Evening star., 1944-06-19
Outlay Of 49 Billion
For Army Is Approved
By Senate Committee
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

4&AS SSAA0oS @APPA ~ AeA AoAoA]a
Committee approved today with
only minor changes a $40, lot,
765,795 Army supply bill for the
year beginning July l, as both
houses prepared to rush through
a dozen must" bills this week
before recessing for the political
conventions.
At the same time, the Senate
completed action on one of the re-
naming appropriation bills, carry
ing $60,232,000 for the legislative
and judicial establishments, and
sent it to the White House. This
leaves 10 money bills to be acted
on, besides the price control extern
sion measure awaiting final agree
ment.
The only money change the Sem
ate committee made in the Army
bill was to eliminate $1,217,060 the
House had allowed for further oil
explorations in Alaska. Of the total
in the bill, s15,434 ,814,795 is new
cash, and $33,67297l 900 is the re-
appropriation of unexpended bal
ances.
Allows Travel for Wounded.
The Senators added a provision
10 allow the War Department to
pay the travel expenses to their
homes or some nearby camp of serv-
lcemen brought from overseas for
recuperation. e
The committee also struck out a
House clause that would have frozen
the Army specialist training pro-
gram for medical and dental STU
dents at present enrolment levels.
The Senate resumed debate at
noon on the controversial S500,000
fund to keep the Presidents Fair
Employment Practices Committee
going during the year beginning
July /, with decision unlikely be-
fore tomorrow Although Southern
Senators are fighting the item on
the ground that there is no author
ity in law for the powers delegated
to the committee by executive Or
der, indications are the appropri-
alton will be approved.
Plan Recess to August l.
Leaders hope to clear up all re-
manning essential legislation by Fri
day night, and then recess until
after the Republican and Demo-
cratic conventions, or about Au-
gust l.
House and Senate conferees or
the price control eill expressed con-
fidence they could clear the two re-
manning major hurdles by nightfall
These are the Bankhead amend
ment, written in by the Senate tt
tie the price of raw cotton to tht
ceiling price of finished textiles, ane
the amendment inserted in 'th,
House at the insistence of Repre-
sentative Dirksen, Republican, O
Illinois, throwing all OPA regula
tions and orders open to review b.
district courts.
Supporters of the Bankhead pro
posal, strongly opposed by the OPP
and administration spokesmen, wer
glum in the face OF the 191-to-3
vote by which the House rejected /
similar amendment. The DirkSel
amendment also drew sharp fir
from the administration, which con
tended it could snarl enforcement
Of price orders by widely varying
court opinions.
II the bill goes to the President II
form that moves him to veto II
Congress would have to give up it
plans for five-week recess owe
the political conventions, and in
stead come back to the Capital t,
pass some sort of continuing legis
lation. The present legal life o
OPA expires June 30.
The Senate will get back from tn
House today, with multiple amend
ments, its bill providing for a uni
form method of terminating wa
contracts. Relatively minor differ
ences appear to offer no seriou
difficulties.
WASPS Bill on House Docket.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mtttee is hopeful of approving, il
time for action before Friday, bill
supplying the legislative blueprin
for demobilization and postwar eco
nomic adjustments. The chance
are slim.
On the House docket this weeI
are bills to make the Women's Al
Force Service Pilots (WASPS)
part or the Regular Army and t
counteract a Supreme Court de
cision by declaring insurance com
panies do not operate in interstat
commerce.
Failure to raise quorum brough
O breathing spell today in the Sen
ate Judiciary Committee controverS
over the Government seizure c
Montgomery Ward & Co.'S Chicag
properties.
Administration supporters withil
the committee are seeking to fore
q full public inquiry into all aspect
Of case.