Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-30
Disability Law
On Presidency
Stirs Warning
Royburn Reported
As Telling President
He Runs Risk of TuIk
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
House Speaker Sam Rayburn,
Democrat Of Texas. repeatedly
has told President Eisenhower
that if he makes a personal re-
quest for temporary presidency"
legislation, people will think he
plans to give up active presiden-
tial service.
An informed source, who de-
clined to be quoted by name,
said today Mr.. Rayburn told this
to Mr.. Eisenhower yesterday
during a White House conference
with Democratic and Republican
congressional leaders. The Pres
ident was said to have replied
that he didn't see how such an
inference could be drawn.
At this conference, Mr.. Eisen-
hover proposed constitutional
amendment to authorize the
cabinet to decide by majority vote
when the Vice President should
assume temporarily the duties
of a disabled President who was
unable or unwilling to make the
decision himself.
Mr. Rayburn opposed the idea
strongly. Other congressional
leaders voiced more guarded re-
actions. but none indicated
enthusiasm for the Eisenhower
plan.
Disablement Not Specified
The Constitution provides that
the Vice President shall take
over the duties Of the President
m the event of the Presidents
resignation. custer. death or dis
ability. But it does not specify
how a decision is to be reached
on when a President is disabled.
nor who should make the de-
.ciSion.
After the Eisenhower proposal
was announced yesterday, Rep
Iresentative Heating Of New York,
senior Republican on the House
Judiciary Committee, introduced
bill to provide for a commission
to pass on whether q President
is disabled. Such a commission
would be made up Of members Of |
Congress, the cabinet and the
Supreme Court.
There is a difference of opinion
over whether the constitutional
gap should be plugged by a bill
or by a constitutional amend
ment. And there are those who,
like Mr.. Rayburn, feel there is
no need for any action.
Some See No Action Now
In view of the wide range of
opinions on the question. Demo-
cratic leaders were reported to
have agreed informally that
nothing will be done at this ses-
sion. However. Senate Republic
can Leader Know!and of Cali
fornia said yesterday the matter
is of sufficient Importance that
the Congress may very well act
this year on it,"
Chairman Celler, Democrat of
New York, of the House Judici-
airy Committee said he plans
to go ahead with hearings and
to bring out legislation to deal
with the problem.
The informant who told of
what went on at the White
House conference said Mr.. Eli
senhower joined in a laugh that
followed Mr.. Rayburn's blunt |
expression OF opinion. But Mr..
Eisenhower is understood to
have needed the Texans advice
not to send Congress a special
letter asking for presidential
disability legislation.
Instead. Attorney General
Brownell will go before a House
Judiciary Subcommittee Mon
day to spell out the administra-
ton proposal.
Rayburn Gives Views
Mr.. Rayburn was said to have
told the President the country
has got along very well through
the years without special ar
rangements for temporary sue
cession to the presidency, and
that if Mr.. Eisenhower were to
send up a special letter on the
subject it would lead to a lot
of talk that he is in poor con-
dition and is preparing to re-
linquish the active presidency.
Mr. Eisenhower was reported
to have replied good humoredly |
that he did not see how such an
inference could be drawn from
See PRFSIDFNCV Pace Al