Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-08-18
CONGRESS WORKS
OVERTIME TO END
SESSION SATURDAY
House Undertakes to Draft
Satisfactory LoW-Cost
Housing Measure.
SENATE HOLDS BULK
OF BILLS TO BE PASSED
Finance Committee Approves Tax
Measure With Two Minor
Amendments.

By the Associated Press.
The House, rushing headlong to-
ward adjournment, undertook today
to solve its knottiest problem-a salts
factory low-cost housing bill.
Most members agreed that slum
eradication and construction of in
expensive homes for poor families
were good ideas, but they split over
the proposed cost.
AS a result, leaders advanced the
meeting time to II am. and warned
Representatives for the third success
sive day not to count on dinner at
home.
When today's discussion began Rep
sentative OConnor, Democrat, of New
York sought to eliminate from the bill
a prohibition against allotting more
than 10 per cent of the total funds to
any one State. O'Connor, chairman of
the Rules Committee, said the limita-
ton would work to the disadvantage
of some big States that really need
SUM clearance and inexpensive hous-
ing and inspire other States to demand
their 10 per cent whether they need it
or not"
He argued that projected Federal
housing authority should have discre-
ton to determine how much money
should go to individual States.
I'VE shall make every effort to COM
plete the bill today" OConnor told
his colleagues, no matter how late
We have to stay to do it"
Some members feel, the New Yorker
asserted, that the bills maximum con-
structlon cost limit of $4,000 per
dwelling unit may be too small. He
said a provision that would require
that for every unit of new construction
an old one must be demolished might
be characterized as foolish
If all goes we'll, House and Senate
chleftalns agreed, the session will end
Saturday night after nearly eight
months Of continuous but leisurely
work
For the first time in weeks, the
Senate held the bulk of the measures
slated for enactment before adjourn
ment.
The two principal ones-aside from
the housing bill-were the measure
to close tax law loopholes and the
final appropriation bill
The Senate cleared the way yester-
day for disposal of both by confirming
the nomination of Senator Black of
Alabama to the Supreme Court.
Arguing until long past dusk, the
House passed the third deficiency ap-
preparation bill last night. Farm
Belt Representatives succeeded in add
ing 20,000,000 for farm tenant and
submarginal land retirement pro-
grams.
In so doing they OVERRIDE their Ap-
preparations Committee, which had
recommended omission of the item,
proposed in President Roosevelt's
budget estimates. An 1857 500 addition
to funds for the National Labor Re-
lations Board also was restored by the
House. The committee had deleted it
from budget recommendations.
The bill, passed without a record
vote, included 22,5OO,oo0 to start a
three-year program of constructing
$50 post Offices and other public
buildings
The major dispute was over supple
mental funds of s1,785,O 900 for the Ma
tlonal Labor Relations Board. Repre-
sentative Rankin, Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi declaring the board 'fomented
strikes" said its appropriation was be-
ing wasted. He said Congress should
be told whether the three members
belong to the Committee of Industrial
Organization.
If they do" he shouted, "they
ought to be fired"
The legislation altogether carried
1913 ,880375 for a wide variety of Fed
eral activities that require additional
appropriations. The Senate probably
will hold it up until the closing hours
and insert funds for the housing pro-
gram If that bill is enacted.
The fight over the housing measure
(see CONGRESS, Page A-4.)