Evening star., 1942-10-12
Rules Group
Dischargedb by
250-85 Vote
Southern Members
OverruIed in All
Delaying Actions
By the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
Over bitter Southern opposi-
ton, the House voted, $50 to IS,
today to discharge it's Rules
Committee from further juris-
diction over legislation to outlaw
poll taxes and ordered House
consideration of the bill tomor-
row.
The action gave effect to a dis
charge petition circulated last year
and signed by the 2l8th House
member last month. The petition
was circulated shortly after the bill
was introduced early in 1941 by the
late Representative Geyer, Demo-
crat, of California.
Under the procedure, four hours
OF debate on the bill itself will start
tomorrow, with Representative Cav
agan, Democrat, of New York, lead
ing the proponents and Representa-
tive Cox, Democrat, Of Georgia,
heading the opposition.
Today's vote came after Southern
members sought unsuccessfully to
block consideration with parliament
tary moves. First they questioned
the propriety of the discharge petit
ton because some of the 2l8 sign
ers no longer are in Congress. They
raised the point that technical rules
had not been followed. On all
points, Speaker Rayburn overruled
them.
Cox Is Bitter.
This is sorry business that
you're up to and you know it." Rep
resentative Cox told the House after
stressing the opposition contention
that Congress lacked constitutional
power to tell the States whether or
not they may levy poll taxes.
Representative Rankin, Democrat
of Mississippi, accused the House Of
creating a second front in Amer
lea" and ''waging war against the
white people of the Southern States"
Proponents OF the legislation ar
gued the poll taxes interfered with
true democracy by restricting voting.
Kefauver Backs Repeal.
Representative Kefauver, Demo-
crat Of Tennessee, said their repeal
would permit "freer expression OF
the voters" and remove "unreason.
able restrictions" from the electo-
rate.
Congress. contended Representa-
tive Bolton, Republican of Ohio.
should demonstrate to the world
that eve not only talk democracy.
but we live it."
Representative Fish, Republican
of New York termed the poll tax
AN inequality that is unreconcilable
with the elementary principles Of
popular sovereignty or a government
by the consent of the governed"
Representative Rankin said he
would force roll call if necessary to
prevent consideration by less than
majority of the membership. With
many members out of the city. there
was a bare possibility there might
not be a quorum present.
Should quorum be on hand, Mr..
Rankin and other Southerners said,
the bill probably would be passed.
Different Picture in Senate.
The Senate, however, presented a
different picture. The Judiciary
Committe of that branch deferred
action on similar bill after a sub
committe expressed the view it was
unconstitutional.
Legislation designed to amend the
Constitution to bar poll taxes as
a voting requisite is pending in
the Senate, but under the rules OF
that body any legislation on the
subject could be fllibustered until at
least after this years elections.
Proponents Of repeating the tax
claim it has been used in the South
as a device to prevent Negroes from
voting. This claim Southerners
have denied, asserting the poll tax
was intended principally to prevent
illegal balloting and to provide funds
for the upkeep of schools.
Poll taxes are levied in Tennessee,
Alabama, Mississippi, South Caro-
lima. Arkansas, Texas, Virginia and
Georgia.