Evening star., 1937-08-24
SESSION
TO Be DISCUSSED
AT WHITE HOUSE
Roosevelt Meets With Floor
Leaders at Luncheon Con-
ference Today.
HIGH ADMINISTRATION
QUARTERS HINT NEED
President Convinced Legislation
of Vital Importance Should
Be Enacted.
BACKGROUND

BACK hGROUND-
Failure of Congress to act on
several major issues raised by Pres
'dent during session Just closed
precipitdted speculation that ertra
session uould be called,
among things hanging are unoe-
dnd-hour bill, departmental yeor-
0dntzdt1on bill and farm legislation.
President Roosevelt planned to dis
cuss with Congressional floor leaders
today proposals for an extra session
OF Congress, with indications that the
administration is supporting the move
ment.
The whole matter a subject of
increasing debate between opponents
and proponents of the plan, was ex-
pected to be tnreshed out at a lunch
con conference at the White House
attended by the President, Senator
Barkley, administration leader in the
Senate, and Representative Sam Ray
burn, House majority leader.
Secretary OF Agriculture Wallace.
upon emerging from a presidential
conference yesterday, said he favored
an extra session, and so did Speaker
Bankhead, according to dispatches. A
group Of other legislators, however,
is campaigning against the plan.
Urgent Need Hinted.
1t was hinted in high administra-
tive quarters today that need for an
extra session is urgent, in view of the
large mass OF important measures in
need OF legislative action, before the
regular meeting of Congress in jan
uary. 1t is known the President is
convinced there is legislation vital to
the welfare Of the country that should
be enacted before the first of next
year.
Meanwhile. Mr Roosevelt had be-
fore him today l58 bills awaiting his
signature or veto after signing II
this morning. OF the total, 81 ar
rived from the Capitol last night and
Sc Saturday night. The others have
been awaiting action for several days
prior to that. The White House was
oSd lOAdy Wy tllC ClSl n VII tllt UulIlJ
Committee on Enrolment that all bills
passed at the late session have now
been sent to the White House.
White House officials said the Presi-
dent has 10 days in which to act. ex-
cluding Sundays, but not other holi-
days. Labor day is counted as work.
ing day. Today is the last day, how
ever. for action on the substitute court
bill.
Opposition in House.
A group of influential House Demo-
Gratis expressed strong opposition
meanwhile to a special session in the
Fall on the grounds it might increase
party dissenSion.
One leader, who preferred not to be
mentioned by name said mo prac-
tical good and maybe some harm"
would come from special session on
farm and wage-hour legislation. He
said he and others Of the same view
would so advise President Roosevelt
before leaving the Capital.
He argued time was needed to al
low heated tempers to cool and that
it would be poor policy for the Presi-
dent to run the risk of reopening
party strife in October or November.
Many members, he said. might feel
none too kindly toward the admins
tration and its legislative program If
they were summoned back to WASH
ington while in the midst of building
political fences for next years elec-
ton.
To the contention that action on a
farm bill and wage-hour measure
in the Fall would permit shortening
the regular January session. this party
chieftain retorted that special ses-
sion would not mean taking Is min
utes of the regular session"
Representative Miller, Democrat. OF
Arkansas said he thought a special
session might be desirable.
Miller talked to the President yes
terday and predicted afterward that
Mr.. Roosevelt would announce in q
few days whether he will call one.
New Discord Feared.
Those arguing a special session might
create new party discord pointed par
ticularly to the strong opposition from
Southern Congressman to the wage
hour bill This measure, passed by the
Senate, was withheld from the House
floor by combination of Republicans
and Southern Democrats on the Rules
Committee.
Since the next session. special or reg
ular. will be continuation of the pres
ent Congress, the legislation will have
the same status, when it begins, that it
held at adjournment last week.
Botn houses have agreed to make
farm legislation the first order at the
next session. Members Of the Senate
Agriculture Committee, arranging to
work during the recess, said they would
have farm bill ready by November