Evening star., 1961-07-01
RevomPine Of Rules Group
Fails to Increase House Bills

OuS6 DUIS
Mississippi, along with the
four Republicans. Between
them they had enough votes to
beat any motion to send legis-
lation to the floor. Such q
motion loses on a tie vote.
Statistics Compiled
Mr.. Smith, who headed the
old conservative coalition and
fought the increase. has COM
piled some statistics indicating
that the committee isn't per-
forming according to Mr.. Ray
burns plans.
During the first six months
of the present session, Mr..
Smiths statistics show, the
committee has sent to the
House for a vote 80 bills and
resolutions. During the first
six months of the opening Ses-
sion of the last Congress, the
coalition controlled committee
cleared SIS bills and resolutions
for House action.
I'VE were much more fruit
full before we were packed"
Mr.. Smith told a reporter.
Also, he added, I'VE were less
obstructionist."
During the first six months
of the 86th Congress, the
Smith dominated committee
killed "a proposals. During
the first six months of the
present session, the liberal ma
jority shelved "A.
Many of the proposals killed
this year, however, we're Op-
posed by the House leadership.
They provided for fiscal re-,
forms, changes in House pro-
cedure and similar matters on,
which the committee in past
years had taken no action.
Mandate" Claimed
Mr.. Smith, declaring that he
had "a mandate" to let the
House work its will on legisla-
ton, ordered hearings on many
proposals which he knew the
Rayburn majority on he COM
mittee would kill. His point:
That the old conservative
coalition wasn't as "cbstruc-
zionist" as the enlarged COM
mittee mas been.
Biggest bills now bottled up
in the committee deal with
assistance 10 schools, both pub
lie and private, One of them,
a general public school assist
ance measure, ranks high on
Mr.. Kennedy'S program. 1t
may never get out Of the COM
mittee because the Democrats
nominally in voting control
have split.
Two of the liberal Demo-
Gratis, both Catholics, have re-
fused to clear public school
bill until the committee ap-
proves a bill to help private
and parochial schools. Three
Southern Democrats who nor
mally follow Speaker Rayburn'S
wishes have indicated they
won't approve the parochial
aid bill. And the conservative
coalition of five Republicans
and two Southern Democrats
doesn't want any bill.
Had the committee not been
packed, Mr.. Smith said. c pub,
lie school-aid bill would be
law now" .'
Compromise Rejected
Mr.. Smith recalled that when,
the rules fight was nearing a
climax last January, he pro-
posed a compromise by which
he agreed to clear for House
action five major bills on the
Kennedy program. if the size
of the committee was not ir1s
creased.
Mr.. Rayburns forces re-
jected the offer and insisted
on assurance from Mr.. Smith
that he would clear all Ken
nedy bills. Mr.. Smith turned
down the counter offer and
the committee was enlarged,
The public school bill was one
of the five involved in Mr..
Smiths original compromise
offer.
1t could nave been cleared
promptly and would have been
law now if the committee lad
not been packed" Mr.. Smith
said. THE packing relieved
me of my agreement to vote
in committee for the five major
bills, even though I would have
opposed some of them on the
House floor"
If there is no school legisla-
ton this year, the blame may
fall on those who engineered
the Rules Committee change.
They have a voting majority
on the committee-when they
keep them in line.