Evening star., 1945-02-17
Wallace Confirmation
Appears Certain After
George Bill Passage
Opposition in Senote
Expected to Collapse;
Showdown Due March !
By the Associated Press.

! by the hsSOCiateQ fteSs.
Only time, a stroke of Presi-
dent RooSevelt's pen and some
debate in the Senate today ap-
peared to separate Henry A. Wal
lace from a coveted cabinet post
Congress let down the last prac.
ticaI bar to his confirmation as sec.
retary of Commerce when the House
late yesterday, passed and sent tt
the White House the George bill
sheering the multibillion-dollal
lending agencies from the Com
merce Department.
The President had promised to lei
the bill become law-an action with
out which Mr.. Wallace admittedly
could not be confirmed. With that
accomplished. effective Senate oppo-
sition appeared almost certain to
collapse.
Pepper Sees Confirmation.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, OF
Florida, head man of the Wallace
forces, predicted substantial ap-
proval of the nomination. He said
he could see no reason why a vote
shouldn't be taken at once, since
the President had agreed to sign
the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
thought House passage of the George
measure greatly improves" Mr.
Wallace's chances of being con-
firmed without further serious con-
troversy."
The Senate has agreed to vote
March l on the appointment. But
before it does, there is likely to be
more talk by those members who
don't want the CIO supported
former Vice President to hold any
job where his salary is met by the
taxpayers.
Although they succeeded in block.
ing him out of a place where he
would have had an important part
in spending the taxpayers money
some of his opponents were not yet
willing to give up.
Taft's Opposition Stands.
For instance, Senator Taft of Ohio
chairman of the Republican Steer
ing Committee, said the passage OF
the George bill makes no difference
in my position"
Il am just as much opposed te
confirmation of Mr.. Wallace as
was before"
|
But Senator Bailey, Democrat, oI
North Carolina said he was pleased
by the House action in approving thu
George bill exactly as it passed the
Senate. 1t was Senator Bailey
chairman of the Senate Commerce
Committee, who made the origina
motion which carried the Wallace
nomination to the brink of defeat or
a Senate showdown (Wallace sup.
porters won on tie vote).
Senator Bailey was understood tc
be prepared to urge his opposition
colleagues to give up the fight anc
let Mr.. Wallace be confirmed for 9
post he said he would accept with
out the authority over the lending
agencies.
The House came within eight
votes yesterday of overturning the
Senate's arrangement. However, the
administration bested Republican,
Southern Democrat coalition in q
204-to-196 vote defeating motion te
recomrnit the George bill to COM
mittee, shelving it.
Approved 500 to 2.
The George measure then was
passed 800 to 2, with Representative.
Lepke, Republican. Of North Da.
kota and Wilson, Republican, OF In
diana casting the only negative
votes.
Mr.. Wilson, who introduced the
motion to recomnit, was forced tt
vote mo" under House rules.
Twenty-Five Democrats joined with
176 Republicans in the unsuccessful
effort to shelve the George bill. Only
two Republicans and two minol
party members went along with 20(
Democrats to rescue 1t.
The Democrats who voted for the
motion to reconmit were Aber.
fGDA vfyATT ANW RN - A-0l