Evening star., 1935-01-06
;COMM|TTEEF|GHT
| THREATENS HOUSE
Smell and Byrns Figure in
Clash Over Assignment
of Posts. :
BY the Associated Press.

A9s tuE AeoOtAabGa q ACses
A sharp row in the House over tak-
ing committee posts away from Re-
pubhcans and giving them to Demo-
Gratis threatened yesterday an inden-
mite delay to the enactment Of legis.
lation.
The argument became so heated
that Representative Smell of New York,
the minority leader, remarked. per-
haps only semi-seriously, that IF the
Democrats are going to act like that.
then I don't know that care about
having any Republicans on commit.
tees"
To which Speaker Byrns retorted:
Gall right; if they don't want to name
Republicans, then wen 60 right ahead
without them"
Negotiations In an attempt to re-
heve the impasse were under way.
Both sides were hopeful an agreement
could be reached. but there were no
tangible signs Of one. Indications,
leaders said, were that instead Of
starting on legislation tomorrow, as
scheduled, the House might have to
wait until Wednesday. Thursday or
later for the first appropriation bill.
Senate More Peaceable.
At the same time, Senate Republi-
cans were accepting a reduction of
committee posts without open protest.
Senate Democrats yesterday picked
their committee members, increasing
the Democratic roster in most in
stances by two members and cutting
the Republican representation by one
or two. The Democrats desire 3-to-1
majority on committees in the House.
Senate Democrats named to new
chairmanships we're Wheeler, Mon.
tana, Interstate Commerce; Cope.
land. New York, Commerce; Neely.
West Virginia, Rules, and Thomas,
Oklahoma, Indian Affairs.
The Senate Republicans named
their members for the reduced num-
Der Of posts, but withheld the list
until 1t is approved at Republican
meeting tomorrow.
The fact the Senate change was
accepted without a furor spurred
House Democrats to strong words.
Look what the Senate Republicans
did?" Speaker ByrnS said. They
took their medicine Why can't the
House Republicans be sports enough
to go along?"
Election Different Matter.
Asked about the Republican con.
tention that the G. o. p. got Is per
cent of the popular vote last election.
Byrns said:
Whats that got to do with it?
Does that mean that when q bill
comes up, the House vote is going to
be divided 81 per cent Democratic
and as per cent Republican? 1t does
not. It'll be 322 Democrats and 1o3
Republicans"
Smell indicated he would accept the
change If the Democrats would take
care Of four Republicans who. under
the new three-to-one ratio order are
to lose committee assignments. They
are Representatives Powers Of New
Jersey and Otter Of Pennsylvania.
who have been on Appropriations:
Wadsworth of New York. Interstate
Commerce, and Lehlbach of New Jer-
sey, Rules.
He said he wanted the Democrats
to take ANY majority they choose"
but said the size of the committees
should be increased to take care of
the four. Byrns opposed this.
Chairman Buchanan called the APP
preparations Committee, to which
Democratic members already have
been elected, to meet Tuesday. He
said, however, that no legislation
would be presented to the House until
Republicans had been given "a rea-
sonable time" to pick their Appro-
priations Committee members.
Given Additional Posts.
In the assignments announced yes
terday by the Democratic Steering
Committee, Senator Byrd of Virginia
was added to the Civil Service Com
mittee; Senators Bilbo, Mississippi:
Moore. New Jersey, and Radcliffe.
Maryland, were added to the Library
Committee, and Senators Maloney,
Connecticut, and Truman, Missouri.
were assigned to the Public Buildings
and Grounds Committee.
Majority Leader Robinson an
nounced that Senator McAdoo Of
California, at his own request, was
transferred from Finance to the Ap-
preparations Committee. and Senator
Truman also was added to Appropria-
tions. Senator Black, Alabama, gave
up the Judiciary Committee and was
assigned to Finance. along with SenA-
tors Gerry. Rhode Island. and Guffey,
Pennsylvania. Senator Bone, Wash
ington, went from the Agriculture
Committee to Interstate Commerce
All committee changes are expected
to be approved in the Senate tomor.