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Show Looking In on Congress From the House Gallery SENIORITY Dy CONGRESSMAN GUY U. HARDY Seniority or length of service has " been n controlling factor in ninny things in tlie house of representatives, j suppose It hns always boon so more cr less, and it Is a little more so now than formerly, If possible. A member gets his oilice room In the house office building, his seat at committee com-mittee tables, his rank on his committee commit-tee his chairmanship of committee, hls'plnce ftS a conferee on conference committees of the house and senate, nnd many other little favors and big opportunities for influence through seniority. I There was a time when the speaker 'had some choice in fixing up committees commit-tees and chairmanships. You heard Uncle Joe Cannon roundly "cussed" about his exercise of that privilege a few years ago. Even then most of the chairmen were selected because they had served longest on the committees. com-mittees. But the speaker had some latitude and he did make some independent inde-pendent appointments in an effort to put the best qualified man in the place. And often such appointment raised Cain. About twelve years ago there was a revolution, Uncle Joe was defeated for speaker, new rules were adopted. Committee assignments are now made by a large committee on committees and the seniority rule is closely adhered to. There has been hut one notable exception in years. The present chairman of appropriations appropria-tions was not the high, man but the second high man on the list. Chairmen of committees have much power and influence In directing legislation. legis-lation. They can help write legislation, legisla-tion, help push It through the committee commit-tee or hold it back. They have charge of it on the floor. Many bills pass the hoji m one form and the senate in mother. If one house refuses to accept ac-cept the amendments of the other, the bill Is sent to conference. Conference committees Include three or five members mem-bers from each house. The house conferees con-ferees now usually consist of two Republicans and one Democrat or three Republicans and two Democrats who have served longest on the committee. com-mittee. These conferees get together and agree to anything they can and report their findings back. These reports re-ports are usually accepted by both houses. The seniority rule has been much criticized, and there Is room for criticism. criti-cism. But there is something to he said for it. Chairmen have the advantage ad-vantage of long experience on their committees. If they are not dubs they must have learned much about the business In hand, and usually dubs do not remain long In congress. Any other method of selection would start log-rolling, build up machinery and factions and breed strife nnd trouble. The old members are for the seniority senior-ity rule, and while the new" members may be critical, 'I rather fancy we will never get far away frem It. However, after all is said. It does sometimes appear that seniority and long service have more influence and power In the house of representatives than brilliancy and ability. |