Evening star., 1951-04-27
Nicely Resolution
pensNewFight
For Home Rule
Hopes to Get Senate
To Take Jurisdiction
And Vote on Bill

VuO VOlS OU Dill
Chairman Nicely of the Senate
District Committee has launched
a new effort to bring the blocked
Washington home rule bill to a
vote on the Senate floor.
He introduced a resolution yes
terday to discharge his commit
tee from jurisdiction over the
measure, and bring it before the
Senate.
The District Committee blocked
the resolution Wednesday by
tie vote of to 6, keeping it from
the Senate calendar. ,
Although parliamentary proceed
ures for handling such a Senate
discharge resolution are complex,
Senator Nicely said he neverthe-
less would attempt to obtain ap-
proval on the floor.
The measure now is on the Vice
Presidents desk. 1t has to lie
over there for full legislative
day, which in the Senate may
mean several calendar days be-
cause the Senate often recesses
instead of adjourning.
The next legislative day will
open with what is called the
morning hour" for miscellaneous
business. During this period the
presiding officer will lay the Neely
resolution before the Senate so
that it automatically comes up
for debate. Senator Neely then
will try to get action.
Subject to Motions.
At that time, however, the
measure would be subject to
Iall kinds of motions, such as one
to lay it on the table, postpone
consideration or others. If the
measure is not disposed of by
q pm. on the same day, it would
go to the Senate calendar and
its sponsor, Senator Neely, could
Immediately move to bring it
up for consideration.
This motion by the West Vir-
lginia Democrat then would be
open to debate. If no action then
+ is taken by the Senate, the meas
ure would be subject to another
motion to call it up on the next
succeeding legislative day.
On this second legislative day
when the resolution is called up
by motion during the morning
hour" the motion would not be
debatable.
This procedure is so full of
possibilities for opponents of any
measure to discharge a commit
tee from control of a measure,
that, according to veterans on
Capitol Hill, the Senate rarely
takes measure away from a
committee.
Committee Change Forecast.
Legislators are reluctant to turn
down any of their committees
once action has been taken by
the committee.
Senator Nicely, taking this next
step in an effort to bring the
Kefauver-Taft home rule bill IN
Tor a vote on the floor. said he
sees the bare possibility of a
change in the membership of his
committee. That might hold out
further opportunity for favorable
action.
Due to the. death of Senator
Vandenberg, Republican. of Mich
lgan and the appointment of
Democrat Blair Moody to succeed
him. the Democrats now have a
slightly larger majority in the
Senate-50 to 46-and therefore
the opportunity to increase the
democratic proportion in some
committees. Senator Vandenbere
was a member, of the District
Committee.
Senator Moody will be given two
committee posts, at least. Besides
there is the possibility that as a
member of the majority he could
nave two regular committees and.
IN addition, either the Expendi-
lures Committee or the District
OF COLUMBIA group.
Moody Favorable.
II the so-called chain-reaction
OF a change in Democratic COM
mittee assignments makes several
shifts down the line, there ap-
peared to be possibility that
Senator Moody might be assigned
to the District Committee. He has
said he favors home rule for
Washington.
Senator Nicely said he would
regret to lose any of his Demo-
cratic members. But if any one
should be selected for another
committee, leaving a vacancy on
the District unit, he would well
come Senator Moody.
The Democratic high command
had not reshuff1ed it's committee
assignments today and the Re-
publlcans were believed ito be
waiting until the Democrats COM
piete their shifts before filling the
vacancies created by the death of
Senator Vandenberg.