AMERICAN SENATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 7

AMERICAN SENATE

END OF DEADLOCK. ANOMALOUS SITUATION CREATED. Proa Association —By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, January 9. (Received January 10, at 9.10 p.m.) The five weeks’ deadlock in the Senate over the election of a chairman for the important Interstate Commerce Committee, which has been holding up all business was broken when Senator Smith, Democrat (South Carolina) was chosen for that post, thus placing upon the Democrats all the responsibility lor railway legislation, despite the ostensibly Republican controlled Congress. Senator Smith is the first Democratic chairman of a Congressional committee since 1920, and his election represents a victory for tljo Radical group headed by Senator La Follette, who successfully opposed tha re-election of Senator Cummings. The Radicals have demonstrated that in the present session of Congress at least they wield the balance of power, being able to destroy or indefinitely block any measure they oppose, and by a system of barter to secure the passage of legiskbtion which could never secure a majority under the free play of forces.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A Washington message dated December* 16—a fortnight after the opening of Congress—stated: The Senate continues with bitter quarrelling between the Radioes and Conservatives over the membership of various important committees. Tha Democrats are causing an anomalous situation by apparently forcing the Republicans to nominate a Democratic chairman of the Interstate Commerce Committee.