Evening star., 1935-04-07
SPLITS IN HOUSE
TO BITTER
FIGHT ON SECURITY
RumbIeS From Both Sides
Greet Committee Re-
port on Bill.
MEASURE ASSAILED
BY MINORITY GROUP
Seven Republicans Denouncs
Measure as Inadequate and
Unconstitutional.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The acrimonious House dispute over
the social security bill and its value as
a depression remedy turned into a
battle royal yesterday.
No actual physical blows have been
struck, but the situation was tense
and strong words were used. The
talk was stimulated by submission Of
a formal report on the bill yesterday
by the Ways and Means Committee.
The II Democratic members of that
committe insisted the new bill was
the complementary and essential Sec
ond half of an attack on social in
security, naming the $4,880, 100000
work-relief bill as the other half.
They definitely placed the social Sc
curity bill on the Presidents must"
legislative lists.
But the seven committee Repub-
licans, in minority report bristling
with criticism, termed the measure
not only 'unconstitutional" and in
adequate" but argued lit might, in
fact, retard economic recovery"
At the same time the intra- party
disputes continued. The l03 House
Republicans we're unable to agree on
a unified attitude. The 319 Democrats
were definitely divided into two
gloups, one favoring and the other
opposing a suggestion that the bill be
brought up this week under procedure
forbidding amendments from the
floor.
Gag Rule an Issue.
Ways and Means Committee Demo-
Gratis wanted the gag rule to forestall
liberalization of the bill. House Lead
erS opposed it. There was posslbll-
ity that the question would be taken
to Democratic caucus tomorrow and
initial floor consideration of the bill
DELAYED until Wednesday or later.
Amid all this contention. Townsend
ties in both parties looked for an
opportunity to offer their proposal as
a substitute for the old-age pensions
in the approved bill.
The Democratic Committee report
gave an exhaustive explanation OF the
bill and continued:
"On every hand the lack Of
social security is evidenced by
human suffering, weakened morale
and increased public expendi-
We must relieve the existing
distress and should devise measures
to reduce destitution and despon-
dency in the future.
Work for the employables on
relief is contemplated in the work
relief bill; a second vital part OF
the program for security is pre-
sented in this bill.
"AS the President recommended,
this bill should by all means be en-
acted into law at this session"
The Republicans termed old-age
pensions inadequate" said the old
age compulsory contributory annuity
financed by tax on pay rolls and
earnings was not constitutional and
asserted:
These titles impose crushing
burden upon industry and upon
labor. They establish a bureau
cracy in the field of insurance in
competition with private business.
They destroy old-age retirement
systems set up by private indus
tries. which in most instances
provide more liberal benefits than
are contemplated under title II
(the old-age pension sections.)"
Bitter Language Used.
Scores of members we're talking
bitterly about the situation, but in
the hope that the ntra-party dispute
would not be emphasized. most of
them declining to let their names
be used.
For instance, a close friend Of
Speaker Byrns remarked: If the
Ways and Means Committee really
favored this bill it could bring it out
on the floor and pass 1t without a
rule. But the committee members are
afraid to talk openly for the bill"
Chairman OConnor, Democrat, Of
New York, of the Rules Committee
contended that the demand for rule
was simply an attempt to pass the
buck to the leadership" He expressed
anew his opposition to a gag.
One member of the Ways and
Means Committee said that if Byrns
did the right thing 'he would bring
this bill up under a suspension and
pass it, Byrns had refused to agree
to that procedure, which would limit
debate to 40 minutes and prevent
amendments. on the ground that the
bill was entitled to more consideration
than that.
The committee Democrats appar-
emily changed their previous decision
to rap the Townsend $200-a-month
Continued on Page 4, Column 81