Evening star., 1944-03-25
House Faces ; Issues
On 0OO,00O for
Independent Offices


Three highly controversial is
sues are on the doorstep of theI
House today as amendments tol
the 1855, ,00O, 900 independent
Offices bill, which passed the
Senate late yesterday. They are:
The McKeller proposal requiring
all Government employees paid
$4,500 or more year to be ap-
pointed by the President and con-
f1rmed by the Senate, which the
Senate accepted without a word Of
debate, but which faces strong
House opposition.
The Russell amendment to limit
to one year the life of agencies
created by presidential order, unless
they obtain direct appropriations
from Congress, which won Senate
approval after a fight to exempt
the Fair Employment Practice Com
mittee failed.
Closer Check on iva.
Another McKeller amendment,
giving Congress q closer check on
the Tennessee Valley Authority by|
abolishing its revolving fund and
requiring annual appropriations for
its operating expenses. The Sen
ate adopted this amendment, 80 to
|26, after overriding Vice President
Wallace, 46 to II, on a point of
order that had been raised against
the amendment.
The confirmation amendment
is renewal of fight the Senate
lost last year, and Chairman Can
non of the House Appropriations
Committee already has predicted
the House again will take a firm
stand against 1t.
The attitude of the House on the
iva restriction, and on the Russell
amendment is less certain. The
House is not expected to send the
big supply bill to conference before
Monday, and 1t probably will be
week or two before the joint con-
ference committee settles all diff
ferences.
Aiken Fails in Audit Move.
Just before the Senate passed the
bill Senator Aiken, Republican, of
Vermont failed in an effort to re-
quire the various Government cor
porations created in recent years to
be audited by the General Account
ing Once. The amendment mus
tered q majority-34 to 19-but fell
short Of the two-thirds required,
since 1t would have been legislation
on an appropriation bill.
Senator Burton, Republican, of
Ohio failed In a last-minute effort
to obtain reconsideration of the
amendment calling for Senate con-
firmation Of everyone in the Gov
ernment with q salary Of $4,500 or
more a year. Senator McKellar.
Democrat, of Tennessee moved to
table the motion to reconsider, and
this carried, 81 to %.
Aside from the iva fight, which
lasted several days, the hvelest
debate came on move by Senator
Buck, Republican, of Delaware to
save the Presidents Fair Employ
ment Practice Committee from the
possibility Of being left without
funds, If 1t fails to get a direct
appropriation from Congress later
in the session.
or Interest to Thousands.
The committee was created by the
President to prevent racial discrimi-
nation in war work, and Senator
Buck said 1t was of interest to the
millions OF colored citizens both In
war industries and the armed forces
The first time it was put to a
vote. Senator Bucks amendment
carried, 81 to al, and for about half
an hour the agency was exempt
from the Russell amendment. After
further debate, however, a motion
to reconsider carried, 80 to 28. and
when the amendment was voted on
the second time it lost, n to 80
Eight Senators who voted for the
exemption the first time, switched
on the second roll call and one
other who voted for it the first
time was not recorded the second
time.
Those who changed from aye
on the first roll call to mo" on the
second were: Senators Ball of Min
nesota, Bridges of New Hampshire
Holman Of Oregon. Robertson OF
wyoming, Shipstead of Minnesota
and Thomas Of Idaho, Republicans
and Johnson of Colorado and
| OMahoney of wyoming, Democrats
Senator Willis, Republican, of In
diana, who voted AYE" the first
time, was absent on the second vote
but explained later he would have
voted AYE" again If present. SEN
ator Mcfarland, Democrat, of Ari-
zona voted for the amendment the
first time, but was paired with ar
absent Senator the second time ano
could not vote. Senator johnson
OF Colorado, who made the motion
| to reconsider, explained he voted
for the Buck amendment the first
time under a misrepresentation.
| Between Roll Calls.
Between the two roll calls Sena-
tors Russell and George, both Dem
ocrats of Georgia. and Clark, Demo-
crat, OF Missouri took the floor to
criticize the exemption of one agency
from the general restriction on the
creation Of bureaus by executive
order.
Senator Russell said he was
amazed" that the exemption should
be proposed by the Republican side
of the aisle, which has levelled 80
much criticism at the growth OF
Government bureaus.
Senator Clark of Missouri asked
If the President had not already
taken steps to exempt the FEPC
from the Russell amendment by
sending to the House a budget esti-
mate to operate the committee dur