Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-28
ADJOURN|NG SEEN
IN MIDDLE AUGUST
Congress End in Third Week
Likely as Tax Bill Takes
Shape.
BY ]. A. OLEARY.

With the ADMINISTRATORS tax bill
due to take definite shape in the House
this week, and most of the other major
legislation already in conference, ad-
journment of Congress by the third
week in August appeared a strong
probability last night.
A week ago there were threats that
Congress might be kept in session until
late in the Fall by efforts to tie the
soldiers bonus or the Frazier-Lemke
farm mortgage bill to the tax measure.
Senator Borah pointed to such pos
sibility. But as leaders surveyed the
situation yesterday, there seemed less
likelihood of such q movement being
carried through.
An effort will be made in the Senate
tomorrow to obtain a test vote on the
question of early adjournment, when
the resolution of Senator Hastings,
Republican, of Delaware, calling on
Congress to complete It's labors on Au-
gust 10, will be called up. This resolu-
ton is not expected to carry at this
time, but its failure would be no indi-
cation that Democratic leaders want 10
remain in session long beyond that
date.
Date Decision Difficult.
While it would be difficult now to
decide on a definite date for adjourn
ment. if leaders can keep from attach
ing unrelated controversial issues to
the tax bill and can make headway OH
must" bills already in conference, the
session could be brought to close be-
fore the end of August. Under the
parliamentary situation that will ex-
ist tomorrow, if debate on the Hastings
resolution should continue until 2
O'Clock it would go over for later con-
sideration without reaching vote.
Senator McNary of Oregon, minority
leader in the Senate, believes adjourn
ment is possible about August 20.
While some Democratic Senate leaders
were cautious yesterday about making
definite predictions, it is known they
would like to complete the pending
program as soon after the middle OF
August as possible.
Aside from the tax bill, an inven-
tory of the legislative situation yes
terday showed the following business
remaining to be transacted:
In conference between the two
Houses-the social security program,
the utilities holding company bill.
amendments to the Agricultural Ad-
justment, Administration law, the
omnibus banking bill, and the $SlO,-
600 900 second deficiency appropriation
bill.
These are all major pieces of legisla-
ton, but Congress has a habit OF
moving quickly on conference reports
once a final adjournment is in sight.
Clark Amendment Remains.
Differences over the social security
program have all been settled, except
the Clark Senate amendment to al
low industries that operate their own
retirement plans to remain out OF the
Federal old-age insurance system, pro-
vided the private plans are equal to or
better than the Federal system.
The Senate group is understood to be
considering possible compromises to
submit to the House managers Tues
day. If the House members decline to
accept even a compromise, the final
showdown will come when the con-
ference report is brought back to the
Senate, where another test of strength
will be sought on roll call vote. If
the Senate should reafirm its support
of the amendment, the question would
20 back to conference for further dis
cussion of compromise.
Since the House nearly always con-
siders major legislation under definite
time limit on debate, the real key to the
adjournment situation lies in the Sen
ate, where debate is unlimited, except
by unanimous consent limitations or
the adoption, on rare occasions, OF a
cloture rule. Unless all present signs
fail, however, opposing factions in
the Senate will permit controversial
amendments to be voted up or down
without long -drawn-out debate in the
remaining weeks of the session.