Evening star., 1945-02-15
Administration
Wins First Test
On George Bill
House Votes, 202-l92,
In Favor of Rule to
Consider Measure

Administration forces in the
House today won the first test
on the George bill, prerequisite
for the confirmation of former
Vice President Wallace to be
Secretary of Commerce. BY a
vote of 202 to 1872 the House
adopted rule providing for con-
sideration of the George meas
ure, which would separate Fed
eral loan agencies from the
Commerce Department.
Immediately after the adoption
of the rule, which permits four
hours debate. the George bill was
laid before the House Any amend
ment held to be germane can be
voted upon.
Opponents of Mr. Wallace will
seek, at the conclusion of the de-
bate, to kill the bill by motion to
recommit. Their effort is aimed at
preventing passage of the measure
in the hope that the Senate then
would not confirm Mr. Wallace as
Secretary of Commerce.
Practically all of the Republicans
voted against the rule. They were
Joined by a number of Democrats
from the South who are strongly
opposed to Wallace.
Democratic leaders were confident
of passage of the bill by Senator
George, Democrat, of Georgia, after
breaking up log jam in the hostile
Rules Committee. The committee,
after holding the George bill 10
days, finally cleared it yesterday
for consideration on the floor.
Wallace supporters who are for
the George bill take the attitude
that unless it is passed the Senate
will not confirm their man for the
cabinet at all.
6-tO-4 Vote for Action.
Though many of its members
were openly hostile to Mr.. Wallace,
the Rules Committee refused by
6-to-4 vote to bottle up the George
bill
Some critics of Mr.. Wallace had
hoped to shelve this bill until after
the Senate votes on the nomination.
However, at least two Democrats
standing with the Republicans in
opposition to Mr.. Wallace decided
to go along with the Democratic
leadership and let the legislation
60 to the House floor.
Speaker Rayburn told newspaper.
men he expected the George bill to
pass. The Senate has delayed the
Wallace confirmation vote to March
/, awaiting House action.
/ In what Chairman SABBATH termed
"a lot Of horse play and politics.
the rules group held three sessions
yesterday on the politics studded
controversy.
Wolcott Seeks Broader Bill.
Seeking to broaden the restrictive
scope OF the measure, Representa-
tive Wolcott, Republican, of Michi-
gan, Republican leader of the Bank
ing Committee, told the COMMITTEES
Mr.. Wallace is the symbol of the
Leftist movement" and again: "Un-
less the Export Import Bank is re-
organized, the President could make
Sidney Hillman head of the bank
If he wanted to-"
Defending Mr.. Roosevelt's record
OF handling agencies in wartime.
Chairman SABBATH shouted: BY the
eternal gods the President has done
WE'LL"
The committee twice called in
Lewis Deschler, the House parlia-
mentarian, and sent downtown for
Leo Crowley, foreign economics ad-
ministrator, to inquire how he came
into control of the Export Import
Bank.
Mr.. Crowley appeared behind
closed doors and was reported to
have told the committee he controls
the bank, promoting foreign COM
merce and appoints its II directors
by virtue of an executive order
transferring the banks common
Sfnck tn hie oCepcy