Evening star., 1953-06-25
Rules Group
ToAct on Profit
Tax Today
Reed Invited to Tell
Committee of His
Opposition to Plan
By Robert K. Walsh

The House Rules Committee
was called into open session at
2:30 pm. today to hear a Re-
publican leadership request for
clearance Of a bill to extend the
excess profits tax.
Committee Chairman Allen
said his 12-member group ex-
pected to vote on the issue late
today. He added, however, that
there would be ample opportun-
ity for advocates and opponents
to present their views.
Chairman Daniel Reed of the
House Ways and Means Commit
tee. who is fighting the six
month extension proposal by
President Eisenhower, was invit-
ed to address the committee.
Majority Leader Halleck, speak
ing for the administration forces,
will urge the Rules Committee
to send an extension bill to the
floor so that the House can vote
on it not later than Monday.
Reed Refuses to Act.
The House leaders are bank
ing heavily on Rules Committee
action as a last resort to put
through an extension bill. They
turned to that committee when
Chairman Reed refused to call
a Ways and Means Committee
session on the extension bill, and
was backed up by many of the
25 members of the committee.
Before Mr.. Allen called the
Rules Committee meeting, he
conferred with Speaker Martin
and Mr.. Halleck as well as with
Representative Smith, of Vir-
ginia, ranking Democrat on the
Rules Committee.
Mr.. Smith and the three
other Democrats on the COM
mittee indicated they would op-
pose the almost unprecedented
move to bypass the Ways and
Means Committee.
Earlier today several Repub-
lican leaders discounted reports
that two or three of the eight
Republicans on the Rules Com
mittee were baking at the ex-
traordinary action to overpower
Mr.. Reed and his committee.
Those leaders added, however,
that they probably will have to
drop the fight if the Rules Com
mittee refuses to clear the way
for House action to extend the
tax, which is scheduled to expire
next Tuesday.
Martin Sees Success.
But Speaker Martin made
these predictions:
II have no doubt that the
Rules Committee will report it
out. I also am confident that
q very substantial number of
Democrats will join with most
Republicans in voting for such
a rule on the House floor because
it is the only way to get an ex-
tension bill out and help the
President balance the budget"
Other Republican leaders
noted that at least one other
parliamentary move was possible
but that they did not intend to
use it.
This other alternative, it, was
explained, would be to circulate
a discharge petition that would
need at least 218 signatures.
Speaker Martin previously said
he saw little chance of success
in using that device.
While the Rules Committee
prepared to meet, House leaders
were compiling what they said
was a long list of precedents for
the action they want. They said
that in 1895 the Rules Commit
tee reported out bills completely
different from those favored by
other regular committees.
Recent Actions Cited.
They also noted that the Rules
Committee took such action in
the 81st and 82d Congresses.
Normally, that committee does
not act on legislation itself, but
merely routes bills to the floor
after they have been approved
by regular legislative commit
tees. +,
G. o. P. leaders saw the hand
writing on the Ways and Means
Committee wall when Chairman
Reed yesterday slammed the door
to calling further meetings on the
extension issue. Seven of the
(See TAXES, Page A-6.)
Munitions Truck Crashes,