Evening star., 1937-08-20
CONGRESS CHIEFS
INTENSITY DRIVE
TO CLOSE TONIGHT
BarkIey Comedies There Is
Chance Another Day May
Be Unnecessary.
ACTION is AWAITED
ON HOUSING PROGRAM
Only Wagner Measure and Ap.
preparation Bill Stand in Way
of Adjournment.
BULLETIN.

SoIisIcooiOildl leaders virtually
abandoned hope Of adjourning Con-
sress tonight when Senate House
Conference Committees failed to
reach an agreement on the i'm
portant Wagner housing bill. House
Leader Rayburn told reporters
resolution for adjournment tonight
definitely would not be brought be-
fore the House.
By the Associated Press.
Congressional chiefs opened a sud-
den drive today to adjourn Congress
by late tonight, if possible
Majority Leader Barkley o. tina
Senate conceded for the first time AZ
the Senate convened at noon that
there was "a chance" 10 finish mn
the long session by tonight, instead
of waiting until tomorrow.
He said it all depended on the pror-
ress made by conferees on the Wa9-
ner housing bill, and on the possibility
OF getting quick action on the third
dehclency appropriation bill, the last
major measure of the session.
Previously Had Scoffed.
Previously, the Senate leader had
scof1ed at the likelihood of an ad-
lournment tonight. contendinz there
was no reason for turrying up lust to
save single day.
But as he and other leaders looked
over the skinny program left for &C.
ton, and heard the cries of their fol.
lowers for an adjournment tonight II
possible, they decided to try for that
goal.
Only last-minute dispute between
House and Senate over the form of
housing legislation broke the abnormal
calm Of the closing hours.
A momentary furry was created
last night by the refusal of Southern
Democratic Representatives to take
part in a party caucus called by SUD-
porters of the administration wage
and-hour bill.
The supporters wanted the caucus
to force the House Rules Committee
to let the bill be debated. Southern
ers, who contended the measure would
hamper industrial growth in their
States, would not answer the roll
call-and quorum could not be
obtained.
Wage-Hour Bill Postponed.
Consequently, it became certain
that the wage-and-hour program. al
ready passed by the Senate, would 20
over until next session,
There was a possibility, however.
one of its chief provisions-abolition
OF labor by children under l6-might
be enacted this year. The Senate un-
expectedly approved that portion yes
terday as separate bill.
All major bills on the pre-a iourn.
ment calendar have passed both
Houses except for the third deficiency
appropriation measure, which the
Senate took up today. It's Appropri-
ations Committee approved the inclu-
sion Of s20,000,000 to start the farm
tenancy program, funds which the
House already had voted.
Tax Avoidance Bill Passed.
The Senate passed yesterday the
Dill designed to close loopholes in tho
TAX laws, an outgrowth of an INQUIRY
INTO tax evasion and avoidance re-
quested by President Roosevelt. The
House probably will accept minor
amendments.
Not for many years has there been
so little major legislation in the mill
at sessions close. 1t happened this
tlme only because most of the con-
troVerslal problems were POSTPONED
until the next session.
1t was this procrastination which
provided the only worry for tired
legislators as they looked forward
With relief to adjournment. They
wondered whether it would cause
President Roosevelt to call them back
into special session two months
hence.
Consider Sugar Quota Act.
The House considered today a COM
mlttee compromise on the controyer-
sial sugar quota law, originally op-
posed by President Roosevelt. It was
approved in the Senate yesterday.
The agreement provides that re-
strlctions against refining sugar in
Hawaii and Puerto Rico shall be lifted
March l, 1910, but leaders still were
in doubt whether the President would
sign the bill.
House leaders believed they might
salvage from the wreckage a bill al
ready passed by the Senate for an
unemployment census, and some SEN
ators were seeking vote on 4 nat
ural gas regulation measure, which
the House has approved.
Before quitting, House leaders also
planned to approve Senate resolu-,
tlon making farm legislation the first
order OF business at the next session.