Evening star., 1935-07-04
DEATH SENTENCE
VOTE MEANS VETO,
WHEELER ASSERTS
Opposing Capitol Forces
Gird for New Fight on
Utilities Bill.
FAIR, FULL LOBBY QUIZ
IS PLEDGED BY BYRNS
Administration Seeks to Save
Vital Holding Company
Clause in Conference.
BY the Associated Press.

6y lNe hSSOCldltu FEcSS.
A new prediction that the utilities
bill probably will be vetoed if it goes
to President Roosevelt without the
death sentence" for holding COM
panies was made today. This develop
ment occurred as opposing forces pre-
pared for another conflict on the
measure Monday.
L am morally certain" said Chair
man Wheeler. Democrat. of Montana,
of the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee. that the President will
veto the bill if it Is sent up TO him
without the death sentence"
Wheeler is a sponsor OF the bill
which passed the Senate in a form
satisfactory to the administration.
The House, however. struck out pro-
vision for mandatory abolition OF "un-
necessary" holding companies and
voted 10 give the Securities Commls-
sion discretionary authority to kill
them or let them live.
New Battle Nears.
Beginning next Monday new con-
filct will start. Opponents of the
death sentence will try to have the
Senate concur in the House amend
ments Immediately Wheeler and the
other administration forces hope 10
send the legislation TO a conference
OF Senators and Representatives in an
effort 20 obtain a result more salts
factory 10 NJ. Roosevelt
Meanwhile TWO Investigations OF
"!oooying" for and against the bill
were shaping up. Speaker Byrns said
tha; an inquiry which the House Rules
Committee will open Monday will be
.tuR- fair. thorough and impartial" D."
-rS declaration followed a remark
ev one legislator prominent in the
UTILITIES 6ghI- who predicted privately
-hat re House inquiry night be a
.En-s=ash." EIth the Senate making
tne real" investigation later.
Senate MAY Subpoena.
Under a resolution offered by Sena-
tor Black Democrat. of Alabama and
approved yesterday by the Senate In
terstate Commerce Committee. the
Senate would conduct a Sl50.000 in
quiry. The investigators would have
the power of subpoena. an authority
which the House committee lacks
Senator Wheeler made it plain that
the President had not told him defin-
itely that a bill without the death
sentence would be vetoed. But Wheeler
said it was Uncomfortable" that the
Chief Executive would sustain the
House measure.
Wheeler asserted that he felt GER
tain he could obtain in conference
restoration of the provision under
which holding companies except those
in the first degree would be abolished
by 1912. First-degree holding firms
are those directly superimposed on
operating companies
Thinks House Bill Illegal
Wheeler said he believed the House
bill is unconstitutional because it
delegates authority to the Securities
Commission without setting up salts
factory standards to guide the agency
In deciding what companies shall be
abolished
Next week Senator Dieterich, Demo-
crat, of Illinois, who came within one
vote of having the death sentence"
stricken out when the bill first was
debated in the Senate, has indicated
he will introduce a motion. supported
by members from both parties, to con-
cur at once in the House bill