Evening star., 1936-11-15
HOUSE PREPARING
FOR FISCAL BILLS
Hearings on Some Appro-
priation Measures May Be
Started in December.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

By WILL L. hENNED1s
The incoming session of Congress
will deal more deliberately with the
appropriation bills than in many
years for two reasons. First, the
House must take time to organize and
fill II vacancies on the Appropriations
Committee. including chairmanships
OF several subcommittee.
Second, heretofore the principal
business Of the short session. conven-
ing In December, was to get the ap-
preparation bills passed before March
4. Now Congress opens month later,
and must reorganize instead of con-
tinuing with the same organization.
But it has until the close Of the fiscal
war. June 80. to dispose Of the ap-
preparation bills.
Under the old order Congress would
already be a month in arrears on ap-
propriation bills. Hearings usually
started early in November on from
two to five of the appropriation bills,
to have one or two of them whipped
into shape for the House as soon as
1t was ready to do business. So the
Budget COA-
fidentially submitted proof sheets of
estimates in advance of the Official
action by the President in presenting
the budget to Congress.
This same course may be followed
this year, but Chairman Buchanan of
the Appropria tions Committee has not
yet indicated when he expects to start
hearings, and so the confidential draft
OF estimates has not yet been re-
quested. 1t would take the committee
clerks only a few days, with the CO.
operation Of the Government Printing
once, to get the estimates in shape
for subcommittee consideration, so
that, il Chairman Buchanan desires,
the hearings on several appropriation
bills may yet be started early in De-
cember. This all depends on what
legislation the new Congress will
tackle, and whether it will require
any appropriation bills early.
IL Vacancies to be Filled.
There are eight Democratic and
four Republican vacancies on the
House Appropriations Committee, and
four subcommittee chairmanships 10
be filled. These are chairmen of Dis
trict OF Columbia, War and Agricul-
ture, and State, Justice, Commerce
and Labor subcommittee. These four
latter departments are all included in
one bill.
The eight Democratic vacancies are
caused by the absence of William 3.
Oliver, Alabama, chairman of the
State. Justice, Commerce and Labor
bill, who was not a candidate for re-
election after % years of consecutive
service; John N. Sandlin, louisiana
chairman OF the Agricultural appro-
priation bill, who was not a candidate
for reelection to the House after Is
years of consecutive service because
he was an unsuccessful candidate for
the Senate in the primary; T1lman B.
Parks Arkansas, chairman of the War
Department appropriation bill, who
was not a candidate for reelection
after 16 years of consecutive service;
William J. Granfield, Massachusetts,,
who was not candidate for re-
election after years continuous serv-
ice because he had been appointed to
judgeship; Thomas L. Blanton. Texas.
who was acting chairman on the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriations bill,
and defeated for reelection after 20
years service: Bernard M. Jacobsen,
Iowa, who died on June 80, after re-
nomination; Marion A. Zioncheck.
Washington. who died August 7, while
campaigning for reelection, and Ed
ward C. Moran, jr., Maine. who was
not candidate for reelection, having
received another appointment.
The Republican vacancies are Clar-
ence j. Mcleod Michigan. who was
defeated for reelection after 16 years
service; Mrs. Florence P. Kahn, Cali
fornia, defeated after IL years con-
secutive service; John T. Buckbee.
Illinois, who died on April %, and
Chester c. Bolton. Ohio, chairman of
the Republican Congressional Com
mittee, who was defeated after eight
years consecutive service.
The District of Columbia Subcom-
mittee craftsmanship Is probably va
cant because Representative Clarence
Cannon of Missouri, who was acting
chairman of agriculture in the present
Congress, during the absence Of Rep
resentative Sandlin, and who was
subsequently placed on the Deficiency
Subcommittee, will undoubtedly be
chairman of the Agriculture Subcom-
mittee, and definitely withdrawn from
the District Subcommittee. Repre-
sentative Blanton Of Texas was acting
chairman of the District Subcom-
rnittee. but he was defeated. There
are only two remaining members on
this subcommittee - Representatives
George w. johnson, West Virginia,
and J.Will Otter, Pennsylvania-the
latter a Republican, so Johnson Is in
line for the Craftsmanship. But he
has said in an interview that he isn't
sure he wants it. II he declines this
post, because he prefers to take his
chances on some other committee
where he can be in closer touch with
interests of his own district. Chairman
Buchanan will probably select some
one else for this post. Some one from
the House Legislative Committee on
District affairs might be shifted to the
Appropriations Committee and ap-
pointed chairman.
Mcmillan Has. Choice.
Representative Thomas S. Mcmillan
OF South Carolina, one Of the most
popular men in the House, who has
served IL years consecutively, virtually
has his choice of two subcommittee
chairmanships-War Department or
State, Justice. Commerce and Labor.
He was acting chairman Of the latter
in the present Congress. while Sandlin,
who is not coming back, was cam
paigning for the Senate. Mcmillan
likes the work on this four-department
bill, and may decide to retain that
Craftsmanship. II he prefers to take
the War Department bill, the vacancy
on the four-department bill finds