Evening star., 1939-11-03
Ry 4. A. O'LEARY

Adjournment of the special ses-
sion of Congress by tonight ap-
peared as possibility today as
House and Senate conferees worked
to complete their task of preparing
the neutrality bill for final agree
ment, so it could be sent to Presi-
dent Roosevelt for signature.
Meanwhile, however, this program
met a temporary delay when the
conferees were unable to agree by
noon. and the Senate, which was to
act on their report first, recessed
until pm
While Senate Majority Leader
Barkley pronounced the chances of
adjournment tonight "all right
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
indicated Republicans would oppose
efforts to end the session at this
time and would demand a roll call
on the adjournment resolution.
II think that 531 heads are better
than one in these critical times,
Senator Vandenberg said. The
foreign situation is not settled by
repeal of the arms embargo. We
have simply created a situation that
requires more vigilance than ever,
and there is congressional as well
as presidential responsibility.
Points to Domestic Problems.
The Michigan Senator also point
ed out that there were "a thousand
domestic problems to be settled and
the quicker Congress got at them
''the safer democracy will be-"
Senator Barkley said he had been
advised that the conference report
probably would be ready by 2 clock
Il think the chances of adjourn
ing tonight are all right" he added.
'Our getting away depends on the
House obtaining unanimous consent
to take up the report today, which
they think they can do"
Although acceptance of the Sen
ate provision lifting the arms en-
barge by the House conferees is a
the substantial majority registered
in the House yesterday. it was be-
Geved the conferees were consider
Ing some notifications in other fea-
lures of the Senate bill.
Representative Bland, Democrat,
of Virginia brought to the attention
Of the House conferees several
changes he has advocated in the
Senate shipping provisions, which
would allow more leeway to the
movement of American vessels. Mr.
Bland is chairman of the House
Merchant Marine Committee.
If Senators debate the conference
report for an extended length of
time it probably would put off ad-
journment until tomorrow. Senate
approval within a few hours, how
ever. would leave a good chance for
adjournment tonight.
House leaders indicated at noon
they would ask unanimous consent
to take up the report Immediately
by setting aside the rule requiring
conference agreements to be printed
and lie over one day. They said if
this consent could be obtained ad-
Journment before tomorrow is pos
sible.
Action Still Possible.
Even if unanimous consent were
refused, parliamentary experts
pointed out today. it would still be
possible to complete action today
by having the House take up sine
die adjournment resolution first
This procedure would enable House
leaders to suspend the rules by a
majority vote, which is always in
order after the House has fixed
adjournment time. No definite in
dication was given, however, as to
whether House leaders would adopt
this course.
The key to the adjournment sit
uation lies with the Senate, since
the unlimited debate allowed by
that body gives opponents of the
bill the opportunity to debate the
report at length If they decide to
do so.
AS soon as the President signs
(Saa NETTTD AT TTv Dee