Evening star., 1940-06-19
Recess Of Congress
By Saturday Possible,
Bankhead Believes
Drive Renewed in Senote
To Write Budget Cut
In Defense Tax Bill
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Speaker Bankhead expressed the
opinion today that Congress could
recess by the week end, but he added
that its going to take whip and
spur"
1T will take hard riding and some
night sessions to complete neces-
sary work, he said. but think we
can do it."
Having abandoned plans to ad-
Journ, Speaker Bankhead and other
House leaders are canvassing the
members to determine whether it
might be possible to recess until
August l. Republicans have said
they would agree to a recess of not
more than week.
Undaunted by two defeats, Senate
advocates of heavy slashes in Gov
eminent spending renewed their ef-
forts today to write an economy
order into the s1,0O7 900 900 defense
! tax bill.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
glnia proposed yesterday that the
President be authorized and di-
rected" to cut Federal expenditures
| 10 per cent-except for military
items-but his colleagues voted. Al
to 35, merely to authorize the cur
tailment.
Five Per Cent Cut Rejected.
The Senate also rejected, At to 35,
mandatory per cent cut ad-
Vanced by Senator Tydings, Demo-
crat, OF Maryland, who shouted:
congress is talking hell of lot,
but it isn't doing anything"
Senator Tydings promptly sug-
gested a per cent reduction and
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, Of
wyoming recommended that Senate
and House committees be directed
10 cut a half-billion dollars from
1871 appropriation bills already en-
/ acted.
Barkley Opposes Proposals.
These proposals, up for debate
thls afternoon, were opposed by
Democratic Leader Barkley. He de-
MED Senator Tydings charge that
/ congress was lying down on the
JOB" and asserted that mandatory
cuts would fall chiefly on Gov
ernment employees, relief recipients
and farmers who get agriculture
benefits.
Senator Barkley said that as soon
as the tax bill was passed the Senate
could dispose of the s1,777 900 900
emergency defense measure within
an hour and thus complete action
on major legislation before a week.
end recess.
Senate leaders generally agreed
that If a recess were taken, it prob
ably would be for six weeks, thus
covering the period of both Repub-
hcan and Democratic conventions.
President Roosevelt said yester-
day that he saw no objection to a
recess to a fixed date, inasmuch as
he could call Congress back into
session if new emergencies develop,
House Leaders Taking Poll.
The final decision, however, was
said to rest on the result of a House
poll which leaders were quietly TAX
ing.
One item which administration
| forces want to enact this month
is the sl,224,7 ,791, ,357 relief bill for
! the year starting July /. Both
Houses have passed it in different
forms, and a joint committee met
for four hours last night in an un-
successful effort to iron out the dis.
agreements.
The principal argument was over
use of w. P. A funds for Federal
theater projects. The House. bill
prohibited money for that purpose,
but the Senate authorized it when
local sponsors made contributions,
Conferees said House members
argued that the prohibition had
been voted because this was the
hotbed for Communistic activities"
They reported disagreement also
over Senate addition of 100000
600 for removal of agricultural sur
pluses by free distribution to low
income groups, the food stamp plan,
school lunches for children and
| export subsidies.