Evening star., 1940-06-07
Action by Roosevelt
For Adjournment in
Two Weeks Seen
Reported Desiring Delay
In Controversial
Financial Programs
BY the Associated Press.

that President Roosevelt would take
active steps to hasten his legislative
program and bring about congress
sional adjournment in two weeks.
The President, they said, is aware
that the defense tax bill constitutes
the greatest obstacle to a prompt
vindup of the session.
Seeking to head off time-consum-
Ing legislation. the Chief Executive
was reported by Senator Lee, DEM
ocrat, of Oklahoma to be opposed
to submission this summer of Sem
ator Lees plan to draft private
capital in wartime.
Because of Mr.. RooSevelts stand,
Senator Lee said he would not seek
action on his proposal Other SEN
ators said the President might sug-
gest that further controversial finan-
clal programs should be withheld
until the next session.
Near End of Labor Act Debate.
The House neared the end of de-
bate on amendments to the Wagner
Labor Act, with both sides agreeing
that reStatement of the position
OF the American Federation of Labor
would increase greatly the chances
OF approving major reviSionS.
President William Green of the
A. F. L. sent letter to Representa-
tive Smith, Democrat, of Virginia
which said that taken as a whole"
the II amendments sponsored by
Mr.. Smiths investigating committee
would help remedy what he called
"eXcesSes and abuses" of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board. But
he expressed opposition to four of
the proposals.
The letter recalled that the A. F..
L. last March Is declared the Smith
amendments "as a whole strike in a
destructive way at vital fundamental
principles" of the law.
A majority of Mr.. Smiths COM
mittee has proposed creation of a
new, three-man labor board, separa-
ton of its administrative and
Judicial functions, and establish
ment OF certain safeguards for craft
unions ana employers.
Four Changes Recommended,
The House Labor Committee rec
ommneded only four changes, one
OF which would add two members
to the present three-man agency.
Mr.. Green expressed opposition to
Smith committee amendments to re-
define the purposes of the act and
the definition of collective bargain
ing. to limit back pay awards to six
months, and to require the N. l..
r. B. to disregard cases where there
was conflict between unions over
which should represent workers.
The c. I. o. has opposed all the
Smith revisions.
Administration leaders are point
Ing for adjournment by June %
two days before the Republican
National Convention at Philadelphia
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
said today that we have a good
chance" of making that deadline.
Senator Barkley and his associates
had a fingers-crossed attitude, how
ever. because they said the fast
moving European war might raise
new problems here at any time.
Ask Congress Stay in Session.
Senate Republicans yesterday
UNANIMOUSLY approved a resolution
urging that Congress remain in ses-
sion for the duration of the emer-
gency. but their leaders emphasized
they would engage in no filibustering
tactics to prevent adjournment.
The House Rules Committee gave
legislative right of way to a Senate
approved bill broadening the Hatch
antl-politics law to cover State en-
ployes paid in part with Federal
money. Even if the House con-
slders it, however, it may be dis
posed of in two days.
During debate on proposed Wag-
ner Act amendments yesterday Rep
resentatlve Smith told the House
that there is no more dangerous
NTH column" in the Nation than
some employees of the board who.
he said, were trying to destroy cap
1tallsm under the shadow of the
Capitol He called on the admin
1stration to do something about
= this situation before it is too late"
Representatives Murdock, Dem
ocrat, of Utah and Healey, Demo-
crata, of Massachusetts,, minority
members of Mr.. Smiths committee,
argued that this was no time to
consider revising labor legislation
Treading on Sacred Ground.
I'VE are treading on sacred ground
when he kick labor in the face
Mr.. Murdock said. "Who will we
look to to build the battleships.
the planes, the rifles of America? ?
The man in overalls ."
At the outset of the debate Chair
man Norton of the Labor Commit
tee appealed to the House to leave
the Wagner Act 'unimpaired. She
said enemies of labor" were try
ing TO take from working men
rights which have become an es-
sential part of our philosophy of
government"
Representative Barton, Repub-
1ican, of New York, expressed oppo-
sition to what he described as the
"obstinate resistance" of Govern
ment bureaucrats to criticism and
said that Congress should create a
new labor board
Mrs. Norton interrupted to re-
mark that the board had been Up
held in almost every case by the Su-
preme Court.
Representative Routzohn, Repub-
lican, of Ohio said the favorable
court record of the board was based
on cases involving only procedural
matters.