Evening star., 1952-12-22
Republicans 10 Decide
Morse Assignments
After Holiday Recess

After Holiday Recess
The question whether to disci-
pline Senator Morse of Oregon
for bolting the party remains as
one of the problems to be settled
by Senate Republicans when they
meet in caucus after the Christ
mas holidays
Senator Morse. who now calls
himself an independent, said on
the West Coast recently that he
probably would be assigned to
committees like the District of CO.
lumbia. Senator Butler of Ne
braska, chairman of the Republi-
can Committee on Committees,
commented:
Senator Morse says he expects
to be assigned to the Post Office
and District of Columbia Commit
tees. He may be right"
Explains Independence.
Although Senator Morse an
nounced several weeks ago he
would vote with the Republicans
to organize the Senate, he would
remain an independent there
after, and would not take part
In the caucuses of either party.
At present Senator Morse ranks
fairly high on the Armed Services
and Labor Committees. If party
leaders decide to switch him to
less important committees, there
would be three vacancies on the
important Labor group which
would handle revision of the Taft
Hartley Act.
Friends of Senator Taft are
reported to be backing a slate for
the Labor Committee composed
of Senators Butler of Maryland,
Potter of Michigan and Goldwa-
ter of Arizona. The last two are
newly elected.
No Certainty of Discipline.
There is still no certainty, how
ever. that the Republican con-
ference will discipline Senator
Morse. The precedents in similar
cases are not uniform.
Senators who went down the
line for the Eisenhower Nixon
ticket will be eager to get better
committee assignments. however
and this pressure may induce the
leaders to denote Senator Morse
Observers at the Capitol agree
that. under the La Toilette Mon
roney Congressional Reorganiza-
ton Act. the Senate must give
every Senator two committee
places.
The status of Senator Morse is
attracting more attention, now
that the main issue of a Repub-
lican floor leader has been settled
with an agreement on Senator
Taft.
Welker Predicts Harmony.
Senator Welker, Republican. of
Idaho predicted on MICS Meet
the Press" yesterday that Senator
Taft and President-elect Eisen-
hover will settle privately any
differences that may develop be-
tween them.
Senator Welker himself dis
agreed with Senator Taft over
Gen. Eisenhower appointment
of Martin P. Durkin, a Democrat
and a labor leader, to be Secre-
tary Of Labor. Senator Taft has
called the appointment "incredi-
ble." Senator Welker called the
appointment the ."smartest polit-
ical move the Republican Party
has made in 20 years."
Favors iva Change.
Senator Welker also said he is
in favor of turning the billion
dollar Tennessee Valley Authority
over to private interests.
Private enterprise can do any,
thing that Government does and
do it BETTER" he said. I'D be
glad to turn IVA to private enter
prise or sell it to bondholders as
advocated by Charles E. Wilson
not SO many months ago"
He referred to a suggestion
made recently by Mr.. Wilson, the
former General Electric Corp.
head who served the Truman ad-
ministration as chief of the Office
Of Defense Mobilization.
Mr.. Wilson proposed last Sep
tember that new companies be
created to take over control of
Government power and water
projects with Government bond
holders exchanging their bonds
for stock in the companies.
Mr.. Welker, in answer to an
other question, said he would like
to see the Government rid itself
of other activities which could be