Evening star., 1934-01-12
In the Saddle.

y
day in both House and Senate. In the
House there was adopted special rule
a gag rule, if you will-designed to pre-
vent any attempt to amend or to strike
out provisions in the so-called econ
omy" section of the independent offices
appropriation bill. 1t was a steel-riv-
eted special rule, unusual in that 1t did
not permit the minority to offer a mo-
ton to recommit with instructions to
report back the bill with an amend
ment. It's plain intent was to offer to
the House measure-so far as 1t re-
lated to the economy section and the
pay Of Government workers and COM
pensation Of veterans-exactly in line
with the proposal of the President
and to say to the House, You may take
it or leave it exactly as it is
Despite the united opposition OF the
Republicans to. the special rule and
despite the revolt Of eighty-four Dem
ocrats, who voted with the Republicans,
the special rule was adopted 1877 to 1872
The surprising part of the proceeding
was not that the special rule was adopt
ed by narrow margin, but that it was
adopted at all. The victory of the ad-
ministration leaders came in the face
of the vigorous opposition Of the labor
unions and many of the veterans. In
face OF repeated promises by Demo-
Gratis in the House that they would
support restoration of pay and compen-
sation to the Government workers and
the veterans. Furthermore, the special
rule adopted yesterday had the effect
OF binding the House against vot-
ing on proposals to change bills COM
ing before that body at the present
session any provisions of the so-called
economy section of the independent Of
fees act. That, the opponents OF the
rule contended. was a bit thick, to say
the least.
The Democrats were rallied by their
leaders to the support of the gag rule
in the name of the President and his
leadership. Mr.. Bankhead OF Alabama,
member Of the Rules Commit
tee, supporting the rule, said: The
purpose of this whole controversy here
today is to have the House deliberately
determine for today and hereafter dur
ing the remainder of this session
NJ ,nf 20 F,l
low the Presidents recommendations +"
But the real effect of the rule was to
make it impossible to offer amendments
to the economy clauses Of the appro-
priation bill and other such bills to
come, which would be extremely difficult
for individual Democrats in the House
to oppose, even though they wished to
support the President. The administra-
tion boldly took the bull by the horns
and put across gag rule in the House
that is more stringent than any that
has been adopted in a long time.
What happened in the House yester-
day in connection with the economy
provisions is not, of course, binding
upon the Senate. But the control Of
the President seems even stronger there
the House. On Wednesday. for ex-
ample, the Senate adopted an amend
ment offered to the liquor tax bill by
Senator Clark of Missouri, Democrat,
proposing an additional tax on any
liquor imported from countries in de-
fault in their payment of the debts
owed the United States, and yester-
day, at the behest of the President, the
Senate reconsidered this action and
threw out the Clark amendment. Nine
Democrats who supported the Clark
amendment on Wednesday were not
present when the Senate voted yester-
day to reconsider and throw out the
amendment.
The Congress so far is operating
without a hitch in support Of the
President and his recommendations.
Admittedly there is hurdle for the
administration in the st. Lawrence
waterway treaty with Canada which
the President has urged upon the
Senate But in that case the Presi-
dent is to have the solid support Of the
Western progressive Republican bloc,
led by Norris and La Toilette, and
probably the support of some of the
other Republican Senators. It will be
strange if he cannot bring enough
Democrats into line to bring about
ratification before the fight is ended.