Evening star., 1948-12-01
'konroney 10 Seek
Tighter Lobby Law
And Other Reforms
By J. A. O'LeoY

Representative Monroney, Demo-
crat, of Oklahoma, co-author of the
Congressional Reorganization Act Of
1916, announced today he wants to
put more teeth in the lobby control
section of that law.
His announcement came on the
heels of an expression from Presi-
dent Truman yesterday in favor Of
an investigation of lobbying &C
tivities.
Mr.. Monroney also served notice
that he will resist any effort to get
rid of the budget ceiling require
ment, which was one of the impor-
tant features of the La Toilette
Monroney Act, designed to encour-
age Congress to economic.
Other Reforms Outlined.
The Oklahoman listed two addi-
tional reforms he thinks should be
made in congressional procedure,
namely:
l-Curtail the power of the House
Rules Committee to keep legislation
from reaching the House floor after
it has been reported favorably from
a standing committee.
2-Attack the filibuster problem in
the Senate by persuading that
branch to adopt the House rule re-
quiring debate to be germane to
the pending question.
Mr.. Monroney said the Lobby
Registration Act needs Tightening
in two directions. First, clearer
definition OF who is required to
register as lobbyist. Second. more
specific rules to govern the reports
a registrant must file with Congress
from time to time.
Wants Better Definition.
Mr.. Monroney believes the defini-
ton, principally engaged" in lobby
ing, is too vague and has permitted
room for argument over whether
some organizations devote them
selves principally or only incl
dentally to lobbying. He is consid-
ering an amendment to strike out
principally engaged" and adopt an
expenditure yardstick for determ-
ing who should register.
With regard to the budget ceiling,
some Republicans indicated last
summer that they regard it as un-
workable, and within the past week
Representative Cannon, Democrat,
of Missouri expressed the same view.
Mr.. Cannon, who will head the Ap-
preparations Committee in the new
Congress, promised spartan" econ
omy, but indicated he would offer
bill to change the Reorganization
Act section which requires Congress
to fix early each year a ceiling on
expenditures.
Defending the ceiling requirement,
Mr.. Monroney said the thing to do
is not repeal it but make it work,
now that we have a Congress of the
same political faith as the Presi-
dent"
Stresses Defense Requirements.
He blamed part of the trouble with
the ceiling requirement in 1947 and
1948 on the division Of party respon-
sibility with a Republican Congress
and a Democratic administration.
He also said the Appropriations
Committee should have sufficient
experts to analyze Government re-
quirements and make the ceiling
work. He pointed out that defense
requirements was an unexpected
factor during the past year.
Regarding the House Rules Com
mittee, Mr.. Monroney said he be-
lieves it should be required to vote
for or against the consideration of
bill, and let the House itself re-
view its judgment.
Discussing the Senates fiilibuster
problem. Mr.. Monroney thought that
if Senate debate had to be germane,
as in the House, there would be no
need to curtail freedom of debate
because members would not be able
to consume unlimited time on ex-
traneOuS matters.