The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-06-08
WAGNER BILL
ENACTMENT
CHIEF ISSUE
Leaders Hope That President
May ReIent After Silver
Measure Is Passed
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
International News Service

BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
International News Service
The threat Of a nationwide
steel strike, which might pro-
woke labor uprisings in other in
dustries, was held responsible
today for President Roosevelt's
decision to keep Congress in ses-
sion until it enacts the Wagner
labor dispute bill.
Democratic leaders Of the
House and Senate. who favor
adjournment Saturday, were hop
ing the President might yet re-
lent and let Congress go home
after enacting the AdmlnlStra-
tons silver bill and emergency
appropriations for unemployment
and drought relief.
Insists on Bills
Publicly, the President placed
responsibility for adjournment
ON the shoulders of these lead
ers, but privately, they declared
Mr.. Roosevelt is insisting on
passage of the Wagner bill, and
dis housing program before Con-
gresS quits.
The President is reported anx.
fouS to have the wagner bill
enacted in order to placate some
Of the social unrest among union
workers. Armed with this legisla-
ton, he is said to feel the Gov
eminent could deal more et'
fectively with labor emergencies
during the long recess OF Con-
gfess.
Congressional leaders feel diff
1erently. For one thing, the rank
and file of the House and Senate
fear the Wagner Bill like a
plague. A dozen Senators IN
formed International News Ser
vice they regarded the Wagner
bill as the most embarrassing
bill to come before Congress in
their experience. This attitude
was explained by one Senator in
these words:
eff I vote for the Wagner
bill. enrage all the employ
ers and business interests of
my State. If vote against 1t,
organized labor will fight me
to, the last man. If duck
the vote, both sides viii be
sore at me. 1 only hope III
never face the test"
Eager to Recess
The entire Republican member
ship of the House and Senate
with, perhaps, two-thirds Of the
Democratic membership want to
90 home Saturday. All the out
Standing Democratic leaders, from
Vice President Garner on down.
favor this. Ordinarily, this over
whelming sentiment would bring
adiournment-but the man in
the White House, who still doml'
mates Congress when he uses his
whip, is insisting on passage OF
the Wagner bill.
There is a bare possibility Mr..
Roosevelt might permit abandon
ment of the measure. If he does,
he will place the responsibility for
its abandonment on the heads OF
his congressional leaders. For
the moment, they don't want to
assume that responsibility, so an
immediate adjournment appears
improbable.
Congress, however, could quit
tomorrow night, q resolution, au-
thorizing such sine die adjourn
ment has been prepared by
House leaders.
Could Adjourn Tomorrow
It could be put through both
branches in an hour. With ad'
dournment settled, both the un'
employment appropriation and
the drought relief appropriation
would sail through Congress. And
the Administration silver bill, now
the subject of sharp debate in
the Senate, would become law
without further discussion.
The President, if he insists on
his entire program, may force
Congress to remain in session an
other month. Both Republican
and Democratic leaders said ii
would require a months debate
to pass the silver, labor and
housing bills-with no adjourn
ment in sight.