Evening star., 1946-11-14
Blueprint
OF Legislation
-
Expected Today
Meetings Scheduled
By Steering Groups Of
Senate and House
DIRKSEN TO SEEK post of House
majority leader. Page Az
By J. A. o'Leory

Republican leaders of the
House and Senate are expected
to give a preview today of the
legislation they will push early
in the new Congress.
The House COP Steering Com.
mittee met this morning and Rep
resentatiye Martin of Massachusetts
was prepared to submit an agenda
and suggest appointment of SUBJ
committees to do some December
spadework on the issues scheduled
for early attention.
When the House steering group
adjourned for lunch, Chairman
Martin said they were more than
half way through the list of legis-
lative subjects under discussion but
no announcement would be made
until o'clock. Everything dis
cussed during the morning, he said,
would be subject to possible change
until the agenda is completed.
Meanwhile, on the Senate side.
where similar Steering Commit-
tee will gather this afternoon. sen.
timent was developing for a concise
Republican programmed attenpt-
ing TO cover too wide a range Of
subjects,
Taft Predicts Delay.
In advance Of the meeting Sena.
tor Taft of Ohio forecast that Re-
publicans will delay final drafting
OF any party legislative program
until early in January.
Senator Taft, chairman Of the
Senate committee, told a reporter
the Steering Committees probably
VIII produce q list of subjects on
which subcommittee will be asked
to prepare recommendations or bills
Tor presentation at conferences of
all party members early in January.
The Republicans viii proceed with
their program without reference to
any proposals the Democrats NAV
make, he added.
Contests in Background.
The natural rivalry cropping out
In both Houses for key posts con-
tinued to hold the interest of re-
turning Republicans, but these lead
ership contests viii be shunted to
the background today while the ton
men discuss the campaign promises
they made. and how to carry them
out.
On the House side-where reye.
nue. bills must originate-the lead
ers already have announced they
expect to 60 through with a 20 per
cent cut in income taxes.
Other subjects on which they
are likely to concentrate today in
clude economy in government.
rapid repeal Of wartime emergency
powers delegated to Government
departments. and the future of OPA.
White Urges ThumbnaiI Program.
Senator White of Maine, who
was Republican aoer leader In the
Seventy ninth Congress, was one Of
the first to urge a thumbnail Ieeis-
lative program Others who agreed
with him included Senators Ball,
Republican, of Minnesota and Rev.
ercomb, Republican. of West vir-
ginia.
II don't think we ought to try to
write a party platform, such as
might be produced at a national
convention" said Senator White.
We ought to say what we want to
do about half dozen major issues
and not spread our efforts all over
the lot. We ought to make promises
that we can carry out and then see
that they are fulfilled"
Senator Ball suggested the Repub-
licanS might concentrate in the
first months of the Eightieth Con-
gress on three subjects-Labor legis-
lation, establishment of what he
called sound" fiscal policy and
the removal of wartime Government
controls.
Senator Ball is working on several
labor bills, including measure to
outlaw the closed shop. Senator
Revercomb said he thought the Re-
publicans must form a new policy
on the disposal of war surpluses.
Social Security Inquiry.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican.
OF Michigan, expected to become the
Senates new presiding officer, is
likely to renew proposals for joint
enate-HouSe committee inquiry
into the possible broadening of social
security coverage.
Senator Taft may Want the Re-
publicans to go on record for health
and housing legislation he has spon-
sored In cooperation with Demo-
Gratis in former Congresses.
But in any event, Senator Rever.
comb said he thinks such questions
as Army-Navy merger and universal
military training ought to be han
died on a bipartisan, rather than