Packing Byrd's Nest

Several weeks ago. White House legislative aides began sounding out Senators about a hush-hush plan to pack Harry F. Byrd's Senate Finance Committee. The notion was to increase the committee's membership by adding two Democratic liberals, thereby enhancing the prospects for both the Administration's tax revision and medicare plans.

The first probings proved promising, so Democratic Majority Leader Mike Mansfield quietly spread the word that he would seek a favorable vote in the Democratic steering committee, which makes committee assignments. At this point, Byrd, who steadfastly opposes medicare and the Kennedy tax program, let conservative Senators know that he considered the packing plan a personal affront. One of his calls went to his good friend Richard Russell of Georgia, who predictably viewed the plan as an outright assault upon the traditions of the Senate and upon his Southern colleague. On such issues, Russell can usually deliver the entire Southern conservative vote. Nearly all of the Republican Senators could be expected to oppose the plan.

Last week the President threw in the towel. Just before the steering committee was to meet. Majority Whip Hubert Humphrey got a call from White House Aide Larry O'Brien. The fight had been called off, O'Brien said. Humphrey and other Senate liberals went ahead anyway, and lost in the steering committee by a vote of 10 to 5.

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