The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-18


 Total attendance, seven. over in the House the record was better with 300 out Of the 400 on hand to pass repeal of the poll tax But that was so hot for some of the South erners they wished they were home and it was futile gesture besides because the Senate will probably kill it.
 Adjournment of Congress in July is likely, however. and it's about time, because the distinguished members are all stir-crazy and they need to go home for check-up and to be checked up on.
 The battle neuroses show on the congressman in the things they do The House is always unpredictable but when the Senate goes haywire as it did in passing the price control amendment which would guaran- tee a profit on all produce, then you know it's time for change.
 ADMINISTRATION
 WINS AND LOSES
 The Lower House was clear of form and doubly surprised every one by (A), passing the Breton Woods agreement and (B), taking terrible hack at the Presidents $ powers to cut tariffs under the Re- clprocal Trade Agreements pro- gram. The first was considered as good as the latter was disappointing to the Administration.
 What seems to have happaned to both the Reciprocal Trade renewal in the House as well as the OPA renewal in the Senate is that the solons were unable to look past their own noses. Both were considered as purely local issues, instead of mat ters on which there should be a national policy.
 Everybody wants price control, everybody wants tariffs reduced = except on those particular commod- 1ties in which he deals. And when congressman listen and react to such pressures, the only thing that will do them much good is a good long rest amid quiet surroundings.
 1nf1ationary levers and chills are still epidemic all over Washington. In Congress they have showed up recently in the House idea of in- creasing congressmen's expense al- loWance $2,50O a year. and in the Senate proposal to double congress Slonal salaries from $10,00O to S20,000 year. Not to be overlooked either, is the bill to increase the pay Of government workers by some $736,0O0OO0 a year. Anyway you size this up, Congress seems agreeable to the idea that govern ment is going to cost more, and the few economics effected by knocking paltry $17,000, 900 of the Office of War Information appropriation are going to be more than made up for if the congressman stay in Washington much longer.
 POSTWAR GOVERNMENT
 HIGH-PRICED
 The great saving, of course. can come in postwar's reduced appro- priations, but even so the Brookings Institution is out with a report that government after the war will cost tWo-and-a-half times as much as in 194O.
 The two things which President Truman has specifically asked of Congress-unlimited power to re- organize the government and in- creased Social Security payments will probably have to ride over until Congress reconvenes in the fall. The President needs both these authori- zatlons to deal with immediate problems, but both seem headed for a fight and Congress is in no mood to tackle such large orders at this time
 Even with Congress out of town Tor the summer, things aren't going to be dull. Senator Robert F. Wag- ner's Banking and Currency Com mlttee is fixing to hold elaborate hearings on Senator James E. Mur- rays controversial Full Employment Bill, and there will be the United Nations Charter, written at San franclsco, to argue about. That. too, will probably have to wait until fall before the Senate will feel like considering it for ratification.