Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-13
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
STILL CONJECTURE
Clerk Believes Either Party
May Organize Lower Branch
of Next Congress.
BIZ FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BIZ FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
William Tyler Page. veteran clerk Of
the House Of Representatives, Is about
to issue an oficial list of members
elected November on the face OF the
returns, but he emphasizes 1t may not
be at all the basis on which the new
House will eventually organize for
business. The list shows 218 Republic
cans, 216 Democrats and one Farmer
Labor. The average number Of changes
In the House roster between election day
and conyening of a regular session IL
months later is three, due to deaths.
This time there Is no telling, because
of the close vote in scores of districts,
whether a deceased Republican would
be succeeded by member of his own
party or by q Democrat The same
thing, of course, applies to the case OF
q deceased Democrat.
Election of a Speaker and other
organization business in the House next
year are going to depend. Mr.. Page
points out mainly on the number OF
absentees the day the House is called
to order. The. uncertainties OF the
situation, .he clerk recalls, are almost
identical with those which prevailed
when the World War Congress was con-
vened in special session by President
Wilson on April 2, 1917.
Must Be Present.
.'It " very seldom" said Mr.. Page,
'that che entire membership Is pres
ent when either House of Congress as
semb,eS on the opening day OF ses-
sion. principally for reasons of illness.
when the Sixty-Fifth Congress was
called to order it was not known until
tie very last minute-in April, 1917
who would organize the House. The
Ipwer Branch contained a number OF
Independents. The Republicans nomi-
mated James r. Mann Of Illinois, and
the Democratic candidate for Speaker
was Champ Clark of Missouri. Clark
had been Speaker during the three
preceding Congresses, but the lineup
was now so close that the issue was
wholly IN doubt Representative Schall
(now SenaSor) Of Minnesota was known
not to be III accord with the Republican
organization on the matter Of or
ganizing the House. Rather to the sur
prise of everybody except those in the
secret, Mr. Schall nominated Clark, in
consideration of which the Minnesotan
later received appointment on the pow
erful Committee on Rules.
"A separate vote was taken in the
House on each one of the elective Of
fees, including both the speakership
and the clerkship. Three Republicans
were absent on voting day, April 2.
One Democrat Gordon, Lee of Georgia)
was Ill and had to be brought into the
House in a wheel chair. That COM
pleted the Democratic complement.
Two Republicans were Ill, both OF
whom died afterward. Another was
- Il r1oT ~ In
connection with violation OF the corrupt
practices act during his election CAM
paign in Pennsylvania.
when the roll was called for election
Of a Speaker, It resulted in 2l7 votes
for Clark. 205 for Manu. for Gil
lett of Massachusetts, and for Len
root Of wisconsin. Two members regis
tered oeesent, but not voting. This
made total Of 428 out of a House
membership Of ASS, indicating that
there were = members absent and there
the only lesson to be drawn from all
this, as far as the existing situation
Is concerned, is that nobody win know
until the last head is counted Just how
the cat may Jump. Nobody can fore
Gee the acts of Providence Nobody
rnows who will be III or incapacitated
next Spring, next Summer or next
WlubGI. MGIupeIS CAUI1OJ NOLE Dy
proxy. They must be on hand in
person.
Average Five Contests.
"As to Deaths much would depend on
where they occurred II the death oc- |
CURED in Pennsylvania, an election 70 !
al the vacancy would probably be won
by a Republican. II the death oc- |
CURED in Texas, the vacancy would
probably be filled by a Democrat. Thus, |
In order to make any turnover, death |
must occur in a district carried in |
the recent election by the Democrats, |
where the vote vas close and where |
IN the meantime another election |
would return the seat TO its normal |
Republican ownership. In the last !
the real thing, everything will depend,
regardless Of death turnovers. on who |
are on the sick list and unable to be
present IN the flesh and on which side
the greater detection Is thereby caused"
Mr.. Page predicts that there will be |
relatively few contests for House seats |
this time. 1t Is only big majorities |
for one party or the other which begets !
contests. because contestants under
such circumstances have better chances !.
Of winning on q strictly partisan basis !
During the past 20 years the average |
has been about five contests per Con-
gress. In 1928 there were 1876 potential !
contests, but actually only reached !
Washington for decision. /
tcopyright, is309