Evening star., 1939-03-19
Small Vote Marqin
To Decide Congress
Recognizing Clause
Measure Expected to Poss
With or Without Wheeler
Amendment, Leaders Soy
BY ]. A. OIEARY.

BY j. A. OIEARY.
Fate Of the Wheeler amendment
to the Government reorganization
bill. to require definite congressional
approval before the Presidents re-
grouping orders could be carried out
appeared hast night to hinge on a
narrow margin of votes, IS leaders
predicted q decision ON the issue by
Tuesday.
Regardless Of the outcome Of this
major controversy, passage OF the
bill is expected in we'll informed Sen
ate circles.
Wheeler amendment both branches
win have approved the House method
Of making reorganization orders ef-
fective after 50 days unless Congress
during that time adopts q resolution
of disapproval. Under the House
plan. no action by Congress. or dis
approval by only one branch, would
put the changes into effect.
Leaders ON both sides Of the fight
expressed confidence Of victory last
night, Senator Byrnes, Democrat. Of
South Carolina, in charge of the bill,
was optimistic over chances Of beat
ing the amendment, while Senator
Wheeler. Democrat, Of Montana,
with q comparable note of assur-
ance, said the prospects "are very
good" for his proposal.
Democrat Split to Decide.
Few doubt the Senate will divide
sharply, rs it did last year, when the
Wheeler plan failed by only 43 to -.
The Republicans. who now have 23
Senate seats, will he virtually solid
for the Wheeler affirmative action
plan, according to reliable reports.
The outcome will depend on how
widely the Democrats split on the
question. While the November elec-
ton cut into the forces opposing the
amendment last year, supporters of
the House bill believe this will be
Offset by switches from the list Of
those who favored the amendment
on the previous vote.
| Although Senator Byrnes was a
White House caller yesterday, he
said his visit related to other mat
tiers and that reorganization was
mentioned only casually.
AS soon as the Senate has acted
on the reorganization bill, the South
Carolina Senator will resume work
on his bill for permanent handling
of the unemployment problem,
which also involves q specific reor-
organization of relief agencies.
Would Merge Agencies.
This bill, on which hearings have
been completed, would merge P. w
A., w. P. A., c. c. c.. N. Y. A. and
the public building section of the
Procurement Division of the Treas
ury. It also increases the benefit
payments under the Social Security
law. through unemployment COM
peAsation and grants to the needy
aged and to dependent children
The unemployment bill is des-
| tined to encounter strong Republi-
can opposition, particularly the
proposal to make higher social
security Federal grants below the
average in per capita income.
Supporters Of the Byrnes bill
probably will try to have it acted
on before it becomes necessary to
enact the relief appropriation for
the fiscal year beginning July l. be-
cause they count on the broader
unemployment compensation bene-
fits to lessen the need for work relief
projects. Most State unemployment
benefit laws will have to be amended,
however, to make the new measure
fully effective.
Deficit Spending Amendment.
Next to the Wheeler amendment,
the principal reorganization amend
ment is the proposal of Senator
Byrd, Democrat, Of Virginia to write
into the measure a declaration Of
policy against continuation of deficit
spending.
Efforts also will be made before
the Senate takes final action to add
to the list of agencies exempt from
the Presidents reorganiza ton power
Senator McCarran, Democrat, Of
Nevada has an amendment to ex-
empt the Civil Aeronautics Author
ity, and Senator Taft, Republican
Of Ohio has proposed exemption for
the Federal Home Loan Bank Board
and the Federal Savings and Loan
Insurance Corp.
Senator King, Democrat, Of Utah
has an amendment similar to the
Wheeler plan, except that it would
allow each branch Of Congress "a
days instead Of 10 days Of debate
on resolutions to approve presi-