The Evening Star (January 3, 1947)
80th Congress opens sessions
Martin elected speaker, pleads for bipartisan effort
By Gould Lincoln
BULLETIN
The House adjourned at 2:23 p.m. today after adopting a resolution providing for a joint session with the Senate in the House chamber at 1 p.m. Monday to hear President Truman’s message on the state of the Union.
The 80th Congress convened at noon today and, in the House, triumphant Republicans quickly elected Rep. Martin of Massachusetts as speaker. In the Senate, organization for the new session was stalled by debate over seating Sen. Bilbo (D-Mississippi).
Speaker Martin, the first Republican to take over the House gavel since the late Nicholas Longworth surrendered it in 1931, was elected by a vote of 244-182. In a keynote speech, he called on Democrats to cooperate with the Republicans in handling such postwar problems as labor legislation, taxation and government economy.
The election of Mr. Martin was vigorously applauded by the Democrats as well as his own colleagues. He was praised in a brief presentation speech by the retiring speaker, Rep. Rayburn of Texas.
Television lens falls
During the call of the roll to elect the speaker, the lens from a television machine fell from the gallery to the House floor, narrowly missing three members.
Earlier, the White House had announced that President Truman would deliver his state of the Union message at a joint session in the House chamber at 1 p.m. Monday, if both houses are organized then.
President watches House organization with television set
President Truman saw the House organized via television today.
A home model television instrument with a 10-inch screen was set up in the president’s office by NBC. Mr. Truman sat at his desk and saw the start of proceedings on Capitol Hill. The broadcast was through the Dumont Laboratories – Station WTTG.
Six stations were on the television network – three in New York, one in Philadelphia and the other in Schenectady, New York. It was the first time a session of Congress has been televised.
One of the first actions taken by the House was to adopt rules revised to comply with the provisions of the La Follette-Monroney Reorganization Act. This means cutting from 46 to 19 the number of standing committees and consolidation of the Military and Naval Affairs Committees.
The motion to adopt the revised rules was submitted by Rep. Allen (R-Illinois), who is to be chairman of the House Rules Committee. The action was by a voice vote.
Asks biparty effort
Jn his speech Speaker Martin also called on the Democrats to cooperate in purging the government of Communists and Fascists alike, and to “help pull our beloved country out of the economic bogs into which mistaken policies and two wars on two oceans have plunged us.”
Mr. Martin reminded his hearers that the American concept of government “rests on the idea of a dominant Congress” and that Congress is the people’s special instrument of control over their government and their governors.
The new speaker pledged his party to aid in finding a formula and basis “upon which disagreements between labor and management can be settled justly and effectively without stoppage of production.”
He pledged the Republicans to a reduction of taxation with an accompanying reduction in government expenditures; to a balanced budget and a reduction of the federal debt.
“It is not the intention of the Republicans blindly and wildly to slash here and there,” Mr. Martin said. “Our studies have shown government costs can be reduced and we intend to reduce them.”
Today’s events in the House came when Ralph Roberts, retiring doorkeeper, rapped the gavel signaling the start of the potentially historic session. A prayer by the Rev. James Shera Montgomery was the first order of business.
At the same hour the Senate’s unusually dramatic opening with the fight over seating Sen. Bilbo started off traditionally with Secretary Leslie L. Biffle banging the gavel and with a prayer said by Chaplain Frederick Brown Harris.
House quorum established
To establish a quorum, a roll call of the House by states, was started immediately. As soon as this formality was concluded nominations for speaker were made and the selection of Speaker Martin completed.
The House chamber presented a new aspect. On the Republican side the benches were filled completely and many lined the rail, evidence of the new Republican majority. On the Democratic side, there were a few vacant seats.
At the desks reserved for party leaders on the Republican side sat Mr. Martin and the newly elected Republican floor leader, Rep. Halleck of Indiana. On the opposite side former Speaker Rayburn, who is now to be Democratic floor leader, was flanked by Rep. Sabath of Illinois, dean of the House, and Rep. Doughton of North Carolina, who during Democratic control was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Reece on floor
Carroll Reece of Tennessee, former representative, now chairman of the Republican National Committee, sat on the Republican side and watched the proceedings with interest.
The Bilbo fight threatened to delay organization and possibly postpone President Truman’s State of the Union message, scheduled for presentation Monday.
Officials familiar with Senate rules said the delay could prevent the body from adopting the resolution for the joint session with the House at which the presidential message will be heard. Such a result would halt the legislative machinery cold on the Senate side, since the chamber traditionally does not even receive bills until it hears from the chief executive.
The White House announced that the president will deliver his message in person. Press Secretary Charles G. Ross said that the reading would require about 50 minutes. The president’s economic message will follow on Wednesday and the budget message two days later.
The House Republicans, having ironed out their difficulties over the office of majority leader – for the sake of party harmony and because Mr. Halleck was so far out in front in this contest he could not be overtaken – today were looking to Mr. Halleck for leadership. He was elected majority leader without opposition and by acclamation at a Republican caucus yesterday. His three opponents, Reps. Brown and Jenkins of Ohio and Dirksen of Illinois, all withdrew and asked that their names be not presented.
Halleck’s smile broad
Mr. Halleck, emerged from the private meeting with a broad smile, saying the session had proven a “remarkable demonstration of unity and harmony.”
In accepting the nomination for speaker at the same meeting Mr. Martin emphasized the “great responsibility” facing the Republicans in the coming months.
The Republican House conference chose these other officers: John Andrews of Massachusetts, House clerk, at $12,000 a year; William F. Russell of Pennsylvania, sergeant at arms, $12,000; Frank Collier of Wisconsin, postmaster, $7,500, M. L. Meletio of Missouri, doorkeeper, $9,000.
A last-minute shift in plans casts Mr. Rayburn in the role of House minority leader. He had intended to step aside, leaving the post to Rep. McCormack (D-Massachusetts), previously majority leader, but was “drafted” for further service after he was nominated by Mr. McCormack.
Changes in Senate
Sen. Barkley (D-Kentucky) becomes Senate minority leader and Senator Lucas (D-Illinois) takes over the whip – the job of making sure party members are on hand when votes are needed. Republican Carl Loeffler steps into the shoes of Mr. Biffle as secretary of the Senate. Mr. Biffle becomes director of the Minority Policy Committee.
Notwithstanding the importance of the issues which are to come before the two houses and regardless of the Bilbo matter, Congress may have to twiddle its thumbs for days to come. Committee assignments have yet to be finally approved, and legislation is not brought before either house until it has been referred to and considered by a standing committee.
While the division of top posts among the Republicans was considered closed by the party leadership, Sen. Reed of Kansas issued another blast against giving Sen. White of Maine both the floor leadership and the chairmanship of the Commerce Committee.
Sen. Reed, who had hoped to head the commerce group himself, contended in a statement last night that Sen. White had attended only four of the committee’s 67 meetings in the last congressional session.
“It would have been better party policy to distribute the posts of distinction more widely than has been done,” Sen. Reed said.