Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-03
G.O.P.Fights blouse Ru|esChanqe
As 81st Congress Opens Session;
Caucus Seals Taft VICTORY 1913
Immediate Test
Waits on Floor
Of Truman Power
By J. A. O'Leory


Republicans decided to fight the
Democratic plan to curb the
power of the Rules Committee
over the Truman legislative pro-
gram. This paved the way for
q quick test on the House floor
this afternoon of President Tru-
mans influence with the new
Democratic controlled Congress.
Branding the administration rule
change a return to Cannon car
ISM" Minority Leader Martin an
nounced that the Republican Steer
ing Committee would offer a SUBJ
stitute plan which he contended
would expedite any legislation a
majority of the House is ready to
take up.
Mr.. Martin. who was House
Speaker in the n-controlled
S0th Congress, based the charge of
"czarism" on his claim that the
new Democratic rule would enable
two men - Speaker Rayburn and
the chairman of any House COM
mittee-to determine when a bill
should be forced to the floor.
The Cannon label had reference
to the late Republican Speaker
Joseph Cannon, who presided over
the House more than 30 years ago,
when a major fight over rules to
curb the power of the Speaker was
carried out.
Rules Committee Is Target.
The big rules change proposed by
the Democrats would clip the pow
ers of the Rules Committee to bot
tleneck" legislation
Administration supporters want it
because the Rules Committee, in
the past, has sidetracked some labor
and social legislation asked by Mr.
Truman.
Representative Arends of Illinois,
Republican whip, summed up the
minority party's attitude when he
told reporters, Joe Cannon used to
carry the rules in his pocket. Now
they would be carried in the eyes
and gavel of the present-day
speaker"
Mr.. Arends' argument was that
committee chairman's opportunity
to move to take up a bill under
the new rule would depend on
whether the Speaker recognized him.
Democrats Ready to Defend.
Administration Democrats were
ready. however. to defend their new
rule on the ground that it would
merely permit a majority of the
House to decide whether it wanted
to proceed with a bill after the
Rules Committee had failed to act
on it within 81 days. The main
difference this new rule would make
in present procedure would be to
dispense with the necessity of get
ting 218 signatures on a petition to
discharge the Rules Committee.
The battle over rules was due to
start on the House floor in mid
afternoon, following the formality
of meeting and swearing in new
members in both branches of Con-
gress.
Mr.. Martin refused to predict who
would win the rules fight Other
observers agreed it would depend
on how many Southern Democrats
join the Republican opposition.
The Republican Steering Commit
tee adopted substitute plan drafted
bv Representative Herter of Massa
chusetts, aimed at making the pres
ent calendar Wednesday, process
work by curbing filibustering on
that day.
Would Revive Old Practice.
Mr.. Herter told reporters "Calen-
dar Wednesday" was established to
allow each committee an opportuni-
ty, in turn, to call up, without going
to the Rules Committee, any bill the
committee has approved. The New
England Representative said Cal
endar Wednesday" has fallen into
disuse in recent yeats because fill
clustering tactics have been en-
ployed to block legislation on that
day each week.
II a f1libuster prevents adoption
Of the previous question on the
motion to take up bill that day.
1t may go over for months until
that committee gets it's regular turn
at Calendar Wednesday" again.
But if the previous question is Or
dered on given bill on Calendar
Wednesday," that bill becomes I'M
finished business from day to day
until disposed Of Therefore, Mr..
Herters Republican substitute would
require the Speaker to refuse to
entertain frivolous or dilatory mo-
tons" on calendar Wednesday, in
the hope that would stop filibuster-
ing on that special day.
If that were done, Calendar
Wednesday could be used as it was
intended" said Mr.. Herter, And
remember, it requires two thirds of
the House to dispense with 'Calen-
OAR Wednesday,
No general Truman Opposition.
Asked if todays action indicated
general opposition to the Truman
program in the new Congress, Mr..
Martin indicated it did not. He
said, I'VE will give everything the
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