Evening star., 1949-03-10
Right Of Way Claimed
By Rankin for House
Debate on Pensions
BY the Assoeio,sd Press


Representative Rankin, Demo
crat, of Mississippi. claimed par
liamentary right of way today fo1
his multibillion-dollar veterans
pension bill.
Without elaboration, he said he
will call it up for debate in the
House in his own good time re-
gardless of strong administration
object IONS.
Mr.. Rankin. chairman of the
House Veterans Committee, re-
ceived an assist from Minority
Leader Martin after the House
leadership decided yesterday to
make Mr.. Rankin force the issue
The Rules Committee refused to
give clearance to the measure.
Twitting administration leaders
on the floor ior the parliamentary
tangle in which they had en-
snarled the pension bill, Mr.. Mar
tin called attention to an old
House rule which makes general
pensions privileged legislation.
Claims Right of Way.
This means that Mr.. Rankin
could call it up any time under
procedure which would allow each
of the 435 members one hour
speaking time.
1T gives me the right of way"
Mr.. Rankin told reporters.
I'm going to use every means
at my command to bring this bill
before the House at the proper
time"
! Whether Mr.. Rankin will
utilize his neW-found parliament
tary weapon was something else.
All that talk could work against
him. His stated preference is for
sharply limited debate. He said he
is willing to leave f1libusters to the
Senate.
AS chairman of the Veterans
Committee, he also is privileged to
take advantage of a new House
rule allowing him to call up the
controversial bill 81 days after
his committee reported it out
favorably.
Period Already Expired.
The 81 days has expired. and
Monday is the first day under
the rule in which he can demand
recognition If he wishes to call
the bill up. Mr.. Rankin refused
to say what he would do next
Monday. but if he doesn't act
then he'll be eligible for another
chance on Monday, March %.
/ Under the floor procedure which
Mr.. Rankin asked. but which the
Rules Committee refused to
grant, debate would be limited
to two hours. No amendments
would be permitted except as Of
fered by members of his Vet
erans' Committee.
Mr.. Rankin's bill would pay $50
a month to all veterans of both
World, Wars. at age 65. regardless
sof ptysicA rondi tion. or. need. 80 ~
fsssThei administration opposes the
bill as not being in accord with
President Truman's program. Ad-
ministra ton leaders were reported
to have urged the Rules Commit
tee to follow the course it did in
refusing to approve procedure for
the bills consideration. !. =: ss:as go ,ss,.
Expect to Defeat Rankin.
Administration forces believe
they have a good chance Of beat
ing Mr.. Rankin if he asks for con-
sideration of the bill under a no
amendment procedure. That out
come would send the bill back to
committee and, as one Rules Com
mittee member put it, take us off
the hook
Budget Director Frank Pace. jr..
told the Rules Committee Tues
day the bill would cost $125 ,000,-
100000 in the next so years and
many additional billions there
after"
The Rules group. meanwhile,
was giving thought to resembling
the rules change ordered earlier
in the session. If the change
were nullified, the committee
would regain the old life-o death
power it held over legislation.
Representative Cox, Democrat, OF
Georgia was reported to have
strong Republican backing in his
move to return to the old system