Evening star., 1937-02-18
RED RIDERS FATE
IN HOUSES HANDS
Parliamentary TangIe Re.
suits as Senate Reaffirms
Repeal Stand.

nCpCdt Otoilus
Ultimate fate Of the moves for either
outright repeal or modification OF the
red rider" hung in the balance today
after becoming enmeshed in an un-
usual parliamentary tangle in the
House.
The scene Of the prolonged fight
over the rider suddenly shifted back
to the House because the Senate yes
terday afternoon resfhrmed its posi-
ton in favor of outright repeal. But
in the House, a few hours later, the
whole red 'ider" issue was ma
neuvered into q precarious position
0 position in which 1t easily can be
squelched, leaving on the statute books
the existing Law forbidding commun-
ism to be taught or advocated in the
District public schools.
After the Senate agreed to stick to
its original position for outright repeal
of the rider, Chairman Norton OF the
House District Committee. endeavored
to get the House to drop its support
of the Mccormack amendment and
concur in the Senate action. An
objection by Representative McCor-
mack. Democrat, OF Massachusetts,
author OF the amendment that would
permit the teaching OF the facts Of
communism but forbid its advocacy
killed that move.
Taber Objects 10 Motion.
Next, Mrs. Norton asked for unani-
nous consent to send the red rider
issue to conference for final adjust
ment. Ordinarily such requests are
granted. but this time Representative
Taber. RAepublican. OF New York, OBJ
jected.
Mrs Norton now has only two
parliamentary moves left to get House
action either on the Senate outright
repeal bill or the bill as modified BY
the House. She can make another
unanimous consent request to have
the differences between the House and
Senate ironsd out in conference One
objection would defeat that maneuver.
The only remaining move to assure
further House consideration would be
to have the Senate bill called up under
. special rule.
Frankly, Mrs. Norton Is in q
dilemma. She said she would confer
with House parliamentarians before
making another move
A brief but lively debate preceded
Senate action. II found Majority
Leader Robinson and Senators Wheel
er of Montana, Black of Alabama, Bo-
rah Of Idaho and Lee Of Oklahoma,
lined up in favor Of repeal.
Glass Voices Fear.
Senator Glass, Democrat. Of Vir-
ginis. did not try to block action on
repeal, but voiced fear that repeal
might be regarded as an authorization
to teachers Ito teach. preach and ad-
vocate communism" The Virginian
eentered his fire on the ruling of the
controller generals office, which re-
quired teachers to state each pay day
that they had not violated the law.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
triet Committee Joined the discussion
to say some citizens Of the District
had asked him to request that the
House modified plan be sent to the
Senate Education and Labor Commit
tee for further hearings, but advocates
Of repeal countered that that would
only prolong the controversy.
The Senate less than two weeks ago
voted for repeal, but renewed action
was necessary yesterday because the
House sidetracked the Senate measure
and acted on its own bill with modi-
fications.
After Majority Leader Robinson had
emphasized that no other group of
public employees or officials have a spe-
cific ban placed on them against advo-
eating communism, Senator Wheeler
declared Washington has the highest
grade Of teachers to be found any
where. He said he regarded the red
rider as an insult to them.
Dificulty Of Definition.
Wheeler also sought to show how
difi1cult it would be to define what
the word communism would cover in
enforcing the rider.
Robinson contended that If the rider
is desirable y should be applied to all
public ofnciab and not retained only
against the school teachers Of WASH
ington.
The use Of the language Ia an i'm
plication that the teachers Of the Dis
trict are advocating communism" !" said
Robinson. E
The testimony before the commit
tee was that some Of them were,"
Glass replied.
That is the very trouble with this
provision" Wheeler interrupted. Il
have had six children going 10 the
public schools hare. ! know something
about the minds Of children He went