Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-10-13

a Democrat, to succeed the late
Senator Taft, changes the SEN
ate lineup to 48 Democrats, Al
Republicans and oneA Independ-
ent, Senator Morse, of Oregon.
Senator Morse today repeated
his promise to vote with the Re-
publicans on organization mat
tiers until the 1854 elections. With
Vice President Nixon entitled to
break a tie. this assures Repub-
lican organization on the floor at
the coming session.
1t does not, however, solve the
puzzle of how to reshuffle COM
mittee assignments to retain Re-
publican majorities.
Two Groups Evenly Divided.
At present on all committees
except two, the Republicans have
a control margin of one vote. On
the District of Columbia and
Public Works Committees, Sem
ator Morse has the controlling
vote with Democrats and Re-
publicans evenly divided.
The law requires that each
Senator get at least two COM
mittee assignments Unless some
changes are made in the over
all size of committees, reassign-
ments resulting from the Burke
appointment could even up the
membership. or give the Demo-
Gratis numerical majority ON
some committees.
The solution probably will lie
IN the fact that the Democrats
have shown no desire to take
over the reins before the next
election. If they did take con-
troll, 1t would give the Eisen-
hover administration a chance
to blame the Democrats if it,
program fails to get through.
The solution also will be made
easier by the fact that the COM
mittee chairmen are elected by
the Senate iself and not by the
committees. This means that II
the Democrats do not want con-
troll before the 1854 elections,
they can vote for Republican
chairmen even If it becomes
necessary to give them equality
or a margin of one on some
committees.
Morse Drops a Hint.
Senator Morse dropped a hint
today the Republicans could
take this opportunity to give
him back the choice committee
assignments they took from him
after he bolted the party in last
years election, but said he did
not expect it to happen.
Gov. Frank j. Lausche of Ohio
announced the appointment of
Mr.. Burke, his longtime friend
and political ally, late yesterday.
At the same time, he predicted
that Mr.. Burke will take no
action upsetting the present or
ganization of the Senate I"
MIR. Burke said he will 90
into the Senate with a middle
of-the-road policy. In an in
terview he indicated he would
support the Republican admin
iStration'S program wherever
possible and would not seek to
control the Upper House with
his votes.
Mr.. Burke said he plans to
come here in a few days, lust
to get my feet on the ground
and acquaint myself with the
senatorial problems"
Mr.. Burke's appointment put
an end to the political guessing
game that started soon after the
death of Senator Taft At one
time or another at least a dozen
prominent Ohio figures figured
as possible appointees.
Speculation on 1854.
Speculation continues, how
ever. on whether Gov. Lausche
or Mr.. Burke will seek election
to the Senate in November. 1854,
for the remainder of Senator
Taft's unexpired term which
runs until January. 1857.
The guess is that Mr.. Burke
would step aside in 1854 if Gov.
Lausche decided to seek the SEN
ate seat-and that Mr.. Burke
might then run for Governor.
Gov. Lausche, however, en-
phasized that there was no deal
connected with his appointment
OF Mr.. Burke.
He made no commitments to