Evening star., 1944-01-22
Long Delay Expected
Before Decision on
Revised Service Vote
By ], A, O'LEARY.

me compromise Servicemen'S s
vote bill, providing for a uniform
Federal ballot, today appeared to
be facing many more days of
legislative maneuvering, even
though both houses take up the
issue next week.
House advocates OF the compro-
mise proposal lost another round
late yesterday when the Rules Com
mittee turned down requests for a
special rule that would have insured
rollcall vote in the House on the
Worley Federal ballot proposal.
simultaneously, Senator Taft. Re-
publican, OF Ohio was questioning
the prediction Of administration
leaders that they could pass the
compromise in the Senate by Tues
day. Senator Taft said it would
take = week.
Although they are anxious to get
the soldier-vote issue settled, SEN
ate leaders also have on their hands
the food subsidy fight which must
be disposed Of before February II
when the temporary extension of the
life Of the Commodity Credit Corp.
expires.
Agree on Procedure.
In both the Senate and the House
supporters Of q simplified Federal
ballot covering the election OF
President. Senators and Represent
atives have agreed to let State elec-
tion of1cials decide the validity OF
these special ballots after they are
returned from the servicemen, but
1t was clear today that the States
rights forces in both houses are not
ready to give up their fight for the
Observation-Disclosures bill to
require use Of regulation State bal
lots, covering State as well rs ma
tional tickets.
The issue hinges on conflicting
claims rs to whether 1t is mechani-
cally possible for the Army and
Navy to transport bulky State bal
lots to and from the fighting fronts
and camps in time for the election,
after all primaries are over.
Chairman Worley Of the House
Elections Committee admitted be-
fore the Rules Committee yesterday
that he probably will be whipped"
on the floor next week In his effort
to substitute the Federal ballot for
the Senate approved States-rights
bill.
Four hour Debate Set.
The Rules Committee, after 4
stormy two-hour hearing, granted
a rule that will allow four hours of
general debate, starting Tuesday or
Wednesday, after which amend
ments will be in order under the
hve-minute rule. The Worley sub
stitute will be in order, but with no
assurance of a separate record vote.
Unless the House amends the rule,
it probably will be decided on a
teller vote.
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
of Mississippi insisted before the
Rules Committee that servicemen
are more interested in voting for
local candidates back home, whom
they know, than for national candi-
dates, and should have the full
ballot.
Led by Mr.. Warley, half 4 dozen
House members pleaded for 4 roll
call vote on the Federal ballot plan
calling the issue one Of the most
important this Congress will pass on
Brown Critical.
Representative Brown, Republican
Of Ohio wanted to know why plane
space could not be found to carry
State ballots to servicemen, If Mrs
Roosevelt could be transported by
air to battlefronts.
Mr.. Worley and his supporters en-
phasized that the compromise bill
seeks to facilitate transmittal of
regular State ballots wherever DOS
sible, but insures every serviceman
. chance to vote in the presidential
and congressional elections If a State
ballot is not available. If both bal
lots are cast by an individual the
State ballot would prevail.