Evening star., 1945-09-27
Truman AssaiIs
Senate Action
On Job|ess Paw
Tells House Group
He Doesn't Expect
Similar 'Letdown'

President Truman today &C
cused the Senate of letting him
down on the unemployment
compensation issue and told
Democratic members of the
House Ways and Means Commit
tee that he did not expect the
House to follow suit.
The President made his stand
clear when he called Democratic
members of the committee to the
White House to discuss the commit
tees 14-10 vote to shelve the unem-
ployment compensation bill, which
the Senate earlier had modified
sharply.
Members of the committee were
silent after they left the 45-minute
meeting with the President, but
Press Secretary Charles Ross told
reporters what had occurred He
said the President told the House
group he was standing pat on his
original recommendation for 26
weeks payment up to $25 weekly for
displaced war workers.
Has Not Changed Views.
The Chief Executive asserted that
his views had been fully outlined
in his unemployment compensa-
ton message to Congress and that
he was standing by them.
Did he say definitely that the
Senate had let him DOWN" Mr.. Ross
was asked.
Yes" he replied.
AS the Senate passed the bill, 1t
was mace possible for States to eX-
tend the length of payment up to &c
weeks, but the Senate refused to
provide the funds to boost payments.
Generally, both the time for which
payments are made and the amount
of benefits are well below the stand
ard at which the President aimed.
The Democratic Ways and Means
members left the Presidents office
saying no commitments were made,
but reported the President made an
earnest case for the unemployment
benefits bill.
Mr.. Truman, they said. made no
effort to commit the individual
members.
Committee members referred queS
tions to Chairman Doughton. whose
only comment was: 1T was the
Presidents conference. He called Us
down here If there is any state
ment to be made, he will make it
Won't Discuss Outlook.
do you think the unemployment
compensation bill has a better
chance now?" Mr.. Doughton was
asked.
Il am not going to say word"
he responded. That's up to the
committee.
Later. at the Capitol, Mr.. Dough-
ton said:
"Of course, we don't want to let
the President down, that is the last
thing we want to do. But each mem
ber has his responsibility"
After the President tested his
power of personal persuasion. the
Democratic Committee member re-
turned directly to the Capitol for a
closed door session at Chairman
Doughton's call. but the meeting
broke up without any announced
decision.
Four members of the Presidents
own party joined 10 Republicans
Tuesday in a coalition that shelved
all legislation to liberalize unem-
ployment benefits through Federal
supplements to State administered
programs.
A Democrat offered the motion
that indefinitely postponed" further
consideration. Representative Knut-
son of Minnesota, senior Ways and
Means Republican, said the coalition
put aside the jobless aid legislation
because widespread strikes had
obscured the unemployment problem
Tax Action First.
The President may get an agree
ment for eration-later-ot
the "watered down" Senate version
Of administration legislation.
Representative Eberharter, Demo-
crat, of Pennsylvania, staunch friend
of the unemployment benefits bill
told reporter he believes the
greatest number of people would
want action on taxes first.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Bark
ley is preparing to ask the Senate
to approve the full employment bill
on the ground it is only preliminary
legislation.
The measure, undergoing it's third
day of debate, lays down a policy
that all Americans able and wanting
to work 'are entitled to an oppor-
tunity for useful remunerative, reg
ular and full-time employment" II
further provides for whatever
volume of Federal expenditure ano