Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-27
REPUBLICANS PLAN
TO SEEK CHANGES
IN RULES OF HOUSE
G. O. P. Organization to Back
Program Meeting Demands
of ProgresSiveS.
VOTE ON PROHIBITION
WOULD BE POSSIBLE
Smell Plan Would Prevent Commit
tees From Burying Legis-
lation Indefinitely.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

liberalization of the rules which meets
all the demands of the so-called Pro-
gressives, it was disclosed by party
leaders today.
Revision of the rules along lines that
might permit vote on prohibition re-
peal this session viii be proposed to
Republican House members Monday by
Representative Smell of New York,
chairman of the Rules Committee in
the last Congress and a candidate for
the party leadership in the next House.
Smell will suggest that the rules be
liberalized to permit vote upon legls-
lation upon presentation Of a petition
containing las signatures. At present
218 are required.
Vets Advocate Change.
The House wet bloc, claiming ITO
members, advocates the change. BY
this means they hope roll call vote
on prohibition can be obtained so can
didates for Congress in 1882 VIII De
on record.
The revision program is designed to
accelerate the legislative machinery to
permit the House to act promptly on
major and minor proposals long pend
ing in Congress.
The Republican insurgents, particu-
larly those from the Northwest, most
of whom are prohibionists, nave
threatened to bolt the Republican or
eanization in event the rules are not
liberalized. They hope thereby to bring
before the House much legislation spon-
sored by their group.
Smell Sees Change.
Smell, wha will present the program
TO the Republican caucus, said, There
is no question whatever that there VIII
be change In the House rules.
Representative Tilson of Connecticut,
floor leader in the last Congress, who
also is a candidate for the party lead
ership in the coming Congress, declared
today he would not oppose the program.
Representative Swing of California,
who made the motion in the Republic
can caucus instructing the Rules Com
mittee to prepare program OF liberali-
Zation, today outlined the proposals as
follows:
First. a workable discharge rule
which would enable 100 or $50 mem
bers to bring up in the House bills that
had been buried in committee.
Second, to afford every standing
committee an opportunity as matter
OF 10 1CklSldI4Oll DCAO4N bAAS
House. Mr.. Swing explained that Tor
years one-haf of the committees have
had to ask this privilege as favor
from the Rules Committee.
Third, to put an end to the practice
of allowing one member of Congress to
prevent the House from taking action
on private claims on the consent calen-
dar thus doing away with the 'unani-
NOUS consent" rule. Mr. Swing en-
phasized that since citizens have no
other way to obtain relief since they
are prohibited from suing the Govern
ment. the rules must provide definite
days when claims can be considered
expeditiously and brought to a vote
May Call Old Committee.
Representative Smell has been en-
deayoring to call a meeting of the old
Rules Committee to consider the pro-
gram of liberalization which he has
drafted. He foresees no difficulty in
getting caucus approval of this pro-
gram, except possibly on the question
of discharging committees and provid-
ing a way in which any measure can
be brought to vote.
Representative Smell will suggest that
one-third of the House membership, or
las. should be sufficient number re-
Quired to sign petition for discharge
of a committee from consideration of
a1lY measure. ne VIII De SATISFIED, now
ever If the agreement can be reached
on 1876 signatures.
Representative Smell explained his
program for liberalization would re-
Quire three objections the first time
a bill was reached on the consent CAL
endar and five objections the second
time to prevent its consideration. When
a member reserves the right to object
in order to voice his views on the
1oniciafinYo hic
be limited to 10 minutes, and in sub
Sequent debate on the bill no one would
be allowed to talk for more than S
minutes.
When bills on the present calendar
are called, Mr.. Smell proposes that
there must be at least five objections
to prevent consideration, and his pro-
posal to the caucus would shut off fill
clustering. He provides that on each
Friday the House shall have an oppor-
tunity to decide whether it wants to
take up the private calendar. and he
proposes to limit debate on each bill
to 20 minutes.
The program carries with it the dis
charge of committees that have I'M
duly held back measures which num-
Der Of petitioners desire to have brought
up in the House. 1t also carries def
mite provision limiting the time and
making a vote on the bill absolute.
Mr.. SHELLS recommendations to the
caucus also provide for cutting debate
on calendar Wednesday from two hours
to one hour, and giving each commit
tee only one calendar Wednesday al
a time, thus allowing each committee
an opportunity to bring up its bills.
Crisp Considers Race.
Meanwhile, the possibility of new
complication in the Democratic leader
ship race doomed today with the an
nouncement by Representative Crisp 0
Georgia that he was considering making
an active campaign for the post.
Crisp. an outstanding Democratic
member of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, returned to Washington today
Shortly thereafter he conferred Will
Representative Garner of Texas, part
choice for Speaker. Crisp said he woult
make known his definite plans later.
Representative Henry T. Rainey o
Illinois is out in front in the Leadership
contest. Withdrawals by Representa-
tives McDuffie Of Alabama and Rankin
of Mississippi and announcement b.
Byrns of Tennessee that he was not
candidate have virtually assured tn
post for the Illinois member.
However, Crisp has been considered
potential contender from the South.