Evening star., 1933-03-14
Rainey Expected to Develop
House Control by Committee

Choice Of Representative Henry T.
Rainey of Illinois as Speaker of the
House is expected by the country to
establish a spirit of cooperation, es-
pecially between the executive and leg
islative departments of the Federal
Government. He is rated as a pro-
nounced liberal and supporter of the
President and the Democratic plat
form. His low tariff views are empha-
sized. Much attention is given to his
belief that the party should rule, and
that the Steering Committee of his
party should direct the business of the
House.
Under his proposal to discard some
of the Speakers authority" says the
Springfield (Mass) Union, "the men,
bership may have larger measure Of
liberty in theory, but in fact the Steer
ing Committee will assume the power
that the Speaker loses" The Union
believes that there is an essential
difference between one man and a
committee in facility and ease of de-
cision," and that "the mailed fist of
the Speaker may yet be needed" The
Chicago Daily News. however, recog-
nizes a Reputation of arbitrary
domination of the Hoase by the
Speaker and the Rules Committee"
Referring to the fact that he Is
from the Illinois district which was
represented in tara by Abraham Lin
coin and Stephen A. Douglas" the
Cincinnati Times-Star offers the Judg-
ment of his position: He Is q v1gor-
GUS veteran of 70. of long House expert
ence, large of frame. with colorful
personality and a mop of white halr.
On the side, he is a prairie farmer with
aggressive views as to what the Nation
should do for all farmers. What is
more important than his views Is his
pledge to get behind whatever pro-
gram is inaugurated by the new Presl-
dent, and his statement that the
Democratic majority. which has never
had a Steering Committee before, is
going to try one. What is most impor-
tant will be the qualities of leadership
which he shows in handling his own
party. While the last Speaker from
Illinois, a Republican named Joe Can
non, was denounced as cZar-perhaps
among others by Rainey himself-the
latter could study his ways to advan-
tage."
Agreeing that he "will not possess
the independence in matters OF poncy
with which Mr.. Garner was invested
the Baltimore Sun voices the opinion
as to his place in the organization:
"Mr. Rainey's task and the task OF
those who have been elevated with him
to positions of leadership In the House
will be to keep the unwieldy party ma
jority in line for administration meas
ures and to suggest amendments 10
those measures. rather than to mitlate
them. If the prospective Speaker has
often inclined in the past two years
to rash and inconsiderate pronounce
ments, it may at least be said that
he is q man of Just and humane i'm
pulses and that his long experience
in the House gives him proper under
standing of the role he will be required
to play and of how to play 1t" The
Sun adds that, "tactfully handled, the
Steering Committee and the caucus
together would 60 far to secure prompt
and orderly legislation in accordance
with the recommendations Of the new
President, without drifting into autoc-
racy and oppression"
and the majority leadership to the
York Sun, which continues: Repre-
sentative Joseph w. Byrns Of Tennes-
see has been a member of the House
since March 4. 1909. and Mr.. Rainey
since 1903 The unwieldy Democratic
majority in the new House, made up
In large part Of verdant freshmen, will
be in the hands and under the leader
ship Of sober men Of long experience" 4"
1.-The selection of Mr.. Rainey," &C.
cording to the Buffalo Evening News,
'accords with the recognized principles
of promotion and is justified by his
experience and ability. The most con-
spicuous features Of his record in the
present Congress have been his firm.