Evening star., 1953-05-06
House Republicans
Run Into Setback on
Fund Bill Riders
By Robert K. Walsh


Claims Of more than $1.2 bill
lion savings in appropriation bills
passed by the House within the
last two weeks failed today to
cheer Republican leaders who
came a-cropper on riders in the
State-Commerce-JuStice meas
ure.
The setback yesterday did not
affect the financial side of the
combined bill appropriating ST.
143,146,712 for the three depart
ments during the fiscal year be-
ginning July l. The House passed
it. 344 to S. after only five hours
Of debate, quickest in many years
on a regular departmental supply
bill.
But from a legislative. policy
and political standpoint the
G. o. P. House leadership and
the Appropriations Committee
majority suffered a singing sur
prise.
Firing Discretion Cut Out.
With the aid Of 81 Republi-
cans, including chairmen of the
Committees on Civil Service and
Veterans Affairs, Democrats were
able to strike out sections that
would have given absolute dis
cretion" to the heads of the three
departments to fire employees.
Republican and Democratic
members said privately that the
striking out of those provisions
would not unduly hinder the
Secretary of State, Secretary of
Commerce and Attorney General
In dropping persons undesirable
for security or moral reasons
They noted that President EiSen-
hower'S recently issued security
order provides such authority.
The House action yesterday,
however. was viewed as likely to
have these principal effects:
l. It showed that. in the mar
rowly divided House, leaders on
neither side can take anything
for granted. In an earlier test
vote yesterday. when fewer than
200 members were on the floor.
the House voted 124 to So to
defeat Democratic move to
strike out the provision giving
discretionary authority to the
Secretary of State. On voice
votes the House also defeated
similar efforts to eliminate the
identical provisions relating to
the Attorney General and the
Secretary of Commerce.
Veterans Objections Raised.
2. The subsequent vote to re-
turn the bill to committee for
elimination of the three provi-
sionS apparently resulted to some
extent from opposition by vet
erans' organizations. Moreover,
Republican Chairmen Rees of the
Civil Service Committee, and
Rogers of the Veterans Affairs
Committee opened the debate
yesterday by voicing fears that
the provisions would cripple the /
civil service system and the vet
erans' preference in Federal en-
ployment. Mr.. Rees and Mrs.
Rogers voted to recommit the
bill for re-reporting. minus the
three sections.
3. The action pointed up a
particular threat to legislative
riders to appropriation bills at
this session. In debate since
April % on supply bills for %
independent agencies and for
the Interior Department, the
Democrats and some Republi-
cans have attacked committee
recommendations which, besides
appropriating money, would
greatly change prior legislative
enactmentS or administrative
policy of the Truman admins
tration.
Democrats Shift Position.
4. The defeat of the absolute
discretion" legislative riders put
House Democrats in a strong, If
somewhat strange, position. Re-
publicanS recalled that the same
provision had been in State
Department appropriation bills
for the last seven years, and
in ommerce Department
bills since 1850, enacted by Dem
ocratic controlled Congresses.
The Democrats did not object
until the Justice Department
was about to be given the same
authority and might drop many
Democratic lawyers, G.. o. P.
members hinted.
Democrats replied that the sit
uation is different today. They
declared these legislative riders
were unnecessary, if not danger
Gus, in view of President Eisen-
hoWer's recent executive order
which. they said, provides
greater protection for the rights
of employees.
In any event, Republican lead
ers took comfort in claims that
the $1,143, ,146,712 bill passed
yesterday cut 1926 million from
requests by former President
Truman for the three depart
mentS. This was on top of $201
million in cuts made by the
$406, ,130.343 Interior Department
bill. and the $721 million in re-
ductions represented in the in
dependent Offices bill passed two
weeks ago today. Those claimed.
savings add up to $1,248,977,557.
JENNINGS Takes Post