Evening star., 1943-05-28
Funds
Continued From First Page

tate Of the latter is still to be set
tied In the agricultural supply bill.
Acting Chairman McKellar of the
Appropriations Committee said
speedy enactment of the deficiency
bill was necessary. because it con-
tains funds to pay the overtime COM
pensation of Government employees
between now and June 80, when
funds for the new fiscal year become
available
The Senate accepted without
change list of District items added
to the bill in committee, totaling
$3.50, ,33l.70. OF this amount $780,
093 is to pay the recent salary in
creases of policemen, fremen and
teachers. The only other large item
Is $l74,763 for operating expenses
OF the Washington aqueduct. The
rest is made up of small miscella-
neous deficiencies for other NUM-
cipal bureaus.
Five Hour Battle of Words.
A five-hour battle OF words be-
tween opposing Senate factions over
the value of the planning agency and
the soundness of its postwar domes-
the program for this country ended
In draw yesterday.
The administration lost by vote
of 43 to 81 Its fight to raise the $780,
900 item in the independent Offices
bill for the planning board to 1884,
422.
Then, the opponents of the agency
lost, A to 81, in their move to leave
the board without any money after
June 80. On the first test most
OF the Republicans present joined
with II Democrats to oppose the
higher amount.
Had Sought S1,40O, 900.
If the coalition had held together
on the second vote, the planning
boards elimination would have been
final, since the House passed the
bill without any funds for the
agency. On the question of aboli-
ton, however a substantial group
of Republicans and a few of the
Democrats switched away from the
opposition and saved the board
Before passing the $2,62l, ,539, ,379
independent Office measure. carry
| ing funds for numerous boards
and commissions, the Senate ac-
cepted an amendment by SEN
ator Byrd. Democrat. of Virginia
| calling on the Home Owners Loan
Corp. to submit detailed plan to
Congress for getting the Govern
ment out of the home-mortgage
business by July l, 1945, and to file
semi-annual reports of the progress
toward liquidation.
Already Being Liquidated.
The amendment would not re-
quire liquidation by that date, with
out further congressional action.
The agency already is in the process
Of liquidation, but officials contend
that If it is spread over longer
period of years the Government S
ultimate loss on the mortgages it
took over during the depression will
be less.
The conferees also will have to
settle this issue finally, since the
House had cut the administrative
expenses of HOLC to force liqui-
dation during the coming fiscal
year.
The fight against the planning
board revolved chiefly around the
economic theories of the agency for
postwar welfare and social security,
with Senators Taft, Republican, of
Ohio; Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia
and Tydings. Democrat, of Mary
land taking the lead in opposition.
Defenders Cite Aid of Board.
The defense of the board was led
by Senators McKellar anG Acting
Majority Leader Hill of Alabama.
They stressed the aid the board
renders other Government depart
ments on war work and the assist
ance it renders State and county
planning units.
At one point in the debate. Sena-
tor Danaher, Republican, of Con-
necticut brought out that even If
the Senate forced the present board
out of existence by withdrawing all
of its funds the President could
create a new planning board i'm
mediately under the authority given
III. u