Evening star., 1944-02-01
BY j. A. O'LEARY.

AS the House approached its
first test of strength this after
noon between advocates of Fed
eral or State control of service
mems ballots, Minority Leader
Martin predicted that not many
Republicans will vote to broaden
the rule governing debate on the
issue.
He made the forecast after last
minute party conference, at which
the subject was debated without
any effort to bind members as
group.
Meanwhile, the Senate began its
seventh day of debate on the new
Green-Lucas Federal ballot plan,
with sharp exchange between Ma.
jority Leader Barkley and Repub-
licans over the delay in Senate
action.
Vote on Rule Today.
Although the first vote in the
House this afternoon will be merely
on the question of broadening the
rule to permit rollcan on the
Worley Federal ballot substitute. it
will give some indication of the
relative strength of the Federal and
State control forces.
The Eastland-Rankin State ball
lot bill has the right of way in the
House. The Federal ballot substi-
tute will be offered tomorrow, but
unless the rule is amended today,
it will probably be decided without
roll call. The administrators ef-
fort will be to force House members
to agree to stand and be counted"
as suggested by President Roosevelt.
on the Federal ballot proposal.
Mr.. Martin said regardless. Of
how Republicans vote on the bill
itself, the party could not support
the effort to change the rule, which,
he argued would destroy the long
standing right of the minority group
to control the motion to recommit
any bill. The administration has
been fighting for two motions to
recommit, one of which would be
used to get roll call on the Federal
ballot substitute.
Barkley Assails Delay.
In the Senate, Senator Barkley
declared that unless more progress
were made the soldier vote issue
might not be disposed Of before the
1872 election.
Senator Brewster, Republican, Of
Maine reminded him that immedi-
ately after the Presidents message
was read last week Mr.. Martin urged
immediate consideration in the
House of the bill passed by the Sen
ate in December, but his suggestion
was not followed.
For more than a week opposing
groups in both chambers have been
maneuvering to outwit each other.
Supporters of the Federal ballot
have been hoping to persuade the
Senate to reverse its December ac-
ton in passing the Eastland-Rankin
bill. The States rights advocates
have insisted the House should vote
on the Senate's original bill before
the Senate expresses itself again.
The repercussions from Mr.. Roose-
velt's message were still exploding in
the Senate late yesterday where Sem
ators Vandenberg, Republican, of
Michigan and Gillette, Democrat, of
Iowa, both criticized the Roosevelt
document. though they both favor
the Federal ballot plan he advocated.
Interference Charged.
Senator Vandenberg said he would
support the Federal ballot '.in spite
of and not on account Of" the White
House message, and Senator Gillette
called it an improper interference
by the executive arm of Govern
ment" for the President to inject
himself into debate on legislation
before it reaches him for signature
or disapproval.
Influential members of both
houses are still considering variety
of compromise proposals, designed
to permit the widest practical use
of State ballots, but with assurance
that service men and women will
have the Federal ballot if a State
ballot can not reach them.