Evening star., 1961-01-03
Continued From First Page


Speaker for the 10th time,
much longer than any other
Speaker in history, Democratic
leaders moved for adoption of
House rules without change
from the previous Congress.
Republican leaders an
nounced they would go along
with the same rules. Southern
Democrats had served notice
they would stage an immediate
fight if any move were made
to revamp the rules. especially
to curb the Rules Committee.
Left unanswered was the
question of whether Repre-
sentative Colmer, Democrat of
Mississippi. would or could be
''purged" from the committee.
Part Of Rayburn Plan
That was part of a plan re-
portedly suggested ES Mr.. Ray
burn and acceptable to a grouS
Of Democratic liberals. A
showdown on such a move or
on possible attempts to increase
the Democratic liberal strength
on the committee seemed un-
likely for at least several days.
The 12-member Rules Com
mittee, which determines when
major bills may go to the floor
for action. has been controlled
for a number of years by a CO.
alition of four Republicans and
two Southern Democrats-
Chairman Howard w. Smith Of
Virginia and Mr.. Colmer.
The dumping" of Mr.. Col
mer from the committee for
failure to support the Kennedy
johnson ticket, and his re-
placement by a more liberal
Democrat, would give the new
administration a 7-to-5 work.
ing margin on the rules group.
Reports also were circulated
at the Capitol that four Mis-
sissippi members Of the House
who failed to support the Dem
ocratic ticket last November
may be disciplined. Besides
Representative Colmer. they are
Representatives Whitten, Win
stead and Williams.
Might Have Seniority Cut
One member of Congress who
declined to be quoted by name
said that under present plans
the four Mississippians are
either to be removed from their
committees or to have their
committee seniority reduced.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Colmer and
other Southern Democrats
voted for reelection Of Mr.
Rayburn as Speaker. The vet
eran Speaker will be 70 years
old on Friday. He has been a
member Of the House from
Texas since March 4, 1913. He
first was elected Speaker ir
September, 1910. and has beer
reelected every two years since
: then except when Republicans
controlled the House in 1947-
40 and 1884.
The proposed Republican
. resolution urging House G. o
) P. members to avoid a coalition
with Southern Democrats ane
to function "as a constructive
opposition and a responsible
: minority" was announced sew
: eral days ago by its sponsors
J Representatives Curtis of Mis-
; souri,, Dwyer and Cahill of New
Jersey, Lindsay and Halpern Of
New York, Conte of Massachu.
sets and Bass of New Hamp.
shire.
1t was discussed at some
length at the closed conference
earlier today but Representa-
tive Byrnes of Wisconsin. chair.
man Of the House Republican
Policy Committee, moved tc
refer it to that 30-membel
group for further study.
"SoIid Vote" in Favor
Mr.. Curtis told reporters that
there was a pretty solid vote
in favor Of the Byrnes motion
He added: But am sure
that it will come out of the
Policy Committee soon and
that we will have another op-
portunity to act on it in an
other conference"
Representative Halle
chosen again as House Repub-
!, lican leader and as the party;
candidate for Speaker against