Evening star., 1947-07-28
Adjournment Leaves
Missouri Vote Probe
As Election Issue

las Election Issue
The Kansas City vote fraud
charges may be in eclipse at the
Capitol, but they are almost cer-
tain to become a talking point
In next years national election.
This became apparent as weary
members of Congress started home
after the battle over the proposed
investigation of the charges grow
ing out of the Kansas City election
OF 1916 and other last-minute busi-
ness kept Congress on the job on
Sunday for the first time since
1929. Adjournment finally came
at 3:49 am. yesterday.
Senator KEN, Republican, Of
Missouri, who failed to get through
his proposed Senate investigation
of Attorney General Clark's hand
ling of the Kansas City complaints,
will not decide until later whether
to renew his efforts at the next
session.
A Republican leader expressed
the belief privately that the issue
would not be revived in the Sen
ate. There are both State and Fed
eral indictments awaiting trial in
Missouri, however. and it is safe
to assume Republican orators will
include the subject in their cam
palgn speeches next year.
After Democrats succeeded in
blocking a Republican bid for a
full-scale investigation, Senator
Brewster, Republican, of Maine tried
to get even by preventing approval
of the nomination of Philip B. PERL
man of Baltimore to be Solicitor
General, top-rank spot under At
torney General Clark.
Senator Brewster finally gave up
and the Senate confirmed Mr.. PERL
man, 81 to 81, and adjourned.
Although the legislative work is
ended for Congress members, en-
rolling clerks and President Truman
still have plenty to do.
Piling up on the Presidents desk
are numerous legislative acts passed
during the closing days of the ses-
sion. And stacked on desks of con-
gressional enrolling clerks are scores
more, being checked and prepared
to be sent along to the White House.
Senate and House clerks wouldn' t
guess how many bills still are "in
the mill" but figured on sending
about 100 to the President today
and tomorrow.
In addition to that, the President
has upward of 100 more sent to him
last week. Many of them are minor
measures, but there also are some
big appropriation bills.
10 Days to Sign Bills.
The President has 10 days, not
counting Sundays, to decide what
he wants to do about bills after
they reach him. Now that Congress
has adjourned, the ones he doesn't
specifically approve are killed by a
pocket veto.
House and Senate members re
turning home. will find out what the
people think of this first stream
lined" Congress, this first Repub-
lican-controlled Congress in a dec
ade and a half.
The grass roots reaction is i'm
portant. Top issues already are
shaping up for next years election
eering for President, all 43s
House members and 80 of the 81
Senator'S.
Issues Are Ready Made.
Back at the crossroads there are
such. ready-made political issues as
l. Taxes. Congress voted twice
to trim income taxes $4,000 000, 900
President Truman vetoed both bills
The vetoes stuck. The bills died.
2. Labor. Congress passed bill
to make unions liable to punishment
for many things never before pen
allied. Organized labor and the
President denounced it. Congress
made the bill law over a veto.
3. Spending. Republicans anc
Democrats squabbled all through the
session about trimming Government
expenses.
Mr.. Truman asked last January
for some $37, $40, ,55l ,555 to run the
Government in the year that began
July l.
Congress did make some big hicks
In the budget. But right into the
closing hours there were arguments
about how big. The highest Re-
publican estimate was $4,995, 900 900
the lowest Democratic calculation
lin the neighborhood' of 81 600 ,00O,
900.
Records of the House Appropri.
ations Committee show the House
and Senate finally agreed on $34,
1863, AL ,36C, or reduction of $2,777,.
11O,195.
Little Done on Living Costs.
4. Living costs. The lawmaker!
heard plenty and said plenty abou
high prices. They didn't do much
about them except:
Continue rent control until mex
March !, with permission for land.
lords to boost rents IS per cent ir
exchange for leases running through
all of 1948.
Agree to an investigation.
Because of that inquiry. and {
wide assortment Of others, dozens o
Senators and Representatives won