Evening star., 1949-01-27
BY the Associated Press

Veteran Republican leaders in
the House today prepared to
make room in party councils for
ssH-styled progreSsives, while q
fresh battle shaped up on the
same issue in the Senate.
Party huddles were called on both
sides of Capitol Hill.
The business before the meeting of
House Republicans was a resolution
disbanding the old Steering Com
mittee and setting up instead new
Policy Committee based on geo.
graphical representation. Although
it would ignore the traditional rule
of seniority, approval seemed sure.
! The resolutions sponsors said it
amounted to establishing a beach
head in the fight of some of the
progressive-th thinking Republicans to
at least share with the Old Guard a
voice in determining Republican
congressional policy.s
Senate Battle Expected.
/ The COP meeting in the senate
was expected to be hotter. 1t was
called to let dissatisfied members
blow off steam against party leaders,
and there were at least two signs
that there would be plenty of steam:
l. Senator Tobey of New Hamp-
shire said he had suggested a sort
of a town hall meeting to find out
If this country is going socialistic
and If our party is going to hell
In both cases. he told reporters, the
answer should be no
2. Senator Morse of Oregon pro-
tested that the l1-member Repub-
lican Policy Committee, headed by
Senator Taft of Ohio, had sent
instructions to the Omaha Repub-
lican Conference without consulting
all COP Senators.
/ Senator Tobev, who frequently
differs with COP leaders, told re-
porters too many Republicans are
opposing programs that are popular
with the people and necessary to
the country.
/ Keefe Leads New Group. =
/ The Senate cross-fire was part Of
a series Of skirmishes which have
been going on between party lead
ers and younger Republicans for
some time. There have been similar
Disbursements in the House, but
there COP lawmakers seemed head
ed for solution.
/ The resolution setting up new
Policy Committee with wider rep
resentation was ratified unanimous
| ly yesterday by the party's Commit
tee on Committees. Its approval at
the full membership conference was
taken for granted.
! Representative Keefe of Wiscon-
sin, a Republican of long service
who has not always agreed with
some of his veteran colleagues, un-
officially headed the group of West
ern and MidWestern members who
engineered the new plan.
Under terms of the resolution
the Policy Committee will consist
of % members, IA of them elected
by their own colleagues from eight
areas. Three others will be chosen
at random by the Committee on
Committees. while five will be ex-
officio members.
The five ex-officio members will
be Minority Leader Martin. chair
man. Representative Woodruff Of
Michigan, chairman of the party
conference; Representative Case of
South Dakota, conference secretary;
Representative Arends of Illinois,
party whip, and Representative Hall
of New York, chairman Of the Re-
publican Congressional Committee.
There will be roughly one mem
ber for every 20 House Republicans
from each area: New England, the
Middle Atlantic States, the border
States. the Northeast Central States,
the Northwest Central States. the
Plains States, the Mountain States
and the West Coast States.
New Zealand is studying new
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