Evening star., 1945-02-16
By GOULD LINCOLN.


The House pushed forward to-
day to vote on the George bill,
with the fate of former Vice
President W3llace's nomination
to be Secretary of Commerce
hinging on the outcome.
With an hour and 10 minutes of
general debate ON the measure still
remaining, opposing factions re-
sumed the hammer and -tongs dis
cussion Of Mr. Wallace's qualifica-
tions for the job. When the general
debate is completed. the bill will be
taken up under the 5-minute rule
for amendment.
The crucial vote will come-prob-
ably late this afternoon-on a mo-
ton to recommit, which would send
the bill back to the House Banking
Committee, perhaps with instruc-
tions' to amend it. Such action
would spell delay. if not defeat, for
the bill, which seeks to strip the
great Federal loan agencies from the
Commerce Department. Passage of
this bill is regarded as a prerequi-
site to confirmation of Mr.. WAL
lace by the Senate, which delayed
voting on the ! nomination until
March /.
Leaders Won't Predict Outcome.
Leaders on both sides were chary
about predicting the outcome, al
though administration leaders still
believe they will be able to defeat
a motion to recommit. The vote
yesterday on the rule for considera-
tion of the George bill was SO close,
however-202 to 192-that it was ad-
mitted anything could happen.
Republican critics of the George
bill. who claim that the measure
does not go far enough because
President Roosevelt could transfer
other big loan agencies to the COM
merce Department despite the pro-
visions of the Senate-passed bill,
will seek to have drastic amend
ments added. These amendments
are expected to be ruled out of order,
however, on the ground they are
not germane.
Republican thought on an amend
Iment designed to prevent control Of
the Export-Import Bank by the Sec
iretary of Commerce is that it might
be better to wait until Leo T. Crow
ley, now head of the Foreign Eco
lnomlc Administration and of the
bank, comes to Congress seeking a
billion and halfs dollars, as he is
expected to do. 1t will be possible
then, they pointed out today, to
write drastic provisions into law con-
cerning the operation of the bank.
Brown Defends Bill.
Opening the debate today, Repre-
sentative Brown, Democrat, of
Georgia. member of the Banking
Committee, defended the George bill
as reported by the committee.
Il am not one of those who be-
lieves prejudice will prevail in this
vote" he said.
Representative Graham. Repub-
lican, of Pennsylvania told the
House he proposed to offer an
amendment providing that the new
Federal loan administrator shall
have term of one year.
/ mo one knows who the Federal
| loan administrator will be- said
Mr.. Graham. This is a matter Of
| Importance"
| Anti administration Southerners
were split in yesterdays test vote.
But Representative Rankin, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi, who usually
spearheadS the administration
coalition, predicted sufficient num-
ber would swing over later to shelve
the bill. On the other hand, Repre-
sentative Ramspeck of Georgia,
Democratic whip. said the lines
would hold to save the bill.
BY defeating or shelving the leg
/ islation, passed by the Senate, "a
to II, the House anti-Wallace forces
hoped to bring about outright re-
lection of Mr. Wallace for Mr..
Roosevelt's cabinet. Their strategy
is to force the Senate to vote on his
confirmation for the joint post as
Commerce Secretary and RFC adj
ministrater.
Representative Wolcott of Mich.
igan, Republican leader of the
{See WALLACE. Page A-41