The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-21
RELIEF SPLITS
DEMOCRATS
IN SENATE
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
international News Service

With party discord shattering
the huge Democratic majoritieS in
the House and Senate on major
legislative issues, Administration
leaders today were working for an
adjournment of Congress in late
July.
The week-long battle in the Sen
ate over curbing President Roose-
velt's power to spend the pending
S1.5oo,oO0,o0O relief fund split
Democratic ranks wide open, with
even the leaders fighting each
other. This situation alarmed
party leaders and spurred hopes
of an early adjournment.
Early Court Bill Action
The July adjournment plan will
be submitted to the President
when he gathers with his party
followers this weekend on Jeffer-
son Island. 1t contemplates an
early decision on the Presidents
court bill, even if it be an adverse
one, and postponing action on new
labor and Government reorganiza-
ton legislation until next year.
The President aided this pro-
gram in the past week by his de-
cision to send no more major legls-
latiye proposals to Congress at the
present session. He was under
stood to have withheld legislative
recommendations on farm renef
and to strengthen antitrust laws.
Filibuster Threatened
The Presidents court bill was
regarded as the key to adjustment.
Unless assured of a direct vote
upon one of the questions on which
they believe they can win, the op-
position threatened an all summer
debate on the issue.
This would block all further leg
islative activity, with the House
sitting idle while the Senate
wrangled week after week in either
an open or undercover filibuster !
on the court bill.
Meanwhile, a flareup Of Demo |
cratic discord against New Deal re-
lief policies is expected today when |
the Senate has showdown vote |
on antiadministration amend |
ments requiring State contribu-
tons to Federal relief funds.
Robinson Plan
Senate Majority Leader Robin
son, doomed by his colleagues for
the vacant seat on the Supreme
Court, will press for approval of
his amendment requiring States
to contribute at least Is per cent
of relief funds. RobinSon'S plan
is a compromise with the 40 per
cent figure under a pending
amendment offered by Senator
Byrnes CD, of South Carolina.
There seemed to be little dispo-
sition in either House or Senate to
rush enactment of the AdminiStra-
tons bill shortening hours and
boosting wages to workers affected
by Interstate Commerce laws.
The sudden and unexpected
death Of Representative Connery
(O0, Of Massachusetts,, and chair
man of the House Labor Commit
tee, partly explains the bills tenn
porary setback. He was coauthor
and militant sponsor of the meas
ure.
Await Action
The Craftsmanship, left vacant
by Connery's death last week, will
be filled by the House probably
this week.
The bill is expected to be passed
with but little opposition.
Nonmilitary features of the War
Department appropriation bill; ex-
tension of the So-called nuisance |
taxes designed to bring the Gov
eminent more than five hundred
million dollars in annual revenue,
and other supply bills still await
Senate action.
Tax revisions, if any, will deal
solely with obvious loopholeS, in
formed Administration circles re-
vealed, pointing out that basic
changes in revenue laws would
open up to congressional debate
of the Administrations fiscal pol
icieS.
CCC Vote Today
The House today will be asked
to concur in the Senate.approved
measure granting a three-year ex.
tension of life to the Civilian Con-
Servation Corps which expires July
] unless new legislation is passed.
The President had requested the
agency be made permanent, but
the House baked and granted it
only two years additional life. The
House also slashed the salary of
Robert Fechner, director of the
CCC. from $4,000 to $1,000 a
year.
DEADLY SNAKE