Evening star., 1938-02-01

since. With anti-lynchin0 bill set
aside yesterday after four ,oeeks OF
fHbustertng by Southern op-
ponents. Senate Immediately be-
came embroiled in bitter dispute
oDer prevailing tDdge section OF
housing measure. Three years ago.
same proposal precipttated deadlock
OF five weeks during consideration
of public iOorks measure.
BY the Associated Press.
Democratic leaders in the Senate
worked anxiously behind the scenes
today to quell bipartisan revolt which
threatened indefinite delay in enact
ing the administration housing bill.
Senator Lodge, Republican. Of Mas
sachusetts gained such strong support
for his proposal to return the measure
to q conference committee that admin
istration lieutenants STAYED of q vote
in order to round up their forces.
Senator Lodge was trying to REIN
state q requirement that prevailing
wages be paid on all home-building
projects financed by Government
insured mortgages. This provision
was in the bill approved by the Sen
ate IN December. but . conference
committee reconciling that measure
with the House bill knocked it out.
The housing legislation is intended
to encourage private investment in
small construction by permitting
the owner to put up in cash only 10
per cent of the COST A Government
insured mortgage would cover the re-
mainder.
Long Dispute Feared.
If the measure should 60 back to
the conference committee, there might
be long dispute, for. the House ap-
proved the committees action in elimi-
mating the Lodge amendment.
Feeling engendered by the Senate
battle over the anti-lynching bill, tenn
porarily sidetracked. added bitterness
to the new Democratic split. A num-
Der Of Southern Senators were resent
full over the fight waged for the anti
lynching measure by Senator Wagner,
Democrat, of New York, author of the
housing bill.
Republicans leading the demand for
the prevailing wage amendment. ex-
pressed the belief they had enough
Democratic support to return the bill
to committee.
Administration leaders hoped to send
the housing bill to the White House
quickly as the first major legislative
accomplishment since the 1887 session
Of Congress adjourned last August.
Six Months Before Boom"
Senator Wagner said the measure
could have little immediate effect on
the industrial situa ton. however. He
estimated it would take six months
to bring about the hoped-for hous-
ing boom.
Informed Senators said the admins
tration would attempt meanwhile to
speed up industrial activity by in
creased Government spending.
Senator Lodge. 35-year-old grand
son of a noted Senator, precipitated
one Of the warmest debates of the
session yesterday by his fight for the
wage amendment. The American Fed
Grafton Of Labor was supporting his
proposal. he said.
Senator Wagner. replying, declared
the amendment would wreck the hous-
ing program. Should the Government
ever try to fix all wages, he said, we
shall be right in Fascism."
Unfair. Says Borah.
Senator Minton. Democrat, Of In
diana. an administration supporter,
declared Lodge was trying to knife"
the bill. Senator Borah, Republican,
OF Idaho said that statement was un-
fair. because 81 Senator'S originally
voted for the amendment.
The House sti4 was considering the
District of Columbia appropriation bill.
Its Naval Committee called high naval
officers to testify about the foreign
policy behind the proposed $500, ,000, 900
expansion of the fleet.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was
called together to decide whether to
hold any more hearings on the NOM
ination Of Robert H. Jackson to be
Solicitor General. Several members
predicted quick approval of the ap-
pointment despite scattered opposition.
-o------