The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-01-29
with Rep. John Henderson
Committees

determination of Committee as
signments for each member. This
is process which has developed
through the years since the Con-
stitution made no provision for
Congressional Committees or the
Committee system. However,
shortly after the formation of our
Government, it became apparent
that the affairs of the new Ma
ton were SO complex that it was
for all matters to be
considered in detail by each of
the members. Therefore, the
committee system which had
been developed in the colonial
legislature of Virginia was used
to expedite and simplify the
Congressional machinery.
Selection of Committee mem
bership is made by a group by
the members of each party. This
group is called the Committee on
Committees. Members who wish
to remain on the same Com
mittee are afforded that privi-
lege. I requested change in
Committee assignment from the
Banking and Currency Commit
tee to the Judiciary Committee,
thereby broadening my know
ledge of legislative matters. The
first term 1 was here l served on
the Post Office and Civil Ser
vice Committee. In my second
term, l worked on the Banking
and Currency Committee. In
those years of service l gained
familiarity with the subjects
covered by those committees and
I feel that the experience has
been beneficial.
In the ensuing week, the COM
mittees themselves will meet and
organize so that they can begin
to function. The chairman of the
committee will be the ranking
Democrat member and the rank
ing Republican member will be
the person with the most con-
tinuous years of service on the
committee. The seniority system
is followed to the letter in see
ing the members of the COM
mittee. Part of the organization
will include the appointment of
subcommittee to deal with Spe-
cific measures falling under the
broader jurisdiction of the en-
tire committee. Each of the COM
mittees and subcommittee has
a professional staff OF clerks,
legal counsel, assistants and
stenographer. The size and COM
position of the staff is deter
mined by the type of committee
and by the weight, magnitude,
and volume of the work-load of
legislative proposals and investi-
cations the committee handles.
MikOyan
There was general feeling OF
uneasiness in Washington and
throughout the United States last
week during the visit of Deputy
Premier Anastas Mikoyan. The
uneasiness sprang from the fact
that the Nation was unofficial
host to visitor who represents
a Nation that has displayed sc
much unfriendhness and has in
spired so much distrust in us
throughout the world as to seri,
ously strain sincere cordiality. l,
seems to me, for the most part
Americans, even those who
homelands have been Dissolved
into the Soviet orbit amid blood
shed and tyranny, displayed ar
amazing amount of restraint ir
their conduct toward this spokes'
man for and maker of Com.
munist policy. He was treated
with respect and consideration
for the high position he holds ir
his Nation.
Now that Mr.. Mikoyan has lef,
Washington and this country, the
question arises, what effect ha:
his visit had? Have we impressed
the Soviet leader of the reason
ableness of our position on the
many issues on which the two
countries are in conflict? Have
we, as Americans, altered oul
opinion of Communist policies
Do we believe that the Russian
leaders are even considering
| abandoning their purpose to des
troy Democracy and freedom
Has the smile of Mikoyan lulles
us into a false sense of security
Can we believe that upon his re
turn to Russia the Deputy Pre-
mier will endeavor to persuad
his Nation and his leaders tina
the greatest aspiration of Ameri
cans, both individually and as
Nation is to live at peace in tn
world where there is at least tha
security which comes from al
abiding respect for human liber
ties?
Surely, we are not so gullible
We will not permit ourselves t
be misled. Enough was said an,
so much more was intimated b.
the smiling and articulate visito
| that we must remain convince
that there is a genuine struggl
for supremacy and in that strug
gle we must not find ourselve