Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08


Confronting the Next Congress" de-
livered last night in the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Star and
broadcast over a coaSt-to-coast network
Of the Columbia Broadcasting System.
The election held a year ago for
members of the House of Representa-
tives and for one-third of the United
States Senate of the Seventy Second
Congress created a situation that has
ever since rendered doubtful the
political control of either or both
Houses of Congress,
In the past, one or the other
branches of Congress has been close
in its political affiliations-never before
has this condition prevailed in both
Houses at the same time. The Twenty
Sixth Congress, back In the Thirties,
presented somewhat similar situation
when the margin of control was slight
in both Senate and the House as be-
tween Wings and Democrats, but the
margin Of difference was not so narrow
as at present. Therefore, we are con-
fronted with a unique condition. A
condition that involves not only party
control. but one of greater Impotence
concerning legislation to be enacted by
the Seventy-Second Congress.
Condition Held Unprecedented.
In the last Congress the Republican
party controlled both branches with a
majority of 1o3 in the House and of
16 in the Senate. The election Of 1880
cut these majorities almost to the
vanishing point. When the smoke screen
Of battle cleared the Republican ma
jority in the House had dwindled to
l, with a plurality of 2 over the
Democrats. The one lone Farmer Labor
member whose political stature has a
potential and possible deciding factor,
became at once apparent. Likewise in
the Senate an exactly relative situation
resulted. In that body the Republicans
had 48, the Democrats, Al, and
Farmer Labor Senator This status re-
manned undisturbed for some time. the
changes in personnel by reason of death
making no difference. No upsets were
thought to be imminent. This narrow
margin between the two great political
parties in Congress presented and to a
great extent still presents acutely an
unprecedented condition, and which
inspired the late lamented Speaker
Longworth in his valedictory when he
adjourned the Seventy-First Congress
to prophesy that:
1t is only an all-wise Providence who
Is going to determine which of the two
SACdb ROAAbANdA PdAbACo WAl OlBdAl4AE t44C
next House of Representatives.
Speaker Longworth might also have
included the Senate in his prophecy.
but it seems to be taken for granted
that the Senate organization will re-
main undisturbed consequently atten-
ton is focused upon the House and
well 1t might be.
IA Deaths Occur.
Since the election of 1880 IA deaths
have occurred among the members
elected to the Seventy Second Congress,
one as recently as yesterday, and two
others within the last few weeks. This Is
a record number. Each party lost Z,
Speaker Longworth himself being
among the Republicans.
In none of the districts thus made
vacant was an upset at special cleo
ton considered probable. prediction
wtthstanding. It was thought that for
mer Democratic districts would elect
Democrats, which proved to be the case,
and that the former Republican dis
tricts would elect Republicans, thereby
preserving the post-election status Of a
year ago. But the latter proved not to
be the case Death and the voters Of
the eighth district Of Michigan decreed
otherwise. In that district, strongly
Republican in 1880, Democrat, said to
be of the wet variety, was elected last
Tuesday. This net Democratic gain Of
two for the time being, with two un-
filed vacancies in former Republican
districts, gave the Democratic party the
advantage Of plurality of two over the
Republicans and a majority of one over
all, exactly reversing the conditions as
they existed for some time after the
election of 1890.
This advantage, however, was further
strengthened by the death yesterday of
Republican Representative in Texas,
increasing the Democratic plurality to
three and majority Of two over all.
Two vacancies are yet to be filled in
former Republican districts, one in New
Jersey on December l and the other in
New Hampshire on January S. Should
a Republican be elected to fill the New
Jersey vacancy, the count would stand
before Congress meets: Democrats. PIT;
Republicans. 215; Farmer-Labor, /, I'M
less there should be other casualties
If the Farmer Labor member should
vote with the Republicans on the Speak
ership, assuming that all CT the mem
berS are present, and fun. er assuming
that neither party would lose any of
its voting strength, the Democrats would
have a majority of one over all. If
perchance the remote possibility of a
Speakership deadlock should ensue and
continue until after January and a
Republican be elected from the New
Hampshire district, then the two big
parties would have equal strength, each
with 217. Possibly by that time the
Texas vacancy would be filled, and the
successor to Mr.. Wurzbach would be the
balance Of power.
Full Roll Call Is Expected.
Meanwhile, in the one month re-
tV@1 hat &c h.
Grim Reaper may still further play q
gruesome part in determining the po-
litical power in the next House A few
members of each party are said to be
i'll. Let us hope that they will be spared
to participate with their respective par
ties. But. regardless of whether death
may further complicate the situation
abSentees, voluntary or involuntary
may upset present calculations. Under
ordinary conditions the full membership
of the House is never present on the
opening day of Congress, chiefly due Il
illness. In my experience covering al
most so years, the fewest number of alb
sentees was In the Sixty-fifth Congress
in 1917, when only three members wer,
absent two of them on account OF sick
ness; one Democrat was brought in from
o hospital in a wheel chair.
It Is quite certain that each part,
will strive to have its full complement
present on the opening day one montl
hence. Much gossip is heard to tn
effect that this or that man will absen
himself voluntarily, but when the tim
comes I think this kind of talk will b
found to be groundless Whatever ma
be the eventualities, the fact exists a
the present time that the Democrat
party, in the face of cold figures as
result Of deaths among Republicans an
as a result of last Tuesdays election Il
MichisAn, potentially control the House
Before this apparent control wa