaining his assignmerts.
On the District COMMITTEES,
whore the division was IS to l2
In favor Of the majority party.
he has advanced from 18th ID
10th In rank. On Post Once
and Civil Service. also split IL
to IL. he moved from 18th 10 9th.
Reports are that Representa-
tive Tuck, former Governor, from
the 5th District. IS being men-
toned for the Un-Amefican
Activities Committee. Represent
ntive Dies. Democrat, .cf Texas,
Who proiected that group into
prominence some years aeo 6
khe "Dies Committee 8 "a
eycWed candidate for the Va
eancy created By the defeat 81
Representative Clardy. Demo-
cret of Michigan. last year.
M. Tuck said he u not 4
candidate for any other COM
mittee ne now serves on rOst
cflee and Civil seyvice.
Other COMMITTEES assignments
bg Virginians are likely 10 re-
main undisturhed. They are
Representative Roheson of the
lSt District. Merchant Marine