Evening star., 1953-01-03
By J. A. o'Leory

The perennial struggle between
liberals and conservatives over
freedom of Senate debate was due
to get the 83d Congress off to a
lively start today.
A bipartisan bloc of about 20
Senators has decided to launch
an opening day drive to weaken
the filibuster as a method of
blocking legislation.
They will propose a change in
rules under which a majority
49 Senators-could shut off debate
after IA days. Now it takes two
thirds-64 Senators-to break
fllibuSter.
The move appeared doomed 10
failure with most Republicans and
the Southern Democrats lining up
against any hasty rules action in
the opening days of the session.
Barkley May Be Key Figure.
Vice President Barkley, who will
continue to preside over the Re-
publican Senation until inaugura-
tion day. may be the key figure in
Itoday's fight.
When Senator Anderson, Demo-
crat, of New Mexico makes the
motion that the Senate take up
rules for the new Congress, it is
almost certain to provoke a battle
of parliamentary wits between the
opposing sides. with the Vice Presi-
dent making the rulings.
The rules fight is. in reality, the
first round in the annual battle
TO pass civil rights bills, because
that legislation nearly always pro-
vokes a filibuster. The anti-f1li-
buster group is basirg its fight on
the broad ground. however, that
existing Senate rules make it pos
sible to tie UP any major piece
of legislation.
Opposition Ready to Act.
In last-minute huddle yester-
day afternoon, the antifllibuster
Senators SHE'D away from the con-
tention that they are challenging
the status of the Senate as a con-
tinuing body.
Once they make their rules mo-
tion today. however. the opposi-
tion is expected to raise the point
that. since the Senate is a con-
tinuing body, it's existing rules
prevail until amended. and that
amendments should be referred to
committee for study and report,
the same as all other bills.
Senator Anderson denied that
his motion to consider new rules
challenges the Senate's status as
a continuing body. He and his
associates argue that they are
merly exercising a right which the
Constitution spells out for each
branch of Congress to make its
own rules.
To Fight for Principle.
The anti -filibuster Senators
conceded in advance they had lit
tie chance Of winning. They in
dicated they were going ahead for
the purpose of calling the coun-
try's attention to the situation.
IT don't think our prospects are
rosy, but it's just one of those
things we must do" said Senator
Ives Of New York, one of the few
Republicans joining in the move.
Senator Humphrey, Democrat,
of Minnesota. another advocate of
a ban on f1libustering. said the
outlook is gloomy" Senator
Lehman, Democrat, of New York,
leader of the group, was more
optimistic, however. He believes
the opening day fight will arouse
public support for a tighter curb
on debate.
In party conference yesterday
Senate Republicans voted over
whelmingly in support of the 150-
year precedent which regards the
Senate as a continuing body.
Senator Taft of Ohio. the new ma
jority leader, was chief spokeS-
man in defense of the precedent,
while Senator Ives gave the argu-
ments for change in rules.
Unless the anti-fllibuSter group
can get its rule change adopted
as part of the organization pro-
cess. it has virtually no chance
of doing so through the normal
channels of amending the rules
in mid-session.