The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-22
PRESIDENT HAS
TAKEN LEAD IN
(. CONGRESS RUSH
Helping to Push Through
Bills So That Members
Can Go Home
BY II. o. THOMPSON

United Press star Correspondent
Washington, Aug. 22--(UP)--
President Roosevelt assumed ac-
tive direction today OF efforts to
untangle the snarl Of legislation
threatening adjournment Of con-
gress.
~ He held White House CONFER
ences. with administration leaders
directing efforts to free important
legislation from the last-hour jam
in the rush toward adjournment by
Saturday IL possible.
The president directed a power
full administration movement TO
rescue the public utility holding
company bill from abandonment In
conference and discussed plans for
jamming through neutrality legis-
lation.
Plays Dramatic Role
The White House appeared play
ing an increasingly active role In
dramatic behind. the scenes efforts
TO iron out existing differences on
administration measures. Congress,
It appeared, must be held at top
speed II the adjournment goal Is to
be reached.
A new complicating factor was
injected when Senator Royal y.
Copeland, democrat, New York, re-
ceived q letter from the president
asking that compromise redraft
of the controversial ship subsidy
bill be pressed for action this ses-
sion.
Copeland called the senate COM
merce committee, which voted yes
terday to table an administration
revision of the measure. to meet
today to consider the presidents
request. A more liberal ship SUBJ
sidy measure already had passed
the house.
Three other administration
"must" bills--alcohol control, oil
regulation, and government con-
tract measures--were endangered
in the rush.
At the Conference
Mr.. Roosevelt conferred with
Senator Burton X. Wheeler, demo-
crat, Montana, and Senator Alben
w. Barley, democrat, Kentucky,
leaders of the administration power
program in the senate, after house
conferees fiatly rejected senate
compromise on the death SEM
tence" clause in the utility bill.
The president was reported Will.
ing to accept the senate compro-
mise but unwilling to 90 further to
insure utility regulation legislation
at this session.
Senate conferees offered to
amend the bill to permit operation
of second degree holding companies
instead of limiting 1t to first degree
units and to strike from the meas.
ure the 1912 date when all "unnec-
essary" holding companies would
be outlawed.
An agreement was reached last
night at conference between Vice
President John N. Garner, Speaker
Joe Byrns, house democratic whip
Pat Boland and Chairman John j..
O'Connor Of the house rules COM
mittee to keep congress In session
until some sort OF a utility bill
comes out.
Wheels at Top Speed
With legislative wheels spinning
at top speed senate and house Lead
ersclung to hopes Of adjournment
by Saturday night. The big push
toward adjournment already has
sent thebanking act, AAA amend
ments and iva amendments to
the White House.
Other measures which seem Ger.
tain OF passage are the new tax
bill, the Guffey coal control bill,
gold clause resolution and perhaps
neutrality legislation.
II appeared likely that the adj
niinistration would consent IL nee
essary to scrapping the alcohol, oil
and contract bills.
Majority Leader Joseph T. Rob-
inson said he believed the Guffey
bill could be passed in another two
or three hours. A limitation OF de-
bate goes into effect ut noon today.
The house was expected to APP
prove the conference report on the
$780, 100000 tax bill today. The
senate probably will delay action
until after the public utility con-
troversy has been settled.
Awaits Direct Word
The house ways and means COM
mittee awaited direct word from
the White House beforeacting on
the $100,000,000 railroad excise
income tax bill---companion meas
ure to the railroad retirement act.
The federal alcohol control bill
remained tied UP in serious dis
pute between senate and house
conferees over the question Of sale
of liquor in kegs. The house group
was standing pat in favor OF the
keg provision.
The third deficiency bill-.Iast
appropriation measure OF the ses-
sion--was due to reach the house
floor for action today. II Is expect
ed to carry $150,0O0.O00 OF which
$4,000, 600 will be for social SEE
curlty act expenses during the re-
mainder OF the present fiscal year.
The house had other tasks OF
must" character ahead threatens
ing to delay adjournment. The bill |
ratifying state oil Gompacts. the
Frawer- Lemke farm mortgage bill.
and t6e Walsh government con-
tract bill asa yet 20 be acted on.
The first two. however. are ready |
for house action.