The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1949-01-06
Along the Potomac
to Washington
By j. Glenn Beall

my ulllll Mafcn l0tn Une Tune unit
for the filing of recommendation and
findings of the Commission or Organ
ization of the Executive Branch Of
the Government-bette known as
the Hoover Commission. The Eighth
eth Congress officially went out Of
existence at the stroke of twelve noon
on Monday, January 3rd.
The new Eighty-frst Congress con-
vened at twelve o'clock noon ON Men
day, January Bird, with the political
control once more being in the hands
of the Democratic party. In the House
there will be 263 Democratic mem
bers; III Republican members; and
one American Labor Party member
in the new Eighty-frst Congress, as
compared to 1873 Democratic mem
bers; 246 Republican members ard
one American Labor Party member
making the Eightieth Congress. One
hundred sixty-two Democrats, 1856
Republicans and one American Labor
Party member who served in the
Eightieth Congress were reelected to
serve in the Eighty-frst Congress.
Seventy-five Democratic members
were elected to succeed Republicans,
and Twenty-Five Democrats to sue
coed fellow Democrats, while one
Democrat was chosen to succeed an
American Labor Party member and
two Democrats We're elected in new
ly created Congressional Districts.
Twelve Republicans were elected to
succeed fellow Republicans; 2 to sue
coed Democrats; and one to fill a rev
Congressional seat. OF the total mem
bership of 435 there will be 116 new
members, 101 Democrats and Is Re-
publicans-the largest turnover III
many years.
The new United States Senate will
be made up of 81 Democrats and AZ
Republicans, as compared with the 81
Republican and As Democratic Sena-
tors who served in the Eightieth Con-
gress. At the last election ten Demo-
cratic and five Republican Senators
were reelected. Of the fourteen new
Democratic Senators chosen, five sue
ceeded Democrats and nine succeeded
Republicans. The four new Repub-
lican Senators elected succeeded fell
low Republicans.
Honorable Sam Rayburn of Bon
ham, Texas, former Speaker of the
House, was reelected to that office to
succeed Honorable Joseph f. Martin,
Jr of Massachusetts, Speaker in the
Eightieth Congress. Mr.. Martin in
turn was chosen by the Republicans
to serve as Minority Leader. Honor
able John w. Mccormack, of Massa-
chusetts, former Majority Leader,
was selected by the Democrats 20
again serve in that position during
the Eighty-frst Congress.
AS this column is being prepared
President Truman is scheduled to de-
liver his annual message on the State
of the Union to a Joint Session OF
Congress on Wednesday, January 5th,
in which he is expected to call for the
enactment of legislation to put into
effect practically all Of his campaign
promises and pledges. Later in the
1Iroo1- 4ha Dppcilo,+ will l.
nual budget message to the Congress,
and the first of next week he is e.
pected to send another message to
Capitol Hill in which he will submit
his Economic Report.
In front of the Capitol huge stands
have been erected, and a platform for
thousands of seats have been con-
structed, while all along Pennsylvania
avenue grand stands are being built
in preparation for the Inaugural cere-
monies on January Goth for President
Harry S. Truman and Vice-President
Alben w. Barley The ceremonies
will be followed by great parade.
1t is estimated that total costs of all
this construction, in which many
thousands of feet Of scarce lumber
have been used, along with other
costs of the Inaugural ceremonies,
will run more than $350,000.00. A
huge Inaugural Ball with tickets at
$1,000 each) will be held on the night
of the twentieth. Hotel rooms in
Washington were all reserved weeks
ago at prices running as much as
three or four times higher than regu-
lar rates, with minimum occupancy
requirement of four days.
Late last week Chairman Hugh
Scott of the Republican National
Committee issued call for a meet
ing of the Committee to be held in
Omaha, Nebraska, January Goth and
27th-the first meeting of the CON-
mittee since the day following the
close of the Republican National Con-
vention last June. 1t is expected that
plans for the future of the COP will
be discussed at the meeting. Many be-
| lievc the first decision the Republican
| Committee must make is whether the
Party should swing far to the left, as