Evening star., 1946-12-29
Stormy Opening
In Prospect for
Both Congress
Reorganization Plan,
Seating Of BiIbo Big
Issues for Republicans
By J. A. O'Leory

By J. A. o'Leoy
Republicans faced two battles
last night that threaten to get
the Eightieth Congress off to
stormy opening Friday when
they take control after IA years
of DEMOCRATIC rule.
In the House, Representative
Rankin, Democrat, of Mississippi
may try to upset the Streamlining
of committees, called for in the
Congressional Reorganization Act.
In the Senate the Republican
Party conference will argue Tues
day over whether to try to stop
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi at the door, or let him
take his seat pending final dis
position of charges that he accepted
gratuitieS from war contractors and
encouraged discrimination against
Negroes in his reelection campaign.
At both ends of the Capitol the
victorious COP also is beset by
rivalry for top-ranking posts-a
usual situation when a party is
emerging from a long period in
the minority role.
Ferguson Wants Showdown.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan who took a leading part
in investigating Senator Bilbo's
transactions with war contractors,
came out last night in favor of
showdown with the Mississippi
Democrat on the opening day.
Other influential Republicans,
however, were described as leaning
toward decision to seat Senator
Bilbo and vote later on his custer
after all new Senators have been
sworn in. Some of them are be-
lieved to be swayed by the argu-
ment that motion to stop Senator
Bilbo at the door might be debated
tor days or weeks and put the Re-
publicans in the position of not
being able to organize Congress after
being restored to power.
Until all of the 81 Republican
Senators have a chance to express
themselves in caucus Tuesday, the
course of action will remain un-
settled.
Senator Bilbo, who spent Christ
mas in Mississippi, is expected to
be back at the Capitol tomorrow,
ready to fight any move to bar him
from his seat.
Report Due This Week.
Regardless of whether the Bilbo
fight starts on the opening day or
later. the Senate War Investigating |
Committee is likely to issue this
week its report on the Mississippi
Senator's dealings with war con-
tractors. The report has been de-
scribed in some quarters as very
tough" Senator Ferguson said yes
terday a majority of the nine men,
oers of the War Investigating Com
mittee has approved the report.
The report is said to include no
recommendations, leaving the Senate
to determine what action to take
on Senator Bilbo.
Two years ago, when the 10th
Congress was assembling, Mr..
Rankin upset the plans of the lead
ers on opening day, when he sue
ceeded in having un-American
Activities Committee given perma-
nent status, with the aid of a Re-
publican-Democratic coalition. He
appeared last night to be setting the
stage for similar coup, when he
issued statement urging the new
Congress to postpone committee
streamlining.
Although Mr.. Rankin did not
commit himself definitely to offer
ing such a motion, he admitted it
was a distinct possibility.
COP Leaders Favor Plan.
Reduction in the number of
House and Senate committees by
merging functions was a major part
of the La Toilette e-Monroney reor-
ganization, intended to increase the
efficiency of Congress. Republican
leaders have announced their in
tention of going through with it.
High-ranking Republicans pre-
dicted last night that the Rankin
proposal would fail, if offered. 1t
might be tempting to some Repub-
licans who lose the chance to be
committee chairmen because of the
mergers, however.
On the other hand, these Repub-
licans must weigh the fact that if
enough of them should vote for the
motion to block streamlining, it
would put the party in the position
of having been led by Democrat
on their first day back in power
after IA years.
Representative Michener, Repub-
lican of Michigan, predicted the
committee reorganization program
will go through. He said the plan
has been sold to the American
people as a measure of efficiency,
and he believes the majority will
stand by it with the knowledge
that it can always be improved
later when experience reveals the
need for changes.
Rankin Calls 1t Scream
Describing the reorganization act
as scream" Mr.. Rankin said that
one of the best things the new
Congress could do on its first day