The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-12-09
Observations
Congress Loses
Hope of Early
Adjournment
Gy HELEN ESSARY
Gy HELEN EsSARY

Democratic leaders in Congress
are about to scrap their plans for
an early adjournment. They are
conceding privately that the lame
duck" session possibly will con
tinue until a few days before
Christmas.
The reason is that a number Of
important legislative matters are
pressing for consideration. and 1t
does not appear that they can be
disposed OF without considerable
debate. Moreover, there is little
possibility of simply tucking them
away until the new Congress meets
on Jan. s.
Legislation to extend the See
ond War Powers act tops the "urs
ent list" in the eyes OF the admin
istration, and a House judiciary
committee amendment TO the bill Is
expected top remote a heated bat
tie. The lone amendment permits
appeals TO a federal district court
from any WPB or OPA order sus-
pending any priority or ALLEGATION
or denying a stay Of any such sus.
pension.
In addition. many members OF
Congress regard as imperative
freezing OF the old age pension tax
for another year. The administra-
tion is opposed to this. and wants
the tax to double automatically on
Jan. /. A presidential veto may
result il Congress passes a freez-
ing or compromise measure.
At any rate-the battle will be
time-consuming. And additional
fights already are under way on
pressing flood control, river and
harbor, highway and crop insur-
ance legislation.
THE HOUSE DRIVE FOR 4 con-
stitutional amendment cutting It
in on the Senate's individual power
TO ratify treaties is-in the eyes
OF most political oLservers-doom.
ed to immediate failure.
Proposals in the lower chamber
would make treaty ratification sub
ject TO a simple majority vote in
both the House and the Senate.
instead OF the present requirement
for a two-thirds upper chamber
vote. At present the Senate is GER
tain TO block the measure If 1t is
passed by the House. and the out
look for a stone wall will continue
into the new 18th Congress, which
meets in January.
THE SERIOUSNESS OF the lag
IN war production is being driven
home to Americas workers at every
opportunity. Army and Navy chief
tains, Jimmy Byrnes, War Mobiliza-
ton director. Paul McNutt, War
Manpower chief. and practically all
OF the Washington officials. are ap-
pearing before labor meetings at
every chance TO appeal for a boost
in production.
Main reason for the lag Is that
American troops have been storm
ing ahead so rapidly they are
months ahead OF schedule and the
homefront hasn't caught up with
them yet.
Most dramatic appeal came from
Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower, SUI
preme Allied commander in
Europe He dispatched % fighting
CTS straight from the Siegfried
Line TO Washington TO tell the peo-
pie the need for additional NUM-
tons.
THE WAR PRODUCTION
BOARD is asking Washington re-
porters to help put over the story
OF the urgent need for more man.
power in certain industries making
such critical munitions as heavy
heavy trucks and artillery shells.
WPB Chairman ]. A. Krug says
labor recruitment and genuine as
sistance to the battle to beat the
A is will be vastly stimulated by
sending photographers and news
men through war plants so they
can tell the nation.
SADDLED WITH THE JOB OF
meeting a 12-months schedule In
only nine months, some farm ma
chinery producers are falling be-
hind requirements. To the farmer
in the nations agricultural belts.
this means-tough going in view OF
VIA Chief Marvin Jones' plea for
continued high production OF food
in 1945. And they have little new
farm machinery with which to
tackle the lob. Result-the farm
machinery division has scheduled a
meeting it'll top WPB o icials soon
to iron out the many problems.
SANTA CLAUS will have Christ
mas trees galore TO decorate with
gifts this year. The Owl saws
there will be ample to satisfy the
holiday needs OF everybody.