11.   Senate rules and committee tradition say that a majority could force only a committee meeting, but the chairman would preside and control the agenda.

12.   That said, controlling the agenda in Washington will have other, new benefits for Republicans.

13.   The other is that he wants change, but not bad enough to argue his point in a forum where he does not control the agenda.

14.   We can change the names and faces, the philosophies, the party that controls the agenda, even the rules and regulations that govern congressional procedure.

15.   What seems to be rallying Republicans the most at this point is that they cannot be seen as letting Democrats control the agenda.

16.   While they, too, admire the efficiency of the Clinton campaign, they insist that Dole is relishing the opportunity to control the agenda.

17.   However, Thompson, as committee chairman, controls the agenda, and most witnesses this month will testify about irregularities in the potent Clinton-Gore fund-raising machine.

18.   Under the rules, Helms could still control the agenda for such an obligated hearing, however.