Evening star., 1952-11-30
Morse 10 Back
Republicans for
SendteControI
Fovors Taft as Open
Majority Leader, Not
Sub Rosu' as Now
By J. A. OLeov

Senator Morse of Oregon, who
bolted the Republican Party in
the recent presidential campaign
and declared himself an indie
pendent, announced last night he
will vote with the Republicans to
organize the Senate in January.
He also said he would support
Senator Taft. Republican, of Ohio,
for majority leader.
Senator Morse made it clear.
however, he is not rejoining the
party and reserves the right to
vote against any proposal of
President-elect Eisenhower or the
Republican Party which he de-
cides is not in the best interests
of the people.
Retaining his new status as
Independent means. he said, that
he will not be member of either
the Republican or Democratic
caucuSeS.
The Oregon Senator said the
responsibility for the legislative
program of the new administra-
tion should not be a divided one
but should rest equally on the
Republicans. He said, also. he
thought it would be unethical for
him as an Independent to take ad-
vantage of the close party lineup
in the Senate to deprive the party
which won the election of the re-
sponsibility which goes with con-
troll.
Could Create Tie.
When the new Congress meets
on January the Senate will
consist of 48 Republicans, At
Democrats and one Independent
(Morse). Senator Morse. there
fore, could create a tie at the start
of the session by voting with the
Democrats.
Democratic Vice President Bark
ley will be the Senate's presiding
officer until January 20. and could
vote to break a tie. The Demo.
Gratis have shown no inclintaion,
however, to try to organize the
Senate temporarily.
Even if they had the votes their
control would last only about two
weeks, because on January 20 the
new Republican Vice President,
Senator Nixon, would acquire the
deciding vote. Since California has
Ia Republican Governor, it is ex-
|pected a Republican will be ap-
pointed to fill the seat Senator
Nixon is vacating.
To Let Senate Decide.
Senator Morse is taking no hand
in the reshuffling of committee
assignments. He said he is going
to let the Senate decide his status
as an Independent in such matters
as seniority, committee assign
Iments and other prerogatives.
In practical operation, this
means that the Republican Sena-
torial conference will have to de-
termine whether to discipline him
for boiling. by giving him less de-
sirable assignments, or ignoring
his detection and let him retain
his committees and seniority.
At present he is third ranking
member Of Armed Services and
fourth ranking on Labor and We'll
fare. The big question the Re-
publicans will have to decide is
whether to leave him in that po-
sition of seniority if he says he
is not a Republican. There is no
question that he will receive COM
mittee assignments under the
Congressional Reorganization Act.
which entities each Senator to
two committee places.
The precedents are divided as
to how the Republicans have re-
acted in the past toward boiling
members. In some cases they
have applied discipline, through
committee assignments, while at
other times they have not.
Senator Morse. who started out
early this year as an Eisenhower
supporter, then switched to Gov.
(See Morse, Page A-4.)