Evening star., 1940-05-07
Group
Saves Hatch Bill
In 14-11 Ballot
Measure Still Must
Be Reported; Vote
Reverses TobIing
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

cuNANAoAy NOHAHAtICC VOOdy ICFCLoCu
its action of last week in tabling
the Hatch clean politics bill.
In contrast to the secret ballot by
which it sidetracked the measure
last Wednesday, IA to 10, the COM
mittee today made public the roll
call.
Action came on the heels of an
other Endorsement of the bill by
President Roosevelt, given to re-
porters late yesterday as his train
sped back to Washington from Hyde
Park. The President previously was
on record in favor of the bill, but
his latest statement that he hoped
the House would pass it strength
ened move that had been growing
daily since the committee laid it
aside.
Although today's vote brought the
bill back to life, it still awaits COM
mlttee action. The committee took
it from the table. but had no time
left before adjournment at noon to
consider reporting it to the House.
The Roll Call vote.-
Those who voted for reconsider
ing the bill were: Democrats-Celler,
New York; Healey, Massachusetts,;
Mclaughlin. Nebraska: Murdock.
Utah; Tolan, California; Byrne, New
York: Massengale, Oklahoma.
Republicans - Guyer, Kansas
Hancock, New York; Michener,
Michigan; Robsion, Kentucky,
Gwynne, Iowa; Monkiewicz, Connec-
ticut: Springer, Indiana.
Those who voted against recon-
sideration were:
Democrats-Weaver, North Caro-
lima; Walter, Pennsylvania; Hobbs,
Alabama: Creal. Kentucky; Satter-
field, Virginia; Barnes, Illinois;
Gibbs, Georgia; Kefauver, Ten
neSSee.
Republicans-Reed, Illinois; Gra-
ham, Pennsylvania; Vreeland, In
diana.
Chairman Summers presided at
today's meeting, but did not vote.
announcing that "the chairman will
vote this afternoon" presumably
referring to the fact that he plans
to address the House later in the
day.
The committee is scheduled to
meet again Thursday, but it was not
definitely stated whether the bill
will be taken up for amendments
and final action at that time. Having
succeeded in rescuing the measure
from the pigeon hole, it is expected
that its supporters will press for a
favorable report and a special rule
to bring it up before adjournment.
Dempsey to Keep Petition Going.
Representative Dempsey, leading
the House fight for the bill, ex-
pressed gratification at the COM
mittee's decision, but intends to
leave on the clerks desk the petit
ton to discharge the committee
which he filed last Friday. Up to
noon today lis House members had
signed. If 218 signatures are OBJ.
tanned it would bring the bill auto
matically from committee and place
it in a position to be called up on
the second or fourth Mondays of
the month.
Now that the committee has taken
up the bill again. Mr.. Dempsey does
not expect as many signatures as
he otherwise would have obtained,
but he predicted the committee will
report the bill out later by sub
stantialy the same vote that took it
from the table today.
npo cn,,or>irfon Da,ora
sentative Gibbs, issued a formal
statement, explaining that although
he previously had voted twice
against tabling the bill, he refused
to vote to reconsider today, because
he felt it would be rejecting on his
fellow committee members.
Gibbs Statement.
Mr.. Gibbs said:
up to this time I have refrained
from making any statement in re-
gard to how I voted on this bill.
1 was on the subcommittee that
reported the bill favorably, Mr..
Walter being chairman, and, since
during the deliberations it seemed
Mr.. Walter was disposed to favor
ably report the bill to the floor
of the House for consideration,
felt when the motion came to ta-
BILE the bill that 1t was my duty
to follow the course which I pur-
sued in the subcommittee, and
voted tgainst tabling it twice. But
there have been SO many attacks
upon the Judiciary Committee. all
of whom I considered the high
est types of men, 1 felt I would
be casting reflection on 26 of the
finest gentlemen with whom have
ever been associated. Therefore,
desire to change my position along
with the chairman of the sub
committee and vote no as to re-
considering"
Murdock Made Motion.
The motion to reconsider was
made by Representative Murdock,
who decided several days ago to take
that step as, individual members of
the committee began to make known
that they were against the earlier
decision to table. r..
In some quarters the view was
expressed that the committee would
have reconsidered today, regardless
of the Presidents latest Endorsement
of the bill, but the renewed support
of Mr.. Roosevelt is expected to i'm
prove the chances for House passage
before adjournment.
The basic principle of this Hatch
bill was suggested originally by the
President in the statement issued q
year ago when he signed the original
Hatch Act barring Federal employees
from active participation in politics.
The President at that time cited as
one Of the weaknesses of the act the
fact that it restricted the activity OF
Federal employees while leaving State
employees free to take active part In
campaigning.
The pending bill applies to all
State employees paid in whole or In
part from Federal funds the same
restrictions already imposed on Fed.
eral personnel. 1t also carries q
Senate amendment limiting tho
Aft ~s,ka -