Evening star., 1950-01-18
Ru|esDebateSel
For Friday in
Surprise Move
Mccormack Action
Hit by Martin as
Menace to FEPC
By Chris Mathisen


In surprise move, Majority
Leader Mccormack announced in
the House today that the con-
troversial House rules change pro-
posal. which has imperiled much
of President Truman's Fair Deal
program, will be called up for de-
bate Friday.
The maneuver brought an angry
protest on the floor from Minority
Leader Martin, who declared the
Democratic leadership would have
to take the responsibility if the
rules change carried and fore
stalled Gallup Monday of the
FEPC bill-an anti-job discrim-
ination measure.
Mr.. McCormack's announcement
came a few moments after Speak
er Rayburn had told newsmen the
Democrats would not hold a cau-
Gus to rally against the rule
change.
The new rule would restore
pigeon-h holing power of the House
Rules Committee. 1t would scrap
a rule adopted last year under
which Chairman Lesinski of the
Labor Committee expects to call
up the FEPC measure Monday.
Republican Vote Awaited.
Mr.. Martin asked Mr.. McCor-
mack why he had decided to take
the chance" of losing out on an
FEPC vote by agreeing to consider
the rule change before Monday.
Mr.. Mccormack replied that he
thought it would be very interest
ing to the country" to see how the
Republicans, committed to support
FEPC. would vote o ma rule pro-
posal that might pigeon hole it.
The Republicans caucused this
afternoon in an attempt to agree
on policy with respect to increas-
ing Rules Committee power to
withhold legislation from the
floor. Mr.. Martin said earlier 1t
appeared most Republicans would
favor the change.
Representative Walter of Penn
sylvania. who presides when the
Democrats caucus, explained it
had been decided that no party
meeting would be necessary.
Committee To Meet Today.
Meanwhile, the Rules Commit
tee, which has not taken a vote on
sending the FEPC bill to the floor,
was to meet this afternoon. Mr..
Mccormack told Mr.. Martin in the
spirited debate in the House
chamber that if the Republicans
on the Rules Committee would
vote to clear the FEPC bill today,
there would be no need to worry
about how the House voted en- re-
tanning or abandoning the by
passing procedure.
Representative Halleck of In
diana, who was Republican floor
leader in the House in the 80th
Congress, Joined Mr. Martin in
objecting to the unexpected
scheduling Of the rules cnange
matter for Friday.
you've got to take the respon-
sibility for what transpires." he
warned Mr.. Mccormack. The re-
mark was greeted by laughter
from the Democratic side.
Mr.. Truman said yesterday he
was doing Everything possible" to
block the move to change the rule
He said his Senate leaders had
promised to get him a vote on
FEPC, anti-lynching and anti
poll tax legislation "if it takes all
summer"
There has been no sign of an
"all summer" sentiment in Con-
gress, however, and many members
are pointing for an early windup,
leaving them free for reelection
campaigning.
Senate Majority Leader Lucas
said mo comment" when asked
yesterday about the presidents "all
summer" prediction. He is among
those standing for reelection this
year.
Representative Franklin D.
Roosevelt, jr., Democrat, of New
York, today bitterly attacked the
coalition move to change the rules
"The Republican Party at long
last is about to unmask It's alli-
ance with the Dixiecrats in one
of the most hypocritical and re-
dictionary moves of it's checkered
career" he said. There is nc
question but that this attempt to
change the rules is designed to
block the fair employment prac-
tice act, and all other civil rights
recommendations of President