Loggerheads

The question of what the Senate will do to the railways was still held in far off doubt by the failure to choose a Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Committee (TIME, Dec. 24). The Democrats up to the last voted for Senator Smith of South Carolina. The regular Republicans voted for Senator Cummins of Iowa and the Republican insurgents voted mostly for Senator Cottzens of Michigan. In two weeks of almost nothing but voting on this post, the Senate took 25 ballots--without an issue.

Senator Bruce of Maryland was the sole Democrat to vote for Senator Cummins. Borah, Gooding, Norbeck and Jones joined the insurgents in voting for Couzens. Senators Hiram Johnson of California and Capper of Kansas also joined the Couzens forces, who at their highest point polled 14 votes, compared with about 34 for Cummins and 36 for Smith on the later ballots.

This mortal deadlock continued when the Senate adjourned for the holidays-- three weeks in session and almost nothing done. The Democrats took opportunity to play the Republicans for inaction. Senator Reed of Missouri (Democrat) called the deadlock "perfectly childish" because the Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Committee was "inconsequential." Senator Wheeler of Montana, a Democrat, but heartily in accord with the Republican insurgents, took issue with the Senator from Missouri, declaring that the Chairmanship was vitally important.

Senator A. Owsley Stanley of Kentucky, another Democrat rose to praise the deadlock: "What Democrat, what patriot, what lover of his country could ask Congress to put this thing [the Republican majority] in motion again? Do we want another railroad bill? Do we want to put more burdens on the backs of the poor and relieve still more coffers of the rich?

"May God at least give us paralysis if he cannot give us reformation!"