Rules and Radicals

The first victory of the 68th Congress fell, at least nominally, to the Republican insurgents. It remains to be seen what they will gain by it.

After two days of fruitless balloting for a Speaker of the House, the insurgent leaders, Nelson of Wisconsin, Woodruff of Michigan and La Guardia of New York entered conference with majority Floor Leader Longworth.

On the following noon when the House assembled, Mr. Nelson announced that "mutual assurances" had been given:

1) That the rules of the 67th Congress should be adopted for 30 days only;

2) That amendments might be offered during that period, which should be considered by the Committee on Rules which should report to the House;

3) That the report of the Rules Committee should be subject to "reasonable discussion and amendments" and should record votes of the House;

4) That any member might propose an amendment to the rules on the floor and call for a record vote of the House;

5). That one motion to recommit should be allowed.

What the Insurgents Want. In the ordinary course of events a "regular" would move that the rules of procedure of the previous Congress be readopted, and immediately move the "previous question." By that means the question would be voted on--and probably passed--without discussion. The insurgents want to debate and vote on new rules.

They want to make Congress "truly a deliberative and debating body" by giving the House the right to withdraw any bill from Committee at any time by vote of 150 of the House, restriction of the power of the Rules Committee to limit the opportunity for amending and discussing bills on the floors, and the right to hold roll calls on amendments to bills.

The Significance. The demands of the insurgents mean principally that they want to have full opportunity to bring their measures out on the floor of the House, debate them in extenso if they prefer, and force roll calls on their measures. The Democrats made preparations to support this program, in part, at least.

The effect of the proposals if put in effect would be far-reaching. They would, as the insurgents aver, give the House better "control over itself." But they would also give a minority more power to prevent accomplishments by the majority, even if the majority were a clear majority, as the present Republican majority is not. The present rules restrict the power of the House to "control itself," but they also enable it to sort the wheat from the chaff and accomplish results.