HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES in Order That the Members of Congress ILLINOIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1947 and the People May Know the Full Facts Jesse B

1947 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 371

ARKANSAS Ellen Lucile Kerr, Grand Prairie, Tex., in land abuses UNRRA; an article from Tom C. Morris,. Berryville, Ark., in place of place of R. L. Hight, resigned. Life. Tom Morris, Jr. Incumbent's commission Walter L. Hunter, Lake Dallas, Tex. Office expired March 30, 1942. became Presidential July 1, 1946. BRITISH LOAN AGREEMENT Pauline Stagner, McDade, Tex., in place of CALIFORNIA Mr. BUFFETT. Mr. Speaker, I ask J. H. Watson, resigned. unanimous consent to address the House William R. Woods, Gustine, Calif., in place · Charles L. Haynes, San Marcos, Tex., in of R . S. Woodruff, resigned. for 1 minute. place of W. M. Burnett, resigned. . The SPEAKER. Is there objection Mary Louise Reid, Sloat, Calif., in place of Euel B. Britton, Stamford, Tex., in place Of to P. A. Zimmerman, declined. R. C. Thomas, deceased. the request of the gentleman from FLORIDA Nebraska? WASHINGTON Chandos W. McMullen, Bay Pines, Fla., in · There was no objection. place of A. W. Martin, declined. John A. Croy, Chelan, Wash. . , in place of Mr. BUFFETT. Mr. Speaker., the Henry S. Thompson, Perry, Fla., in place W. K. Kingman, resigned. newspapers of the last few days have of J. P. Puckett, resigned. Lawrence C. Tompkins, Suquamish, Wash., in place of R. I. Matheson, deceased. carried several startling stories about an IDAHO apparent direct violation of the British Sam 0. Noble, Bruneau, Idaho, in place of. loan: agreement by Great Britain in its E. M. Grant, resigned. trade pact with Argentina a few months Fred 0. Stedman, Kendrick, Idaho, in place ago. _ of C. H. Daugherty, resigned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In order that the Members of Congress ILLINOIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1947 and the people may know the full facts Jesse B. Thacker, !Butler, Til. Office became about this situation, I am today writing Presidential July 1, 1945. The House met at 12 o'clock noon. Sec:retary of the Treasury John Snyder Charles J. Murphy, Oak Park, Ill., in place The Chaplain, Rev. James Shera Mont for complete copies of his correspond of J. L. Lynch, resigned. gomery, D. D., offered the following ence with Hugh Dalton, Chancelor of the Roy M. Martin, Springerton, Ill. Office be prayer: British Exchequer, on this development. came Presidential July 1, 1944. It is obvious that the House of Repre INDIANA Bow down Thine ear, 0 Lord, and hear sentatives has a continuing responsi E'dward L. Pequignot, Pierceton, Ind., ln our prayer for Thy name's sake. We bility in this matter. place of J. R. Smith, transferred. thank Thee that neither time nor place Eight hundred million dollars has al IOWA can separate us from the love of God, ready been advanced under the British· Francis L. Porter, Clarion, Iowa·,.in place of which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. loan agreement. Until full information Richard Tomke, deceased. In the spirit of the Teacher of Galilee, has become available to the House, it 1s Kenneth I. Morrow. Diagonal, Iowa, in place we would dr~w near to Thee and ask impossible to indicate whether action on of E. E. Wiley, tra:nsferred. that in all things we may put first things the part of the House will be necessary. LOUJS.JANA first-patience, unity, and consecration to the public weal. Allow us not to in ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO STANDING T. Oliver Thibodaux, Donaldsonvme, La.,· COMMITTEES !n place of P. T. Thibodaux, retired. dulge in selfishness, with its illusion of gain, but in the goodness and stability The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes MAINE the gent'leman from Rhode Island [Mr. Chester C. Tuttle, Kennebunk, Maine, ln of our Republic. We pray for decisions place of W. D. Hay, deceased. to come through with wisdom and skill. FORAND]. Make us all susceptible to helpful influ Mr. FORAND. Mr. Speaker, I offer a MICHIGAN ences, born iri deep conviction, in the resolution RD, for the benefit of Members well be a text for a sermon to those who said to me: of Congress and the general public, a in any session of Congress attempt the PLUMLEY, you will never know what it is all compilation of information which was rapids before they have learned to swim. about and why unless and until you read one of the most valuable contributions How, then, may a newly elected Rep Legislative Procedure, Legislative Assemblies, ever made. He entitled it "Many Ques resentative fit himself for efficient service Legislative Principles, and Legislative Prob tions That Many Ask About the Con and the discharge of his duties? This lems, four recognized works of authority gress, Its Works and Ways, Are Here written by Robert Luce, the eminent parlia is an ever recurring question with which mentary authority from Massachusetts. Answered." all of us . are confronted. So it may not Since that date other contributions be out of place, and 1 hope. may not be In Legislative Procedure, Mr. Luce have been made based on Representa considered presumptuous, Mr. Speaker, states: tive Hardy's original, none of which has if, with a due appreciation of my own Lawmakers must themselves be governed contained all of the subject matter, and limitation, I undertake to pass on to by law, else they would in confusion worse none of which has entirely brought up to others some of the answers, counsel, and confounded quickly come to grief. date the information contained therein. advice so generously given by those older It is true that with Coke and Blackstone Both the Honorable Arthur P. Lam ardmore experienced in service to whom and Kent we do not ordinarily class Hatsell and Hinds. It is true that the literature of neck, a Representative from Ohio in the we have turned for such counsel as has parliamentary law is scanty and that it deals Seventy-second through the Seventy helped us to steer past whirlpools ·w.here with minutiae of seemingly little conse fifth Congresses, and I have undertaken in we most surely would have at least quence to human rights. Yet think what at one time or another to use a part of capsized and has saved us from many the law and the practice of legislative assem the material. prospective bumps and bruises and made blies really mean. They make it possible When Mr. Hardy spoke in the House life bearable for us. under a representative form of government for the will of the people to be ascertained. on the works and ways of the Congress One of the wiser and more farseeing Starting with the assumption that this will he started something, the value of which of my friends advised me to familiarize ' is the will of the majority, we can give it is evidenced by the demand, then, for myself with Lewis Deschler's Jefferson's expression and effect only by processes that reprints of his address and, later, for Manual and Rules of the House of Rep at the same time endow it with form and copies of my own speech, The Making resentatives. win submission by the minority. Lacking of a Congressman, made in the Sev Says House Parliamentarian Deschler: either achievement, chaos follows. enty-sixth Congress, on February 24, From the beginning of the first Congress, Again he says: 1939, and based largely on his earlier the House has formulated rules for its pro Herein lies the safety of the minority, and contribution which I endeavored to re cedure. Some of them have since gone out this it is that makes parliamentary law and vise and to extend along certain inform of existence. More of them have been am procedure of the greatest consequence to the ative lines. plified and broadened to meet the exigencies public safety. Government survives because The Legislative Reorganization Act of that have arisen from time to thne. Today the lesser part yields to the greate.11 part. 1946-Public Law 601 of the Seventy they are perhaps the most finely adjusted, Teutonic peoples have had more success than ninth Congress-which embodies tl;le scientifically balanced, and highly technical others in self. government because with them rules of any parliamentary body of the world. the minority, however convinced of its own recommendations of the Joint Commit Under them a majority may work its will wisdom, consents to be ruled by the majority tee on the Organization of Congress, at all times in the face of the most deter until in orderly fashion the minority can necessarily makes obsolete or incorrect mined and vigorous opposition of a mi make itself the majority. The minority in some of the information contained in the· nority. * * * sists on only the right to be heard. Theirs original and in the 1940 revision of "The I believe that I am not making too broad is the cry of Themistocles to Euripides, Making of a Congressman." a statement when I say that the parliamen "Strike, but hear me!" Give them but the Since, as I say, I have had over the tary practice of the House is a system of chance to present their arguments fairly, procedure that ranks second to none. It has fully, and they will abide the issue. This years a great many requests for copies proven adequate to meet all the emergencies is what we call liberty, though just why it and since the demand continues even that have arisen in the past. It will meet would be hard to tell. * * * today, I feel the speech should be the emergencies and problems of the future Thomas Jefferson took the same view. Re brought up to date. Therefore, at the with the same degree of success. ferring to Hatsell i~ the introductory words request of many Representatives, I have of his Manual, he recalled that Mr. Onslow, attempted to correct and extend the Having done that, my friend advised the ablest among the Spealters of the House speech I made. · me to study Representative CLARENCE of Commons, used to say: "It was a maxim With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I CANNON's Procedure in the House of Rep he had often heard when he was a young resentatives. man, from old and experienced members, submit this 1947 revision. that nothing tended more to throw power On the 27th day of February, 1882, the CLARENCE CANNON, as you know, is our into the hands of administration, and those then Senator James G. Blaine, of Maine, colleague, the distinguished Representa who acted with the majority of the House delivered a memorial oration before the tive from the State of Missouri, former of Commons, than a neglect of, or departure two Houses in commemoration of the life Parliamentarian of the House and long from, the rules of proceeding; that these and death of President James A. Gar the chairman of the House Committee on forms, as instituted by your ancestors, oper In ated as a check and control on the actions field. In the course of his oration Sena Appropriations. the foreword to his of the majority, and that they were in many tor Blaine said: work, he says: instances a shelter and protection to the There is no test of a man's ability in any The time of the House is too valuable, the minority against the attempts of power." department of public life more severe than scope of its enactments too far-reaching, and So far, said Jefferson, the maxim is cer service in the House of Representatives; the constantly increasing pressure of its bust- tainly true and is founded in good sense, 378 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE JANUARY 16 that as it is always in the power of the acts were passed providing for the meet and domestic; that I will bear true faith and majority, by their numbers, to stop any im ing of Congress on other days in the allegiance to the same; that I take this ob proper measures proposed on the part of year. Since that year Congress met reg ligation freely, without any mental reserva their opponents, the only weapons by which tion or purpose of evasion; and that I will the minority can defend themselves against ularly on the first Monday in Decembe1-' well and faithfully discharge the duties of similar attempts from those in power are until 1934, when the 4twentieth amend the office on which I am about to enter. So the forms and rules of proceeding which ment to the Constitution became effec help me,_God. have been adopted as they were found neces tive, changing the meeting of Congress sary from time to time and are become the to January 3, unless the Congress shall, The Constitution provides that the law of the House; by a strict adherence to by law, appoint a different date. President of the United States, Senators, which only the weaker party can be protected The general elections held in the fall Representatives, me~bers of the several from those irregularities and abuses which of every even year determine the compo State legislatures, and all executive and these forms were intended to check, and judicial officers, both of the United States which the wantonness of p:::Jwer is but too sition of the House membership for the often apt to suggest to large and successful ensuing 2 years with the Members-elect and of the several States, shall be bound majorities. subscribing to the oath of office and by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution. I commend the foregoing references to being inducted into office in the January your careful consideration, and I also following. WHAT ABOUT EXTRA SESSIONS? suggest a thorough study of the provi WHAT IS A CONGRESSMAN? The President may call the Congress sions of Public Law No. 601, the Legisla Strictly speaking, a Member of either to meet in extraordinary session at any tive Reorganization Act of 1946. the Senate or the House of Representa time he thinks the interests of the coun- · And now we come to the practical tives is a Con~ressman. However, in try justify it. proposition which has confronted us all, general practice we speak of a Member There has been only one four-session as to the source of information with of the Senate as a Senator and of a Congress, the Sixty-seventh, during respect to our daily duties, and· as to Member of the House as a Congressman, President Harding's administration. where we can get information, and from although the official title of the latter is The longest session of the Congress whom, and what shall we do next. Representative in Congress. was the third session of the Seventy-sixth With certain deletions, therefore, and · HOW MANY MEMBERS? Congress, from January 3, 1940, through with several additions of my own, I now There are 96 United States Senators, January 3, 1941. The shortest session offer for your consideration the Hardy 2 from each of the 48 States in the was the 10-day session called by Presi original br~ught down to date: Union. dent Pierce to enact an Army appropria WHAT IS CONGRESS? There are 435 Members of the House tion measure in 1856. The Senate, alone, of Representatives, each State being en has been called into special session even Congress is the legislative body of the for 1-day or 2-day sessions, but in such United States Government. The func titled to the number its population justi fies. The Member or Members of the cases it was for the purpose of confirm tions of the National Government are ing Presidential appointments; the latter divided into three .parts: Executive, House to which each State is entitled is determined on the basis of the decennial body may be called in extra session, with judicial, and legislative. States have qut the House, to consider treaties, try their State legislatures. Cities have census: There are two methods under existing law which may be followed in impeachments, and confirm appoint their city councils. The Nation has its ments. Congress. Its existence, authority, and making the apportionment; one method limitations are provided by the Consti is known as that of "major fractions," HOW ARE VACANCIES FILLED? tution. Article I, section 1, reads: and the other is known as "the method of . Members do die in office, and occa All legislative powers herein granted shall equal proportions." Under no circum sionally one resigns, usually to take what be vested in a Congress of the United States, stances shall any State have less than he considers to be a better office, however. which shall consist of a Senate and House of one Member. When a Senator dies or resigns, the gov Representatives. While Congress, by law, apportions the ernor of his State may appoint his suc HOW LONG HAVE WE HAD A CONGRESS? number of Representatives to each State, cessor to serve only until an election is The First Congress met 158 years ago, the State legislatures establish the dis held, providing his State legislature has on March 4, 1789, in New York City, tricts from which the selection shall be given him the authority. If a Repre where the first and second sessions were made. sentative dies or resigns, his place can held; subsequently, including the first In addition to tlie Members of the not be filled by appointment. The gov session of the Sixth Congress, Philadel House from the various States, Alaska ernor of his State may call a special phia was the meeting place; since then and Hawaii each have Delegates, aiUI election to fill the place, if he desires, or, Congress has convened in Washington, Puerto Rico has a Resident Commis as is done in many cases, the place may D.c.· sioner. The Delegates and Resident be left vacant until the next general The earlier Continental Congress, Commissioner have the right of debate election. 1774-89, to be sure, had various places of but have no vote upon legislation ap WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A MEMBER? pearing before the House for action. meeting and included Philadelphia; Bal.:. They are many and manifold. He timore; Lancaster, Pa.; York, Pa.; WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE REQUiltED FOR should study legislation and attend the Princeton, N. J.; Annapolis, Md.; Tren MEMBERSHIP? meetings of his House. He should listen ton, N.J.; and New York City. The Constitution provides that a Mem to a good deal of the debates, but not all Incidentally, the President is author ber of the House of Representatives must of them by any means. Many Members ized by proclamation to convene Congress have attained the age of 25, have been a are kept in committee meetings many at such place other than Washington as citizen of the United States for 7 years, hours of many days of every session. The he may judge proper when "from the and be an inhabitant of the State in average Member develops a large office prevalence of contagious sickness, or the which he is elected. In practice he is business. The Members get a vast existence of other circumstances, it usually a resident of the district which amount of mail. This requires· much would, in the opinion of the President, he represents, but that is not a constitu study, dictation of replies, and often be hazardous to the lives or health of the tional requirement. A United States visits to different executive departments Members to meet'' in Washington. Senator must have attained the age of downtown. The departments are far WHEN DOES CONGRESS MEET? 30 years, have been a citizen of the away and often far apart. Many ex The Constitution, article I, section 4, United States for 9 years, and be an in servicemen bring their problems to their provides that- · habitant of the State which elects him. Congressman, and he is always glad to · The Congress shall ·assemble at least once WHAT OATH DO MEMBERS TAKE? help them out when and wherever he in every year • • • on the first Mon The oath of office taken by the Mem can, although he has not the power al day in December, unless they shall by law bers of the House is administered by the ways to do as much as he would like. appoint a di1Ierent day. Speaker, and by the Vice President to A Member will get a thousand let Pursuant to a resolution of the Conti the Senators. It reads: ters, or maybe several thousand letters, nental Congress, the first session of the I do solemnly swear (or am.rm) that I will in a session from citizens advocating or First Congress convened March 4, 1789; support and defend the Constitution of the opposing proposed legislation. Usually up to and including May 20, 1820, 18 United States aga.tnst all enemies, foreign a Congressman answers every letter, 1947 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOU. -SE 379 though he cannot tell everybody what WHAT IS THE COMMITTEE ON RULES? What is available, then, in the way of he thinks about every bill that has been This is one of the most important time-saving and preparation beyond a introduced. He must wait developments committees as it controls the destiny of Member's own staff? The new Legisla through committee hearings and give more proposed legislation than · any tive Reorganization Act points up some thought to those measures that are be other. Bills from the Ways and Means of the aids, but I would emphasize to you ing brought forward by favorable com and-Appropriations Committees-have the that developments under the new system mittee action. right-of-way, so to speak, and can al are matters of degree rather than of WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT COMMITTEES? ways be brought up for consideration. kind. Congress did not in 1946 become The two most important are probably Other committees have only a few calen for the first time aware that it needed Appropriations and Ways and . Means. dar days in any one session on which expert assistance in the drafting of leg All bills that relate to the appropriation their bills may be brought up. So many islation, or that its committees needed of money must be considered by and bills reported out cannot be brought up specialists in the fields of their particular reported out by the Appropriations Com- . for consideration. The Rules Commit interest, or that the resources of the mittee of the House. This committee tee can report a rule for consideration Library of Congress could be of tre consists of 43 members, 25 Republicans of a bill any day. It can bring in a rule mendous assistance if adequately inter and 18 Democrats. It reports out bills for the consideration of any bill that preted and brought to bear on specific that carry appropriations for billions has been reported out of any committee problems. Committees had hired ex each year. any time. In the last days of a session perts before, but on a special-job basis. The Ways and Means Committee has special rules to bring out special bills Congress had set up for itself a drafting to consider and report out all bills that are much in demand. The Rules Com service back in 1919; and ever since 1915 have in any way to do with raising rev mittee has much power, certainly has it has had a Legislative Reference Serv enue, tariff, or any sort of taxes. This the power of selection, but it must be ~ce, in the Library of Congress, expand committee consists of 25 members, 15 fair and discriminating, selecting what mg as we have increased our calls upon Republicans and 10 Democrats. All rev the majority of Congress seems to want it, and recently equipped to undertake enue bills must originate in the House most, as the rule it brings in must be even more varied and important research of Representatives and come out of the adopted by the House. than ever before. Ways and Means Committee. WHAT IS THE STEERING COMMITTEE? Do you have questions of fact or law There are 19 standing House commit This is a committee not much heard which must be answered and which your tees and 15 standing committees in the of nor mentioned in the newspapers. office staff is not equipped to handle Senate. · And I dare say that hardly two dozen readily? Telephone or write the Legis lative Reference Service; put your ques HOW ARE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS MADE? Members of the House can tell the names of all the members of the steering com tion frankly and clearly; they are your The Legislative Reorganization Act of confidential agents for the purposes of 1946 provides that- mittee. This is a little party adjunct to help promote legislation the majority is your particular inquiry. They will not All vacancies in standing, committees in interested in, and to help iron out a pretend to give a legal opinion, but they the House shall be filled by el_ection by the will identify and analyze the law for House. Each Member shall be elected to program of procedure, especially in the serve on one standing committee and no closing days of a session. It is composed you; they will analyze a given issue and more; except that Members who are elected of nine of the older majority Members. line up the arguments pro and con· they to serve on the Committe-e on the District In addition, the majority leader acts as will run down facts and present' them of Columbia or on the Committee on On chairman. When important· matters without bias.. They are not field inves American Activities may be elected to serv~ are up for consideration the Speaker tigators, but so far as published sources on two standing committees and no more, and the chairman of the Rules Com are available to them, they will ferret and Members of the majority party who are out, compile, and analyze data at your ·elected to serve on the Committee on House mittee sit in. This committee really has Administration may be elected to serve on a good deal of influence in helping to request and to the extent of their staff two standing committees and no more. ·shape up the legislative program. capacity. WHAT ARE CONFERENCES AND CONFEREES? It is this matter of staff capacity which The act provides, further, that- is forwarded by the Reorganization Act. Each Senator shall serve on two standing The House passes a bill, for instance. It goes to the Senate and may be much Under its provisions the staff of the Leg committees and no more, except that Sen islative Reference Service is being ators of the majority party who are members amended over there, as are appropria of the Committee on the District of Columbia tions and tariff bills usually. The House strengthened all along the line, but espe or of the Comz;nittee on Expenditures in the will not accept the amendments. So the cially at the top levels, with the intent Executive Departments may serve on three bill is sent to conference. The House to have at the service of Congress re standing committees and no more. appoints three or five Members as con search men of the very highest ability In actual practice the selections for ferees and the Senate appoints an equal in the fields where they are most likely committee assignments are made for the number. These gentlemen meet and to be useful. Republicans by their Committee on Com hold a conference and discuss the points If any Member wants to do research mittees, and for the Democrats by the in disagreement. The conferees of the himself, excellent facilities are available Democratic Committee on Committees. Senate give up some items and the con to him. He need only call the congres These selections are then confirmed by ferees of the House agree to some. sional reading room at the Library of election by the House. Finally they get together on a bill some Congress and a desk will be reserved for As a rule, once on an important com where between the position taken by him with attendants to give him every mittee a member stays there as long as each House. Sometimes the conferees possible assistance. he is in Congress. 11 a vacancy occurs do not give up easily; sometimes the con Do you want to follow the significant on an important committee, a member ference drags on for days or weeks, and periodical press and yet find you have from another committee may be given they have run for months. Usually they not time to do it? Call the abstracts the place by the Committee on Commit get together, and usually the conference office of the Legislative Reference Serv tees if he desires it, and if he has the report is adopted by both Houses. Which ice and have them send you their public seniority and influence to get it. New end of the Capitol is the most stubborn? affairs abstracts of selected current ar Members get the places left available. Well, the other end, of course. ticles on -matters of prime importance. WHO APPOINTS THE CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES? WHAT RESEARCH ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE Do you want to discuss some problem They are elected by the House. In TO MEMBERS? personally? Call the Director of the actual practice, however, the Member of One of the chief reasons for the new Legislative Reference Service. If he has the majority party who has served long legislative reorganization was a growing someone on his staff versed in the subject est on any committee is selected as chair recognition of the fact that proper and matter, he will suit your convenience. man. Here seniority plays an important effective functioning of the Congress de At present there are experts available in part. The chairmen, of course, all come pends upon adequate preparation, and of American government and public admin from the majority party, and the major the further fact that a Congressman's istration, congressional organization and ity of the members of all committees are · day, like everyone else's, has just 24 procedure, international relations,'inter of the dominant party. hours. national trade, law, labor, monef and 380 CONGRESSIONAL. RECORD-HOUSE JANUARY 16 b~nking, national defense, ·price eco tion referred to a committee having engrossment and third reading is not nomics, State gove),'nment, taxation, and juri~diction over the subject, giving au made from the floor, but is put by the so on. thority to report a bill. Sometimes com Speaker as a matter of course. We have in the Legislative Reference munications addressed to the House from Eighth. Passage: The question on the Service at the Library of Congress a tool the executive departments or from other passage of a bill is put by the Speaker of proven value and enlarging possibili sources are referred to committees by as a matter of course, without awaiting ties. It is Congress' own answer, based the Speaker and give authority for the a motion from the floor. . . on·experience, to the need of committees committees to originate bills. Messages Ninth. Transmission to the Senate by and individual Members for further heip from the President also are referred by message. in the complex business of legislating the Speaker of the House and give juris Tenth. Consideration by the S ~nate: for the Nation. diction to the committees receiving them IIi the Senate, House bills are UJUally . HOW DO MEMBERS KNOW TO WHOM TO ADDRESS to originate bills . referred to committees for consideration INQUIRIES? SBcond. Reference to a standing com and report, after which they have their With an expanding Federal service and mittee: Bills are referred under direction several readings, with opportunities for the growth of governmental machinery, of the Speaker. A bill is numbered and debate and amendment. The same pro it has been found necessary to bring into printed when referred. cedure takes place in the House as to being a clearing house known as the Gov Study of the bill is then undertaken bills sent from the Senate. . ernment Information Service. Handling · by the committee membership, often Eleventh. Return of, from the Senate thousands of inquiries asking general in times by a subdivision of the committee, without amendments: If the Senate formation concerning all phases of gov before whom proponents and opponents passes a House bill without amendment ernmental activity, the Division of Public of the contemplated legislation are it returns it to the House, where it is Inquiries of the Government Information heard. The various governmental sub at once enrolled on parchment for sig Service, .in addition, edits the United divisions to be atiected are consulted, and nature A bill thus passed without States Government Manual, in which is Members of Congress other than com amendment goes into possession of the recorded integrated authoritative infor mittee members are heard. Clerk and is not laid before the House mation on the organization and func Third. Reported from the committee: prior to enrollment. If the Senate re tions of the departments and agencies of Committees having leave to report at any jects a House bill, the House is informed. the Federal Government. It is a volume time make their reports from the floor; Similar procedure occurs when the House which no congressional office could well other committees make their reports by passes a Senate bill without amenQ.mept. do without. laying them on the Clerk's table in Twelfth. Return of, from the Senate Incidentally, in this connection, I want formally. The bill and the report are with amendments: House bills returned to call to the attention of the newly printed when reported. with Senate amendments go to tbe elected Members that valuable compila Fourth. Placed on the calendar: Oc Speaker's table. If any Senate amend tion entitled "Our American Govern casionally a privileged bill is considered ment requires consideration in Commit when reported, but usually it is placed, tee of the WhoJe, the bill is referred by ment-What Is It? How Does It Func with the unprivileged bills on the cal tion?" This is House Do~ument No. 465 the Speaker informally to the standing of the Seventy-ninth Congress, second endar where it belongs under the rule by committee having jurisdiction, and when session compiled by Representative direction of the Speaker. that committee reports the bill with rec WRIGH~ PATMAN, of Texas. Although, in Fifth. Consideration in Committee of ommendations it is referred to the Com view of the Legislative Reorganization the Whole: Bills which do not raise rev= . mittee of the Whole House on the State Act this document, too, is in need of enue or make or authorize appropria of the Union, to be there considered and revision-and probably will be revised tions of money or property do not go reported to the House itself. When no later this session-there is a tremendous through this stage. All other bills are Senate amendment requires considera lot of information in it which is still au considered in Committee of the Whole. tion in Committee of the Whole the bills thentic and reliable. It is a cumulative The stages of consideration in Commit come before the House directly from the composite of all the attempts of many tee of the Whole are: General debate; Speaker's table. people to get into one document the reading for amendment under the 5- Thirteenth. Consideration of Senate answers to the many questions asked by minute rule; order to lay aside with a amendments by the House: When a bill favorable recommendation or to rise and with Senate amendments comes before constituents and others concerning our report; reporting of the bill to the House. Government. It well repays examina the House, the House takes up each tion. · Sixth. Reading a second time in the amendment by itself and may vote to HOW ARE BILLS WRITTEN? House: Bills not requiring consideration agree to it, agree to it witb an amend in Committee of the Whole are read a ment, or disagree to it. If it disagrees, Although many bills are written by the second time in full, after which they are Members themselves, the Congress has it may ask a conference with the Senate open to debate and amendment in any or may send notice of its disagreement, wisely provided for legislative counsel to part. Bills considered in Committee of aid the Members and the committees in leaving it to the Senate to recede or to the Whole are read a second time in full insist and ask the conference. drafting measures of a more complicated in that Committee and when reported nature. This corps of expert legislative Fourteenth. Settlement of ditierences out with or without amendments are not by conference: When disagreements are draftsmen take note of the general ob read in full again, but are subject to referred to conference, the managers jective sought to be attained by the Mem further debate or amendment in the ber and mold his idea into parliamentary embody their settlement in a report, House unless the previous question is which is acted on by each House as a legal form. ordered at once. When his bill is written up, the Mem whole. When this report is agreed to, Seventh. Engrossment and third read the bill is finally passed and is at once ber droT)s it in the basket on the Clerk's ing: The question on House bills is taken enrolled for signature. desk. it is then referred to the appro on ordering the engrossment and third priate committee. Many bills lie in com Fifteenth. Enrollment on parchment: reading at one vote. If decided in the The House in which a bill originates mittee undisturbed and are never heard affirmative, the reading a third time usu enrolls it. from again. In some cases they have ally takes place at once, by title. But served their purpose without further ac · Sixteenth. Examination by the Com any Member may demand the reading in mittee on House Administration to see tion. They have advertised the Member full of the engrossed copy, in which case that the bill is correctly enrolled. and the project. Many bills are intro the bill is laid aside until it can be en Seventeenth. Signing by the Speaker duced that have not the slightest chance grossed. Senate bills come to the House of serious consideration or passage. of the House and the President of the in engrossed form, and the question is Senate: The enrolled bill is first laid be STAGES OF A BILL IN THE HOUSE put on third reading alone. When the fore the Speaker for signature, whether First. Introduction: By a Member by question on engrossment and third read it be a H'ouse or a Senate bill, after laying the bill on the Clerk's table in ing of a House bill or third reading of which it is transmitted to the Senate formally. A Member sometimes intro a Senate bill is decided in the negative, and signed by the President of that body. duces a petition only, leaving to the com the bill is lost as much as if defeated Eighteenth. Transmittal to the Presi mittee the drawing of a bill; such a peti- ·on the final passage, The question on dent of the United States: It is the duty 1947 .CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 381 of the Committee on House Administra ber asks for unanimous consent to do this counting and then announces the result. tion to carry the enrolled bill-when it or that--to correct the REcORD, to speak But if he is still in doubt, or if a demand shall have originated in the House-to for 5 minutes or more out of order, to is made by one-fifth of a quorum-that the President. This duty is performed insert remarks in the RECORD, to change is, 20 in the Committee of the Whole or in the case of bills which have originated an amendment he has offered, to have a 44 in the House-tellers are ordered. in the Senate by the Senate Committee letter read. If there is no objection on The Speaker appoints one gentleman on on Rules and Administration. the part of any Member, then consent is each side of the question to make the Nineteenth. Action by the President: granted. Frequently a gentleman says, count. The two tellers take their place He may, first, promptly sign the bill, "I object," and that settles that. · at the head of the center aisle. All Mem whereupon it becomes law as of its effec The leader of the majority makes bers favoring the proposition walk tive date. He may, second, hold it with many unanimous-consent r quests, and through between the tellers and are out taking any action, in which case it usually they are granted. He may ask counted. Then those opposed walk becomes law at the expiration of 10 consent to meet at a certain hour, to througn and are counted. This vote set-. days-Sundays excepted-without his adjourn over for a day or two, to hold a ties most questions. . signature, provided Congress is still in night session, to have so many hours But a roll call may be demanded by session. He may, third, hold the meas for debate on a bill, to take up specified anybody on any question .in the. House, ure, and by so doing, kill it, if Congress matters on certain days out of order, to and if supported by one-fifth of those adjourns before the bill has been in his set days for the Private and Consent present it is ordered. This privilege is hands 10 days-the so-called pocket veto. Calendars. The granting of the request guaranteed by the Constitution. The • He may, fourth, veto the bill outright. saves the passing of motions or the mak- Clerk reads the names· of the whole mem Twentieth. Action on, when returned ing of rules. · bership, and as his or her name is called disapproved: The House to which a dis Many bills are passed by unanimous the Member answers "Aye" or "No." approved bill is returned has the message consent. All bills of a private character The names of those not voting the first read and spread on its Journal. It may go on the Private Calendar. time are read a second time, so that all then consider at once the question of And another character of bills go on Members in corridors, cloakrooms, com passing the bill notwithstanding the the Consent Calendar. On days when mittee rooms, or offices, who have been President's objections, or may postpone these bills are in order the Clerk reads notified of a roll call by signal bells, may to a day certain, or refer to a commit the title of the bill, the Speaker asks, "Is come in and vote. tee for examination. The vote on pass there objection?" Any Member may Roll calls are ordered sometimes to get ing the bill notwithstanding the Presi say, "I object.~· if he desires, in which a full vote on a measure, because of a dent's objections must be carried by two case the bill cannot be taken up; and the lack of a quorum, sometimes because thirds. If the bill fails to pass in the next title is read. If no objection is Members want to be on record on a House to which it is returned, it remains made, the bill is read and passed very measure, and sometimes to put the other there; but if it passes it is sent to the quickly, usually. The theory is that if side on record against the measure for other Mouse for action. no one cares to object to a bill certainly imaginary political advantage. The roll Twenty-first. Filing with the Secre many would not vote against it, so it calls are published in the CONGRESSIONAL tary of State: When approved by the ought to be passed. Both party organi RECORD and are sometimes quqted to a President a bill is deposited in the office zations have several Members who make Member's advantage or disadvantage, as of the Secretary of State; and when the it their business to study all bills on the the case may be. two Houses have passed a bill notwith Consent Calendars and be ready to object Many bills of lesser importance and standing the President's objections, the or insist on what they think proper in some of greater importance are passed Presiding Officer of the House which acts the way of amendments before consent without a roll call. This can be done if a on it last transmits· it to the Secretary is granted for the bill to be considered. quorum is present when the vote is taken of State. Often a Member will arise and say: and as many as one-fifth of those present VETOES "Reserving the right to object," and ask do not demand a roll call. This is done Contrary to the practice followed in questions about the bill. This gives the often to save time and sometimes to save most of the State governments, the Chief author of the bill a chance to explain or Members the embarrassment of having · Executive must approve. or disapprove a defend it, and sometimes quite a little to be recorded for or against a measure. · bill in its entirety; he cannot accept part debate is stirred up even on consent days. WHAT IS A QUORUM? and reject part. After a while somebody may shout, ''Reg Nevertheless, not so many bills are ve ular order!" The Speaker says, "Regular Everybody who ever attended a literary toed as one might expect. By and large, order is demanded"; whereupon the gen society knows that it requires a quorum the opinion of Alexander Hamilton that tleman who started the trouble by "re to do business. In the House of Repre the veto would "generally be employed serving the right to object" must imme sentatives a quorum is a majority of the with great caution" has been borne out. diately make his objection or withdraw membership. When there are no vacan Grover Cleveland set an all-time high, it. He may be just as apt to do one as cies in the membership a quorum is 218. however, with 358 vetoes, until the ad the other, and on his decision rests the There are usually a few vacancies-Mem ministration of Franklin Roosevelt, destiny of some anxious Member's im bers who have diecJ or resigned .and their , whose vetoes exceeded Cleveland's con portant bill-for all bills are important places yet unfilled. So an actual quorum siderably. to their hopeful authors. On consent is usually a little under that figure. It is interesting to note that seven days Members with bills on the calendar Much business is transacted without a Presidents made no use of the veto power are most patient, polite, and persuasive quorum. But no business of any char whatever, the last of these being Presi in their ways toward the gentlemen who acter, except to adjourn, can be trans dent Garfield.· sit at the table and whose business it is acted without a quorum present if any Member objects. All any Member has to ARE MANY BILLS INTRODUCED? to inquire into the merits of bills coming up. do to get a full House is to arise, address The all-time high record is held by the HOW ARE THE VOTES TAKEN? the Speaker, and make the point of order Sixty-first Congress, during which 33,015 that "no quorum is present." The Speak bills were introduced in the House, and Four different ways. Usually the er says, "I will count." ·u he cannot 10,897 in the Senate. More nearly Speaker puts the question in this form: count a majority present, the doors are normal, although still above the average, "As many as are in favor (of t:O.e mo closed, the signal bells are rung in the is the number introduced in the Seventy tion) say 'Aye,'" and then, "As many corridors and House Office Building, and sixth Congress, 18,754 bills. as are opposed say 'No.' " In most in ·the roll is called. This usually produces Not all the bills introduced are en stances the vote taken thu~ is decisive a quorum, and business proceeds. acted, however. The chances are, rough enough to :satisfy. But if the Speaker is When the House is in Committee of the ly, about 1 in 10 that the bill introduced in doubt, or if it sounds close, any Mem Whole, a hundred Members make a will be enacted into law. .ber may ask for a division. In this case the Speaker asks those in favor to stand quorum. WHAT IS UNANIMOUS CONSENT? up and be counted. Then those opposed IS LEGISLATION MUCH INFLUENCED BY ORATORY? Many little actions are taken in the to the proposition are ask~d to stand up Not much. People back home may pic- · House by unanimous consent. The Mem- and be counted. The Speaker does the . ture the House as a forum for debate 382 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE JANUARY 16 upon the merits of the many bills they SIONAL RECORD with the proceedings each Sixteenth amendment provides power read about. It is in a way, but most of day. for Congress to levy a tax on incomes. the debate is as potent as a sham battle. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF THE WHIP? It was ratified in 1913. Very few bills that are brought up in the The whip is not an official position. It Seventeenth amendment provides that House for action unjer general or special is a party designation. Both parties United States Senators shall be elected rules are defeated. I think more than 95 have their whips. The whip looks after by popular vote. Previous . to its adop percent of bills thus brought up are the membership of his party, advises tion Senators had been chosen by State passed, despite the forensic display of them -pf weekly programs, and endeavors legislatures. Proposed in 1912 and rati oratory that may be directed against to have all present when important fied in 1913. them, and usually is, by the minority or measures are to be voted upon. When Eighteenth amendment provides for the opposition. Hardly one amendment the vote is apt to be close, the whip prohibition. It was proposed in 1917 in 40 ofiered to bills on the floor is adopt checks up, finds out who is out of the city, and ratified in 1919; subsequently it was ed unless ofiered or accepteG by the com and advises the absent Members by wire ratified by all States in the Union except mittee reporting out the bill which is up of the important measure coming up. two. for consideration. Nineteenth amendment provides the _ Legislation enacted by any Congress The efficacy of the majority in securing right of sufirage to women. Proposed is largely that originating with or spon the legislation it desires and of the in 1919, it was ratified in 1920. sored by the majority party. Important minority in making felt its opposition Twentieth amendment is the so-called measures brought up have had thorough depends upon the efficiency of the party machinery on the flcor. The party lame-duck amendment. It relates to scrutiny and a favorable report by a well the terms of the President, Vice Presi organized committee. They have prob whips are vital cogs in this machinery. dent, Senators, and Representatives and ably had strong backing from the coun WHAT IS PR~NTED THAT BEST TELLS OF THE sets the time the Congress shall convene. try. Some have had the approval of CONGRESS? It was adopted in 1933. the steering committee and some have The Constitution of the United States The twenty-first amendment repealed been reported out by the Rules Com is the most informative thing .printed the eighteenth or prohibition amend mittee. Such measures are on the pro dealing with the Congress. It provides ment to the Constitution. It, too, was gram for passage, and long debates and the authority for Congress, specifies its adopted in 1933. much oratory cannot defeat them. on· duties, powers, privileges, and much of ARE AMENDMENTS SOMETIMES PROPOSED BUT the other hand, bills that are not slated the procedure in both Houses of Con REJECTED BY THE STATES? for passage do not often get up for action gress. The Constitution is not very in the House. long, is easily obtainable in any city or Yes; that has occurred several times. Committee responsibility is great and town, and should be read occasionally Amendments were proposed in 1789- committee action influential. On most by every citizen. It wjll surprise you two-1810, 1861, and 1924, that were not amendments and on most bills a major how much information it contains. ratified by the States. All of these ex cept the last one are out of dat~. of no ity of the Members vote most of the time HOW OLD IS THE CONi TITUTION? with the committee---and it is difficult use now, and time has shown the wisdom to break into that influence even with It was adopted by the Federal Consti of their rejection. fine oratory. tutional Convention in 1787, ratified by The one submitted to the States in the several States, and the new Govern 1924 was known as the child-labor WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER? ment · provided for by it became fully amendment and reads in part: He presides over the House, appoints operative· with the inauguration of The Congress shall have power to limit, the Chairman to preside over the Com ... George Washington as President of the regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons mittee of the Whole, appoints all select United States on April 30, 1789. under 18 years of age. and conference committees, has the power of recognition of Members, makes HOW CAN THE CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED? So far 28 States have ratified this pro many important rulings and decisions in A proposal to amend the Constitution posed amendment. Since 36 States the House. The Speaker may vote, but must be passed by the Congress by a two must ratify an amendment to make it usually does not except in a case of a tie. thirds vote of the Members present in efiective, it would appear that this one He may appoint a Speaker pro tempore both House and Senate. The proposed also has been lost. Recent social legis but not for more than 3 days · at a time amendment then must be ratified by the lation on the part of the various States without the consent of the House. legislatures of three-fourths of the has materially decreased the alleged States or by cor~ventions in three-fourths necessity for its enactment, however. WHAT IS A PARTY LEADER? of the States; the choice of method of WHO PAYS FOR SPEECHES MEMBERS MAIL OUT? There is a majority leader and a mi ratifir.ation rests with the Congress. nority leader. In talk on the floor we do ·The Senator or Co~gressman pays for HAVE MANY CONSTITU'UON AL AMENDMENTS BEEN the speeches he sends out. They are not refer to Democrats and Republicans AD_oPTED? usually. It is more dignified, it seems, printed usually at the Government Print to refer to the majority and the minor No, not very many; only 21 in 158 ing Office and are charged for at cost years, and this question brings out some price, but the cost price is about what ity. The majority leader has the more they would cost in a privately operated influence, of course, ~:?ince he has the ma interesting figures and dates. jority of the membership back of him. The first 10 amendments to the Con print shop. A Member will often send The leader is all the title implies. He stitution were proposed by the First Con out another Member's speech on some leads in party debate, brings forward gress in 1789 and were practically agreed subject he thinks will be of interest to party programs and policies. His ad to before the adoption of the Constitu his own constituents. vocacy of or opposition to proposed legis tion. It is these first 10 amendments · In the fiscal year 1939, Members paid which make up our Bill of Rights. the Public Printer $60,488.47 for speeches. lation indicates the party preference. Ten years before, in 1929, the sum was The majority leader has much control The eleventh and twelfth amendments $66,400.07. over what comes up and when on the were proposed in 1794 and 1803. Since WHAT OF THE INFLUENCES OF SENIORITY OR legislative program from week to week. 1804 when the twelfth amendment was LENGTH OF SERVICE? When he makes a. motion it is nearly ratified, over a period of 143 years, only always carried. He usually makes the nine amendments have been adopted to In no other place, perhaps, in this motion to adjourn, and it always car the Constitution. broad land of ours does seniority or ries. If someone else, not authorized to length of service cut &o much figure as it The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fif ·does in the Congress of the United States. do so, makes a motion to adjourn, it is teenth amendments relate to abolition nearly always defeated. It is . the first discouraging thing the of slavery, rights of citizenship, and the new Member meets, and many have been WHAT ARE THE CHAPLAINS' DUTIES? franchise, coming after the Civil War, the bitter denunciations of its rule. Both Senate and House have a chap and were proposed and ratified between Right or wrong, however, the rule of lain, who ofiers prayer at the opening of 1865 and 1870. seniority has long been an important fac . each daily session, usually at 12 o'clock Since the Civil War period only six tor in the Congress, and no·c;me these days noon. Both are eloquent and godly men. amendments have been ratified, as fol has the optimism to predict that it will The prayers are printed in t~e CoNGREs- lows: soon be abolished. 1947 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 383 The new Member meets the rule of body of long standing and ·represents all writing books in the backstairs gossipy seniority when he applies for his first the people of our country. manner. office room. He gets only what is left Legislation is unquestionably much in He became and remained until his after all older Members have made their fluenced by the men who have served death the Washington correspondent of selections. He may file on a vacant room long and occupy these important places the Indianapolis News, Fort Wayne Jour in· the House Office Building. Another in the organization of the House, and nal-Gazette, and the Terre Haute Trib Member who has served before may come greater influence· in and with the de une. Throughout the years he came to along and take it away from him. He partments is certainly felt by those who know intimately all the political and may file on numerous rooms and see have had the advantage of knowledge journalistic leaders of his time. them go to older Members. The oldest and acquaintance gained by years on the With his background of intimate his Member, in point of service in the Con job. This long service in the House tory he often was interviewed by other gress, requesting a vacant office room brings Members in contact with the per reporters, yes, and statesmen, seeking gets it. sonnel of the several departments and facts. Even more he was sought out by · He meets with the seniority rule at any helps them to be of service in many little those who wanted sympathy and under official dinner he attends. The new and some big ways to their constituents standing. For Mark Thistlethwaite had Member sits near the foot of the table; back home. the great gift of remaining calm in a the older Members, in the order of their Se.niority or length of service in the confused world. term of service, near the head of the House of Representatives is certainly a LEAVE OF ABSENCE table. large factor in giving a Member position The new Members find the rule of sen and influence in the Congress and in By unanimous consent, leave of ab iority when they apply for committee as Washington . . Brilliance and unusual sence was granted to Mr. MILLER of Con signment. The older Members are given ability, of course, count for much, but necticut. (at the request of Mr. LODGE), the favored places; the new Members without years of service they do not get for 1 week, on account of illness. must work their way up. The new Mem one far here. Those districts which have ADJOURNMENT ber finds it in the committee room when returned their Members of proven ability he attends the first meeting of his com Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Speaker, I move term after term have contributed much that the House do now adjourn. mittee. He finds his name on his place toward the cause of good government at the foot of the table. The oldest and are today represented in Congress The motion was agreed to; accordingly member of the committee will probably by Members who have standing and in

Represent~tives concerned with its activi By Mr. HORAN: ties; to the Committee .on Rules. H. R. 1076. A bill for the relief of Chester SENATE H. J. Res. 75. Joint resolution to direct the 0. Glenn; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Federal Bureau of Investigation to investi H. R.1077. A bill for the relief of Edward FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1947 gate the unlawful destruction or disposition Pittwo6d; to the Committee on the Judiciary. of property under the jurisdiction· of the H. R. 1Q78. A bill for the relief of Mrs: .