Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-05
Recess Plan Meets
New Opposition in
Both Houses
Republicans Demand
Action on Juckson's
Labor Board Ruling
By the Associated Press.


main in town to deal promptly with
foreign policy and defense prob
lens arose today to trouble leaders
hopefully maneuvering for a recess
vote Monday or Tuesday.
With the November S elections
only a month off, however, both
Senate and House chiefs appeared
confident that arrangement would
be worked out to permit the law
makers to go home by midweek.
The pressure to keep the session
going a while longer came in part
from several Republican Repre-
sentatives, who urged immediate
action to prevent rulings of the
Labor Board from affecting defense
contracts. Representative Taber
Republican, of New York told the
House yesterday that otherwise 80
per cent of the contracts already
let might be invalidated.
On the Senate side, Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri, who has
urged that Congress stay here as a
check against any possible involve
ment of the country in war, told
reporters he would oppose any
agreement to suspend business at
this time.
Major Legislation Disposed Of.
He said he would object either to
Senate acceptance of recess until
November 18, as Speaker Rayburn
Of the House suggested, or to a
plan for perfunctory sessions every
three days, with no work to be done.
Mr.. Rayburn announced yester-
day that he would introduce a
November 10 recess resolution Mon
day This prompted Senate Ma
jority Leader Barley to observe
that "Rayburn must have the votes
or he wouldn't be introducing the
resolution"
Doubtful of what the House would
do. leaders have been confident that
the Senate would vote to quit at any
time.
Meanwhile, since all pending
major legislation has been disposed
Of. many Senators and Representa-
tives arranged to leave for their
homes this week end, some to at
tend to long-neglected reelection
campaigns, others to take part in
the presidential campaign and some
just to rest.
Oath in paroSS
Both branches were in recess to-
day. The Senate Is scheduled to
take up Monday a minor bill in
volving procedure for handling the
frozen" deposits of European coun-
tries overrun by Germany, and the
House, according to present plans,
will consider the Rayburn recess
resolution.
The dispute over the Labor Board
defense contracts situation held the
possibility of complications in the
House, where it developed yesterday
after Attorney General Jackson sent
an informal opinion on the subject
to Sidney Hillman of the National
Defense Commission.
Mr.. Jacksons opinion, citing
existing law, was that the decisions
of the Labor Board were binding
and conclusive" on all other branches
of the Executive Department. Rep
resentative Taber interpreted this
to mean that firms found guilty by
the board of violating the National
Labor Relations Act might be de-
MED Army, Navy or other defense
contracts, including those already
let.
He was joined quickly by Repub-
lican colleagues asking what one
called remedial" legislation.
Representative Routzohn, Repub-
lican, of Ohio, who denounced Mr..
Jacksons opinion in a floor speech,
said it had created "a furore" among
members of both parties.
There also was some talk that the
Smith Committee investigating the
Labor Board might call Mr.. Jackson
and Mr.. Hillman to explain the sit
uation.
Mr.. Routzohn, who said in his
speech that there was no basis in
law" for Mr.. Jackson's ruling, ex-
pressed the opinion to newsmen
that it was an attempt by New Deal
ers to win the support of John L.,
Lewis"
He said it was "a masterpiece of
the kind of shortcut reasoning
with which the National Socialists
have confused logical and sensible
people in giving their lawless acts
the disguise of legality"
During the day the Smith Com
mittee turned its attention to the
question. Edmund Toland, commit
tee counsel, put into the record cor
respondence to show that a few
years ago the War Department ad-
vised the Labor Board that the de-
partment had no power to withhold
work from firms found by the board
to have violated the Wagner Act.
Last Fund Bill Passed.
Clearing the calendar as rapidly
as possible of such bills as remain,
Congress sent to the White House
yesterday s239,OO000O apporpria-
ton bill carrying funds for training
100000 civilian defense workers and
for construction of $50 commercial
airports of military usefulness.
A bill to continue the life of the
1887 Sugar Act another year also
went to the White House.
Likewise made ready for President
Roosevelt S signature was legislation
to apply new restrictions against
fifth column activities, bar alien
subversive leaders from United
States citizenship and require or
CARNATIONS subject to foreign con-
troll" to register with the Justice
Department.