Imperial Valley press., 1941-04-16
by Peter Edson...
The Inside Track in WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, April l6 - The
saying Is that you never can tell
what will happen in the House of
Representatives. but some of the old
timers around Washington admit
that for a slick running political
machine, the organization of the
present Congress beats anything
that has been IN operation for a
long time.
Not that the Democratic ma
jority control of the House is now
a rubber stamp outfit. but simply
that when the leaders decide on a
program. they can put it over in
/, 2. 5 order.
Chief reason for effectiveness of
the House machine is the geo.
graphical distribution of its leader
ship and consequent ability to
horsetrade where necessary and
muster sufficient regional strength
to put over any legislation neces-
sary.
Southern leadership is in the
majority. but there is enough
northern and western representa-
tion in the leadership to provide
the desirable balance of power.
GARNER TRAINED
BOYS IN CONTROL
Top man is Speaker Sam Ray
burn of Bonham, Tex, a protege
OF Jack Gamers which is to say
that he learned from the old mas
ter all the tricks it takes to make
a political smarty and smoothie.
Working with him in the southern
leadership are two strategically
placed chairmen of important COM
mittees. First is Robert L. Dough-
ton of Laurel Springs, N. c., head
of Ways and Means Committee and
the majority steering committee
Second is Judge Hatton W Sum
ners of Dallas, Tex, head of Jud-
iciary, which is doubly important
this session because it may control
the fate of whatever labor legisla-
ton may be imposed on defense
production.
Almost as important for this
Congress are Military and Naval
Affairs committees, likewise head
ed by southerners. Andrew j. May
OF Prestonsburg, Ky, presides over
the former and Carl Vinson OF
Milledgeville. Ga. the latter.
Balancing this southern heir
archy is the able Yankee, John w.
Mccormack of Boston, Mass, the
majority floor leader and one of
the abliest men in Congress. Work
ing with him as whip is Patrick
j. Boland of Scranton, Pa. 1t is a
team hard TO beat, and it is sup
plcmented by two nCrtherners who
are heads of important committees
likewise well placed geographical
ly, Rules Chairman Adolph j. Sa-
bath, of Chicago and Edward r
Taylor of GlenWood Springs, Colo
Here you have a key man in a
leaders position for every section
of the country except tn" Pacific
coast, and there is even that Gov
erage if you include the Chairman
ship of the Commerce Committee
held by Clarence F. Lea, Of Santa
Rosa Calf.
It is a beautiful political set up,
and examining it, you begin to see
why the House was able to speed
through legislation and be in
position TO consider a series of re-
cesses for the Easter holidays.
DECKS CLEARED
FOR ACTION
Cleared from the House calendar
in jig time were the lease-lend and
ST billion aid TO Britain bills,
fourth and fifth national defense
supplemental appropriation bills
and the first deficiency appropri-
alton act. Bills making appropria-
tions for 1912 for independent Of
fices. treasury and postoffices, agri-
culture, war and navy departments
are likewise out of the road-al
in three months.
Ahead of the House are 1912 APP
preparations for the departments
Of state, commerce, justice and Ia
Dor. By the time those are passed,
the House will be ready to consider
the next and undoubtedly the
worlds largest tax bill.
Preliminary work on the tax bill
has begun in Ways and Means
Committee, but in any serious con-
sideration of that subject must wait