Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-02
By ]. A. OTEARY
Star Staff Writer

BY ]. A. OTEARY
Star Staff Writer
Advocates Of a new rule to
curb Senate filibusters are
planning a drive to achieve
that goal on the opening day
Of the next Congress in jan
uary.
They served notice Of this
intention after the Senate
reached an agreement which
ended a five-day fight against
taking up the satellite COM
munication bill.
Similar attempts to write a
new rule have failed on the
opening day in other recent
years, but some observers be-
lieve it might succeed in jan
uary. 1868.
In another development yes
terday President Kennedy
made it clear that his admin
istration is standing by the
private enterprise method Of
handling the satellite commun-
ication problem, despite the
drive by a small group of lib
eral Democrats for government
ownership.
At his press conference, the
President said the pending bill
was carefully drawn to preserve
the responsibilities Of the Fed
eral government, and he re-
garded it as the most effective
way to handle the problem.
Three Pledge Help
! Senators Douglas, Democrat
of Illinois; Humphrey, Demo-
crat of Minnesota, and Javits,
Republican of New York, an
nounced they would join in the
January move for a new anti
filibuster rule.
But Senator Douglas made it
clear he was not critical of the
Senators who held the floor for
five days to prevent the satel-
lite bill from being taken up.
On the contrary, Senator
Douglas said. it ill behooyes
Senators who have always OPP
posed a change in the rules
and who have always voted
against curbing debate on civil
rights bills to denounce other
Senators because they have dis
cusSed another subject for about
one week.
He said that while he had
not taken much part in the
satellite debate he believes
much Of the discussion was
very helpful" in clarifying the
issues.
Pass Five Major Bills
Once the filibuster against
the satellite bill was ended by
the agreement to put it off for
a week, the Senate quickly
passed five other major bills.
1t completed and sent to the
White House three appropria-
ton bills carrying $48 billion
for the Defense establishment
$5.4 billion for the Treasury
and Post office Departments
and 1885 million for the In.
terror Department. These were
the first money bills for the
new fiscal year to be completed
The Senate also took final
action on a $3.7 billion author
ization for the research and
development projects Of the
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and sent to the
House a 1892 million authorize
ton program for the Atomic
Energy Commission.
Meanwhile, the satellite bill
was sent to the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee for fur
Their hearings with the under
standing it will be brought back
to the Senate floor for debate
not later than August 10. The
committee is meeting at 2:3O
o'clock this afternoon TO make
plans for the hearings, expected
to start tomorrow morning.
Ten-Year Effort
For about 10 years the
supporters Of a stronger anti
filibuster rule have been pro-
ceeding on the theory that on
the opening day of a new Con-
gress the Senate has the same
right as the House to adopt
rules for that Congress by ma
jority vote. The House always
adopts the rules for each Con-
gresS. but the Senate has pro-
ceeded on the doctrine that it
Is a continuing body and that
its rules can be changed only
on recommendation of its rules
committee.
Up to now, Senate liberals
never have been able to muster
a majority to support their
opening day contention, but
the number voting with them
has increased steadily.
On the last attempt In jan