Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08
PAGE SEES HOUSE
RULE IN JEOPARDY
Tells Radio Forum Audience
Democrats May Be sun
horsed" Any Time.

Although the Democrats are likely to
organize the next House with their
slender majority, they might be ''un-
horsed" at any time during the coming
session Of Congress by the acts Of life
and death and of politics" William
Tyler Page, clerk Of the House, declared
in a radio address last night.
Speaking in the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Evening Star
and broadcast over the coast-to-coast
network of the Columbia Broadcasting
System, the veteran Government off,
cial said a physical majority of the
House may follow its own inclinations,
and although a Speaker once elected,
and an organization once set up has
never before met with such a fate, yet
1t is a possibility 1t may be endorsed.
As he stepped before the microphone
to make his address, which was broad
cast locally over Station WMAL, the
lineup for control stood in favor of the
Democrats, with a plurality of three
and a majority Of two over all. He said
two vacancies are to be filled in former
Republican districts one in New Jersey
on December /, and the other in New
Hampshire on January 8.
Standing Outlined
Mr.. Page said that If a Republican
be elected to fill the New Jersey vacancy
the count would stand, Democrats, 2l7;
Republicans, 215; Farmer Laborite, !,
unless there should be other casualties.
II the Farmer Laborite. the Speaker
explained, votes with the Republicans
on the Speakership. the Democrats
would have majority of one over all.
IT. perchance, he added, the remote
possibility of a Speakership deadlock
should ensue and continue until after
January 5, and Republican be elected
from the New Hampshire district. then
the two big parties would have equal
strength, each with PIT. Possibly by
that time the vacancy recently created
by the death of Representative WurZ-
bach, Republican, of Texas, would be
the balance of power.
Meanwhile" Mr.. Page added, "in the
one month remaining before Congress
meets the Grim Reaper may further play
a part in determining the political
power In the next House.
Full Roster Expected.
Under ordinary conditions the full
membership of the House Is never
present on the opening day Of Congress,
chiefly due to illness.
Mr.. Page said he anticipated full
membership when the. next Congress
convenes and seldom have as many
problems confronted members as will
await them.
Worldwide economic depression
| from which no Nation has escaped,
and it's resulting unemployment has
brought in its train ills Of the body
polite. which will produce many rem
edies." Mr.. Page asserted.
There will be many men Of many
minds and political majority respons-
ible to the country, for its acts will
not be in evidence" he added:
Nevertheless, the party which or
ganizes the House, he warned. will be
held responsible by the people for the
! legislative results" He added that the
| pocketbook nerve Of the people will be
severely strained
He said a Treasury deficit will necs-
state rev sources of revenues. economy
must be practiced. appropriations cut
The silver question will come to the
| front. Mr.. Page predicted, and I'VE
will hear much about frozen assets,
and the banking problem will press
for solution"
Relief Looms Big.
The speaker said unemployment re-
lief measures will loom big and pro-
posed dole will have its champions.
Also he said the So-called soldier
bonus" will have its champions, who
Will demand the payment Of the
50 600, 900, 900 balance.
He declared measures for stabiliZa-
ton of industry will receive serious
| consideration, and foreign debts and
| reparations in general will come in for
big share of speech making"
/ In conclusion, he said the situation
that confronts Congress is unfortunate
in many respects. 1T is unfortunate, "
he asserted. that neither great politi-
cal party will have a responsible work.
! ing majority at the time when the
country needs such solutions of its
problems as either party might be able
TO furnish.
| CThe full text Of Mr. Pages speech
is published in the editorial section Of
| today's Starr