Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
On Shifting Sands.

Almost a year after the election of a
Representative in the Illinois eighth
congressional district and the declara
ton that victory had gone to the Repuh-
lican. Granata. it is claimed that a re-
count of the vote gives the election to his
Democratic opponent, Representative
Stanley H. Kuntz. In the thirtieth
Pennsylvania district. reported won by
Representative William r. Coyle, Re-
publican. there is an effort to show, too,
that the victory really belongs to the
Democrat. Should the Democrats in
these two districts finally be declared
the winners the new House would have
21s Democrats 2l6 Republicans and
Farmer-Laborite.
The House itself undoubtedly will be
called upon to pass upon these mat
tiers. Both Of the Republicans who
have been declared winners hold certifi-
Gates Of election and doubtless will pre-
sent them when Congress assemblies. It
has been the custom in the House to
seat in the first instance those who pre-
sent duly accredited certificates. If
that course is followed at the opening
OF the session, the Republicans may
have 2ls seats to ZIG for the Demo-
Gratis.
The Senate abandoned the plan Of
seating members-elect who hold GER
tificates Of election in the Ware and
Smith cases following the 1925 SEN
atorial elections. 1t is doubtful that
the House OF Representatives will adopt
the Senate procedure. In all probability
the contests will have to be made after
the House has organized. The situa-
ton, however. leaves party control Of
the House organization on shifting
sands. If the Republicans should elect
a Speaker, subsequent developments
might place the Democrats in actual
majority in the House. Whereupon the
Democratic party might demand reor-
ganiSation. ---..-- 49,.
Should the Democrats be declared
the victors in one Of these contested
districts and the Republicans in the
other, the political complexion of the
House would be pit Republicans, cit
Democrats and l Farmer-Labor mem
Der. Kvale, the sole Farmer-Laborite in
the House, halls from Minnesota and.
If the party alignments hold Arm,
will under the circumstances hold
the balance Of power in the House.
The Democrats, however, insist that the
Republican insurgents, or some of
them, will not stand by their more con-
sentative Republican brethren, even in
the matter Of House organization
Furthermore. they predict that the
Democrats will organize the next House
Since the administration Republicans
have no actual control of the House
because Of the insurgency in Repub-
lican ranks, few Of the Republican
leaders take the position that it would
be as we'll TO allow Democratic organ
ization of the House in any event But
Democratic organization would place in
the hands Of the Democratic party the
Speaker Of the House and the chair
manships and majorities OF all the
standing committees. In addition to
the added difficulties which the ad-
ministration would face in connection
with its legislative program under
Democratic organization of the House,
psychologically the organization of the
House by the Democrats on the eve of
a presidential election would be detri-
mental to Republican chances. A real
fight over House organization when
Congress assemblies is thus promised.