Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-14
Powell Fights
ToBar SpIitup
OF Committee
BY ROBERT X. WALSH
star staff Writer

star staff Writer
Chairman Powell and most
other Education and Labor
Committee members today op-
posed establishment OF two sep
arate committees but agreed
that the House should examine
its entire committee structure.
This proposal for a special
study and possible future d.
vision Of some existing COM
mittees came as the Rules Com
mittee finished hearings with
out acting on Q bill TO break up
the committee headed BY the
New York Democrat.
Except for Representative
Griffin, Republican Of Michi-
gan, all other Education and
Labor Committee Democrats
and Republicans who testified
before the Rules Committee to-
day. opposed the bill sponsored
BY Representative Landrum,
Democrat Of Georgia. Their
reasons for doing so differed.
however.
Chairmen Opposed
Mr.. Powell told the Rules
Committee the resolution was
opposed by chairmen Of his
committees six subcommittee.
These included Representative
Perkins. Democrat Of Ken
lucky, who probably would be
chairman Of one Of the two
separate committees II the
Education and Labor Com
mittee were split.
Mr.. Powell's appearance be-
fore the Rules Committee was
comparatively brief and com.
pletely calm . despite recent
controversy over his activities.
he himself seemed surprised BY
the reception.
Mr.. Powell presented q fac
tual account Of his committees
work and listed 237 bills which
overlapped into education and
labor fields.
He said q division into two
committees would cause COM
plex problems Of personnel,
space and financing and serI-
ously interfere with studies and
hearings already under way in
the single committee.
Foresees ''Pandora's Box
He warned also that to split
his committee would open up
a Pandora's box" Of similar
proposals for other House COM
mittees.
Representative Edith Green,
Democrat Of Oregon, and Rep
resentative Goodell, Republican
Of New York, were the only
members who referred directly
to controversy involving Mr.
Powell. Mrs. Green said 1t
would be unwise for the House
TO pass such a bill "in time Of
anger"
Mr.. Goodell cautioned that
such q move would be inter-
preted at this time as an at
tack on the chairman and an
assault on q great committee. :"
He added that It would be "the
wrong time. the wrong way and
for the wrong reason"
The committees ranking Re-
publican. Representative FREE
linghuysen Of New Jersey, told
the Rules Committee he re-
luctantly and with mixed emo
tons" opposed the Landrunn
bill.
Practical Problem
Sometimes / believe 1t would
be q good idea TO chop the
committee into even smaller
pieces and put II down the
drain, (" he said. yet I am very
much aware Of the practical
problems and endless difficult
ties that would result II we
divided 1t into two committees.
We might be jumping from the
frying pan into the fire"
Mr.. Powell yesterday had
announced he would hold q
news conference today to
discuss use Of counterpart
funds by House committee
members and staff employees
on official trips abroad, but
Cancelled 1t this morning.
The chairman and Mr.. FIRE.
linghuysen today engaged in
Q side debate over the Republic
can members complaint that
they are denied adequate staff
assistance on the committee.
Mr., Powell said that only yes
terday he offered to give the
Republicans another high