Evening star., 1936-05-15
BLANTON MAY QUIT
D. c. HOUSE POST;
SHAKE-UPS LOOM
Shift to War Department
Fiscal Group Likely for
Fiery Texan.
TWO CHAIRMANSHIPS
BARRED UNDER RULES
Failure of Parks to File for Re-
Election Brings Opening.
Changes Possible.
BY JAMES E. CHM.

Representative Blanton, Democrat,
of Texas may relinquish his post as
chairman of the House Subcommittee
on Appropriations, which handles the
annual District supply bill at the next
session Of Congress to head the more
important subcommittee which frames
the big War Department appropriation
bill.
A realignment in the personnel OF the
subcommittee appears likely as a
result of political developments in the
last few days, coupled with the re-
cent death of Representative Buckbee,
Republican, of Illinois.
Representative Parks, Democrat, Of
Arkansas, present chairman of the
subcommittee in charge of the War
Department appropriation bill, has
failed to file for reelection. Blanton
is the ranking Democratic member
on that subcommittee, and automati-
cally would be elevated to the chair
manship. Under House rules he
cannot serve as head of two SUBJ
committees.
Since Craftsmanship of the sub
committee in charge of the War De-
partment appropriation bill is re-
garded as a more important assign
ment. Blanton, it is believed, would
accept the position and give up the
assignment as head of the District
Subcommittee. He would, however,
be entitled to remain a member of
the District Subcommittee.
Blanton declined to discuss the
probable change. What would you
want me to do?" he asked facetiously.
If Blanton should become chairman
of the subcommittee in charge of the
War Department appropriations bill.
Representative Jacobsen, Democrat, of
Iowa would move up as head Of the
subcommittee which handles the Dis
trict- bill. .-,.--- - --'-1.s
Another change may place Repre-
sentative Dirksen, Republican, of
Illinois on the Appropriations Com
mittee, to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Buckbee. Dirksen now
is the ranking Republican member on
the District Legislative Committee,
and has revealed himself as sympa-
thetic to District needs. 1t is unlikely,
however. that he would be placed
on the subcommittee in charge of the
District bill unless the political de-
velopments in November fail to re-
turn to Congress the present Re-
publican member of that subcommit-
tee. Representative Otter of Penn
sylvania.
Depend on Elections.
All the other probable changes also
depend on the outcome of the elec-
tions. Blanton, Otter and Dirksen,
however, are confident of reelection.
incidentally, Blanton late yester-
day made an attack on the floor of
the House on L. H. Parker, prominent
tax expert of the Joint Congressional
Committee on Internal Revenue Taxa
ton, who recently prepared a report
Tor the Washington Board of Trade
on the tax burden of the District in
comparison with 43 other cities.
Parker was called before Blanton's
subcommittee Wednesday to discuss
the report. Blanton declared his testi-
mony showed he did not know "a
thing on Gods earth about the fiscal
affairs of the District"
Pointing out that Parker,s salary on
the Joint Congressional Committee Is
$500 year, Blanton said he "hired
himself out" to the Board of Trade
last October for which he was paid
S5,400 for the ridiculous report"
Blanton also declared that Parker's
report shows just how far WASH
ington will go to escape just taxa
tion," and urged members of the
House to read his testimony when it
is printed.
Representative Hoffman,, Repub-
hcan. of Michigan inquired if printing
of the testimony at public expense
constituted lobbying"
Quickly, Blanton replied that he
spent 5000 last month out of his own
pocket" for printing, and got permis-
sion OF the House to include a CODY
OF the receipt for the work from the
Government Printing Office in the
Congressional Record.