A Three-Cornered Contest

An entire week was spent by the House in selecting its committees because the organization of the House is based on the two-party system and there were actually three parties in the field. A Republican committee and a Democratic committee each named a slate for committee places. Then each slate was submitted to a party caucus and approved.

But in the approval there was more than met the eye. The Republican insurgents --a minority in the Republican caucus, but possessors of the balance of power in the House--dissented from the committee selections. They especially wanted an extra place on the Rules Committee, which will report on suggested changes in the rules for which they have been fighting (TIME, Dec. 10, Dec. 17).

Of the twelve places on the Rules Committee the Republicans held eight in the last Congress. They planned to hold the same number in the present body. The slates of Rules Committee members as approved in party caucuses were:

Republicans Democrats

Snell (N. Y.)* Pou (N. C.)*

R. C. Johnson (S. D.)*/- Garrett (Tenn.)* Schall (Minn)*/- Bankhead (Ala.)

Tilson (Ct.) O'Connor (N. Y.)

Scott (Tenn.) Burton (Ohio) A. F. Moore (Ill.) Bixler (Pa.)

With two insurgents on the Committee, the regular Republicans faced a tie vote if the troublesome two voted with the Democrats. But the insurgents clamored that Representative Nelson, their leader, should supplant one of the regulars proposed. The Democrats also would have liked another place on the Committee, changing the proportion from 8-4 to 7-5.

When the House met to confirm the Committee appointments, there was imminent possibility that the insurgents and the Democrats might combine to displace two regular Republicans, replacing one by a Democrat, one by Mr. Nelson. Scenting danger, Floor Leader Longworth immediately moved and secured adjournment.

More conferring, more bargaining, and finally another Republican caucus. The regulars had the choice of securing the support of the Democrats by offering them another seat, or by offering Mr. Nelson a place. They chose the latter course. Representative Tilson was dropped from the slate and Representative Nelson substituted. The result was the reproduction in the Rules Committee of the situation which pertains on the floor of the House--the regular Republicans short of majority, the insurgent Republicans able to give a majority to either party, the Democrats a substantial minority--5-3-4.

When the House met, these proposals were promptly confirmed. The regular Republicans had virtually their own way in other committee appointments. But control of other committees is likely to have less value than formerly, for the Democrats and Republican insurgents, on the floor and in the Rules Committee, can make whatever changes in rules they are able to agree upon.

* Members of the Rules Committee in the previous Congress./- Insurgents.