Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-03
No Limitation
Set on Service
OfPoIicyHeod
By Gould Lincoln

With a group OF Self-Styled Re-
publican liberals over his con-
tinued leadership of Senate Re-
publicans.
BY a 29-to-13 vote, the Senate
Republican Conference this morn
ing removed all limitations on the
length of time a Senator may serve
as chairman of the Senate Republi-
can Policy Committee. Senator
Taft's reelection to the chairman
ship he has held for four years is
now foregone conclusion when
the meeting continues later today.
The actual election of Senator
Taft and other Republican leaders
was deferred until 3 pm. because
it was time for the Senate to meet.
But the vote had knocked all of
the fire out of the liberals" re-
bellion
Under the old rules, Senator Taft
would have had to give up the post
The insurgent group, which had
proposed election of Senator Lodge
of Massachusetts, to head the policy
group, had hoped to continue the
present four-year limitation of serv-
ice.
TObey Breaks News.
Senator Tobey of New Hampshire,
first to break the news to reporters,
said the insurgents were able to
muster only the Is votes.
The slate of the Taft supporters
in the COP. caucus included, be-
sides the Ohioan for Policy Com
mittee chairman Senator Millikin
of Colorado for. chairman of the
conference of all Republican Sena-
tors and Senator Wherry of Ne
braska for Republican floor leader
The morning session of the Re-
publican senatorial conference was
given over entirely to consideration
of the rules. An effort was made
by the insurgents to provide for
secret ballots on proposed changes
in the rules. This was defeated. Is
to Is, the Is being the largest num-
Der of votes the insurgents polled.
The debate on the rules was thor
ough. There was no discussion of
candidates for office. however.
The conference decided unani-
mously to have d secret ballot on
any contest for dfhce in the organi-
cation where there were two or
more candidates for the same office
An effort was made to change the
rules so that other issues would
have to be settled by secret ballot
If 25 per cent of the Republican
Senators favored it. This proposal
failed on a tie vote.
Milliken Temporary Chairman.
Senator Milliken. who has been
chairman of the Republican con-
ference. was elected temporary
chairman for today's meeting and
Senator Young of North Dakota
secretary.
The conference voted unanimous
ly to increase the size of the Policy
Committee from 9 to II. The con-
ference also voted that members
OF the Policy Committee should be
appointed for two-year terms, with
a limitation of four years continu-
GUS service The chairman of the
Policy Committee, who must now
be elected by the vote of the whole
conference instead of by the Policy
Committee as in the past, must be
elected every two years. There will
be, however. no limitation on the
number of two-year terms he may
serve.
While there was no insurgent
movement among House Republi-
cans aimed at the leadership of re-
firing Speaker Martin, a move to
check the authority of Republican
National Chairman Hugh D. Scott
jr., a member of the House from
Pennsylvania, was reported under
way.
New Committee Considered.
A leading Republican who asked
that his name not be used told a
reporter there is discussion of set
ting up an executive committee with
chairman who could keep close
tabs on what Mr.. Scott is doing and
help him run the COP, show.
Mr.. Scott, in New Years letter
to an estimated $4,000 party leaders
throughout the country, said he will
name an executive committee be-
fore or at the time of Republican
National Committee meeting Sched-
uled for Omaha, Nebr., January &c
and 81.
Both sides in the Senate fight ap-
parently will vote for the reelection
of Senator Millikin as chairman OF
the conference. He has held that
place for two years.
There apparently was general
agreement that Senator Saltonstall
of Massachusetts,, one of the rebel
group. could become Republican
whip if he wants it.
Mil elf e.