Evening star., 1947-01-09
Assures
D. {. Of Strong
Unit in House
Restriction Still
Hampers Selection
Of Chuirmun
By Don S. Warren

Assurances that the House Dis
trict Committee will be given o
good and strong" membership
came today from Speaker Martin as
the Republican committee-makers
again tackled the unfinished task Of.
charting majority party assign
ments.
Still unsettled was the question
OF whether q National COMMITTEES
policy should be invoked which
would bar Representative Dirksen,
Republican, OF Illinois, top Republi-
can on the District Committee, from
serving as Its chairman.
This problem was not reached at
m extended executive session yes
terday of a subcommittee of the
Republican Committee on Commit
tees. It was to meet again today,
with the hope that the full COM
mittee can convene tomorrow.
Qualified Men Promised.
Speaker Martin said that, while
the District Craftsmanship and other
questions were not yet solved, he
could promise that the District
Committee would consist of men
well qualified to meet its problems.
I'VE have always sought to as
sign to this committee men of real
ability" he said.
The new policy, debated In con-
nection with the District post, Is
that the chairman Of House COM
mittee should not serve on any other
House committee.
Under such a rule Mr.. Dirksen,
In order to take the District chair
manship, would have to give up his
place on the Appropriations Com
mittee, where he is slated to be
chairman of its Agriculture Subcom-
mittee. He has said he could not
afford to make such q sacrifice.
Likewise, several other veteran Re-
publicans on the District Committee
have indicated they would not
forego other assignments to become
District chairman.
Bates Deplorcs Restriction.
Meanwhile, Representative Bates,
Republican, of Massachusetts,, sec
ond ranking member of the District
Committee, deplored any restric-
tive policy as to Craftsmanship Of
the District group.
He agreed with some other House
members that, in future years, it
might make service on the District
Committee so unattractive the best
qualified members would resist as
signment there. He said he Is not
asking the craftsmanship there, and
stressed the higher claim Of Mr..
tDirksen.
Representative BeaIl, Republican
Eof Maryland, one of those to whom
1.-THE craftsmanship may be offered II
q restrictive policy is ordered, said
he was prepared to make a fight ts
sanction the selection of Mr.. Dirk.
sen "if the issue comes to a show.
down"
I Cites Reluctance for Post.
| He commented that the District
Committee is important to his own
congressional district, since 1t in
cludes Montgomery County, where
about a third of his constituents
have employment, business inter-
ests or other close ties with the Ma
tional Capital.
Yet, If the District craftsmanship
were to be offered to him, he said.
he would greatly dislike having to
give up his seniority on the Public
Works Committee, where he ex-
poets to serve as chairman Of the
Roads Subcommittee. He said he
has a special interest in the Roads
Subcommittee, since he was formerly
head of the Maryland State High
way Commission.
Representatives OHara of Min
nesota and Grif11th of Ohio, Repub-
lican members of the District Com
mittee said they would be unwill-
ing to give up national committee
posts to head the District Com
mittee.