Evening star., 1946-11-12
Republican Leaders
Reiieraie Support Of
SfreamlMing Law
ByI. a. oLeorx

influential Republicans today con-
tinued to give assurances they will
stand BY the congressional stream
lining law.
Most Of them are more concerned
Tor the moment over filing key
posts In the House and Senate with
out too much Of q family row.
In the House two Republicans
Representatives Halleck OF Indiana
and Jenkins Of Ohio--have an
nounced they are in the race for
majority leader. Friends of at least
one other, Representative Brown Of
Ohio, expect him also to get In the
contest. Party leaders hope q choice
can be made without causing any
prolonged division In Republican
ranks.
Cox Backed rs Minority Leader.
The Democrats also may have
their troubles adjusting themselves
into the role Of the minority some
thing they have not had to do for
Is years. There were reports today
that a group of Southcrners want
Representative Cox, Of Georgia, to
come out for minority leader.
The assumption on Capitol Hill
has been that Majority Leader Nc
Cormsck< would take that post.
Ordinarily Speaker Rayburn would
ster down to minority leader when
he turns the gayel over to Repre-
sentative Martin of Massachusetts,,
slated to be the new Speaker.
MIR. Rayburn has said, however,
he does not want to take on the
duties Of Democratic leader.
Rayburn May Be Drafted.
II real contest develops between
q Georgian and q New Englander,
the Democrats may ask Mr.. Rayburn
to reconsider in the interest Of party
harmony. Mr.. Cox has seniority
over Mr.. Mccormack, but Mr.. Ray
burn outranks both.
On the Republican side, Mr.. Jen-
kins has seniority over Mr.. Halleck
and Mr.. Halleck outranks Mr..
Brown. However, the latter two
have heen important cogs in the
Republican organization, Mr.. Hal
leck as chairman Of the Congress
sional Campaign Committee and
Mr.. Brown as campaign director In
the recent election.
In addition to discussing the lead
ership fight, Republican chieftains
at their meetings starting Thursday
will attempt to formulate a policy
program for the new Congress.
Among other things, they may de-
eide to take q stand on price and
rent controls, Army-Navy merger,
universal military training, taxes,
budget balancing and labor legis-j
lation.
Knutson Would Strengthen Act. |
The latest prediction that the Re-
publicans will stand by the congress
sional streamlining law came from
Representative Knutson Of Mime
sofa, who Is in line for chairman
of the powerful Ways and Means
Committee. He said II any changes
are made in the La Toilette Mon
roney Act they will be in the direc-
ton of strengthening It.
The first effect Of carrying out
that law will be the merging of |
many committees in both branches
to give members more time to de-
vote to major legislation.
MrssKnutSon also reafnrMed shfSl
campaign promise to work for q 20l
per cent cut in Federal taxes, but
pointed out that actual CONSIDERS
ton of such bill must await the
operation of the budget-balancing
procedure in the La Follette-Mon-
roney law.
That law directs the spending and
taxing committees Of both houses
to meet jointly at the start Of the
session and fix an overall ceiling on
appropriations for the year. II this
ceiling is higher than the Govern
ment's. anticipated income, both
houses would be required to 60 on
record authorizing the resulting in
crease in the public debt. The
question Of tax cut undoubtedly
will arise when these budget confer
ences are held.