Evening star., 1953-09-26
The Political Mill
Cupehurt Asks Change
In Policy Committee
Wants Group to Include
Heads Of Standing Units
By Gould Lincoln

If Gov. LauSche Of Ohio appoints q
Democrat to fill the Taft vacancy-will
be asked by Senator Capehart Of In
diana to revamp the Republican Policy
Committee of the Senate, when Con-
gress meets next January. The Indiana
Senator wants to have the Policy Com
mittee include the chairmen of the Is
standing committees of the Senate. At
present the Policy Committee is made
up of the Republican leader, the chair
man of the Republican conference of
the Senate, the Republican whip the
secretary of the conference, the presi-
dent pro tempore Of the Senate, the
chairman of the Policy Committee and
four other Senators. The Taft vacancy
has still to be filled.
The six officers of the Republican or
ganizatlon of the Senate. under the
present governing rules, automatically
are members of the Policy Committee,
after their election by the Republican
conference. The chairman of the con-
ference names five other Senators-and
they. too, are elected by the confer
ence.
If the Capehart proposal should be
adopted it would increase the size Of
the Policy Committee 1t would also
place on the committee nearly all Of
the older Republican members of the
Senate-older in length of service. since
chairmanShipS are dictated by seniority.
These are the two objections to the
Capehart plan most often voiced by Re-
publican Senators who do not like it.
In some quarters, too, the charge is
made that older and more conservative
Republicans in the Senate are trying
to grab control and at the same time
minimize the authority and influence
of Senator KnoWland of California
who was elected Republican Senate
leader in place of Senator Taft at the
time Congress closed its session last
summer. Senator Capehart insists he
has no such intention. 1t is a fact.
however, that he and a number of
other Senators sought to have the elec-
ton of new leader postponed, pre-
sumably with the idea of promoting
the candidacy of another Senator. No
tentative opponent OF Knowland was
put forward at the time.
Taft Picked KnOwland.
If action on a new leader had been
delayed however, for five months, a
good fight for the job might have de-
veloped, with one of the more con-
servative members of the Senate run
ming against Knowland. Knowland
was picked by Senator Taft to act as
leader when the Ohio Senator became
too i'll to function. Knowlands elec-
ton confirmed the Judgment of Senator
Taft.
Handling the legislative program in
the Senate next session is going to be
no easy task. The Republicans ac-
tually will be in the minority-with Al.
members to 48 for the Democrats and
Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon the
96th Senator Morse, who quit the
Republican Party and calls himself an
independent, could if he desired, vote
with the Democrats to organize" the
Senate next January. He has said,
however, he felt he was morally bound
to vote with the Republicans on SEN
ate organization.
His vote would bring a tie, If the
and name one of their own president
pro tempore and the chairmen of the
standing committees. a tie which Vice
President Nixon would break in favor
of the Republicans. On legislative
matters, however, the Republicans will
be in the minority. They will have to
look to Democrats for aid in putting
through administration measures. It is
essential, therefore. that the Republic
can leader have as free q hand as
possible that he be backed up by
Policy Committee that can act promptly
and will be friendly to the administra-
tion.
Senator Smith Of New Jersey, chair
man of the Committee on Labor, has
come up with a compromise suggestion
that all chairmen of standing commit
tees have a standing invitation to at
tend sessions of the Policy Committee.
They would be in position to give ad-
vice on any legislative matters before
their committees and with which the
Policy Committee might be dealing. II
they all attended, however, the gather
ing would be so large as to be unwieldy
and possibly become debating society.
The better practice, in the opinion Of
other Senators is to invite the chair
men of those committees which have
before them the bills which are to come
that day before the Policy Committee.
That has been the practice, anyway.
Other Members.
Senator Knowland was chairman Of
the Policy Committee until he was
elected leader. He remains a mem
Der of the Policy Committee. The
other members are Chairman Millikin
of the Republican conference, Sena-
tor Bridges of New Hampshire. presi-
dent pro tempore; Senator Young Of
North Dakota, secretary Of the con-
ference; Senator Saltonstall of Mas
sachusetts, whip, and Senators Cor
don of Oregon, Dworshak Of Idaho.
Schoeppel of Kansas and Mrs. Smith
of Maine. The committee member
ship includes only three chairmen Of
standing committees. Millikin, chair
man of the Finance Committee:
Bridges, chairman of the Appropria-
tions Committee, and SaltonStall, chair
man of the Armed Services Committee.
The Policy Committee, working in
conjunction with the leader decides
what measures are to be taken up for
consideration and when. It considers.
also, what should be the Republican
position on issues that come before
the Senate. It is far easier for the
President, whose program is at stake.
to deal with a Policy Committee as
now constituted than II would be with