The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-01
BY JOHN l.. CUTTER

Washington, Feb. l-(UP)-The immediate political fate of Henry A. Wallace goes before the Senate for decision today with mounting indi- cations that he may end up with the job of Secretary of Commerce minus the lending agencies now attached to that cabinet post.
 While Wallace's supporters and opponents still were engaged in last minute maneuvcrS to block or con- firm his nomination, senate Demo- cratic leaders arranged a conference in hope of reaching an agreement on procedure to be followed,
 On the eve of the Senate action, Wallace himself attempted to strengthen his position by filing a supplemental statement denying that he was opposed to "big busi- ness" and enlarging on previously expressed views nthe need for en- couraging little business.
 The outcome of the procedure conference was uncertain. Chairman Josiah w. Bailey, D., N. C., of the commerce committee. Wallace op- Donent, said he intended to press for consideration of the committees adverse report on the nomination as soon as possible after the Senate convened at noon CEWTD.
 It has been the strategy of Wal lace supporters, who have aban- doned efforts to keep the huge fed erall lending agencies under the commerce department, to delay vote on the nomination until the Senate acts on the George Blll, which would strip the department Of those agencies,
 Senate Democratic leader Alben w. Barkley of Kentucky, leaving hospital where he has been treated for an eye infection to step into the bitter controversy. was expected to ask that the Senate consider the George Bill first. Bailey then could offer a privileged motion for the Senate to go into executive session and consider the nomination. II the Bailey motion carried, WallaceS packers then could not attempt to rccommit the nomination to com mittee pending action on the George bill
 IT, any event, approval Of the Bailey motion was expected to lead to lengthy debate
 Signs of increasing optimism were displayed by the Senate pro Wallace forces while the oposition relleclea increasing peSsimlSm. Repupllcan whip Keneth s. Winery of Nebraska, an opponent of the nomination. eX- pr, ssed the belief that the anu Wallace movement was losing ground.
 Bailey was closeted in a long con ference yesterday with senators Harry F. Byrd, D, Va. Kenneth McKellar, D, T., and Peter Gerry, D., R. l., all foes of Wallace, and thereafter re-ailirmed thelr plans to seek an immediate vote on the nomination.
 Bailey filed reports late yesterday reciting the committees IA to D vote against recommending approval ol the nomination and its approval or the George bill. In It's report the committee expressed alarm over the authority given the Secretary ol Commerce with the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
 It said the consequences H the political control which couldl Ie eX- crciscd by the Secretary of Com merce could not be measured and that he could use the REC powers to determine the social. economic and political character of the coun- try.
 Four Wallace supporters on the committee Senators Claude Pepper D., Fla, Theodore G. Bilbo D., Miss, James M. Mead, D., N. Y., and Warren Magnuson, D.. Wash. filed a minority report accusing the com mittee of fiouting the will of thr people expressed in the l944 cleo' ton. The minority contended the, Wallace'S foes either misunderstood him or opposed a program of fu., production and employment.
 Tn his supplemental statelnen' last night, Wallace said private en- terpriSe could survive only 1T IL eH banded and that such growth cou!o be realized only If new enterprises were born and permitted to develop He said he was not against big DuS' mess but wanted more business and more business enterprises.
 T do not believe the monopollsliC