Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-04
!Rayburn Backs
Bill 10 Decide
Disability Issue
Commission Urged;
EurIyAction UnIikeI,
AS Leaders Split
BY ROBERT X. WALSH
Star stan Writer

star cthu WrlLef
Speaker Rayburn today in
dorsed a proposed procedure
whereby the disability Of a
President could be decided by
an eight-member executive
legislative commission of which
only five members could vote.
But prospects for early con-
gressional action on any meas
ure dealing with the problem of
a Presidents testimony disa-
bility and the accession of 81
Vice President were still dim.
House Democratic and Republic
can authorities differ on the
need for a constitutional amend
ment.
Calls Bill Adequate
Mr.. Rayburn said he believes
any situation arising from
avowed or apparent inability of
q President to serve could be
adequately and properly met
under a simple legislative bill.
Such a bill. one of several
being studied by a House Jul
dietary Subcommittee, would:
/. Create a commission con-
sisting of the Vice President,
Speaker Of the House, presi-
dent pro tempore of the Sem
ate, Secretary of State and the
House and Senate majority and
minority leaders. This commits
sion would be empowered to
make an official determination
as to whether a President was
temporarily unable to perform
the duties Of Office. and whether
a Vice President therefore
should temporarily take over.
2. The Vice President,
Speaker and president pro
tempore of the Senate would
not be eligible to vote On any
declaration of presidential dis
ability. Speaker Rayburn ex-
planned that he favors this pro-
vision because those three off,
Gals are most directly in line of
succession to the presidency.
Special Oath Included
3. A Vice President, on as
Stunning the duties and response
bilities Of the presidency for the
period of a Presidents disable
ity, would take a special form
Of oath. This would closely re-
semble the constitutional oath
administered to every President,
but would include the words
during the period may law
fully discharge such duties"
Mr.. Rayburn said this addi-
tional language in the oath
would remove doubt as to
whether a disabled President
could resume Office after re-
covery from a serious prolonged
illness or other incapacity.
Much of the controversy IN
the House Subcommittee has
Icentered on whether the pro-
posed commission would be con-
trolled by representatives of the
administration in power or by
Congress. The bill satisfactory
to Mr.. Rayburn, he said today,
would give the control under
present conditions to the party
in power in the White House.
OF the five commission mem
bers who could vote on a dec
laration of presidential disabil-
Iity-the Secretary of State and
the House and Senate majority
and minority leaders - three
currently are Republicans and
two are Democrats.
Hagerty Comments
White House Press Secre-
tary James c. Hagerty said,
meanwhile. he knew nothing
about a published report that
Mr.. Eisenhower has said the
country needs what would
amount to two additional vice
presidents. The published re-
port was that the President
felt the need for two new off,
Gals with statutory authority
to take charge of co-ordinat-
ing foreign and domestic af-
fairs for the President so as
to take much detail work of
his shoulders.