Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-17
Taft Limitation Bill
.ChangesSought
By Democrats
Policy Committee
Discords Attempt to
Block Consideration


The Senate Democratic Policy
Committee today discarded pro-
posals to try to block considera-
ton of a Republican anti-infla-
ton bill and decided instead to
attempt to amend it.
Chairman Barley told reporters
the Senate Democratic leadership
will offer amendments lin an effort
to carry out as much of President
Truman's program as possible"
In this connection Senator Bark
ley said no Democratic attempt will
be made to insert in the measure the
standby price-Wage controls which
Mr.. Truman has suggested as an
important point in his plan to check
the rising cost of living.
Eve are not going to delay con-
Sideration Of this bill but we are
going to try to perfect it, the Ken
tuckian added.
Senator Barley said a price wage
control measure which he intro
duced yesterday will not be offered
as an amendment.
Taft to Await Amendments.
Chairman Taft of the Senate Re-
publican Policy Committee told re-
porters later that the bill he intro
duced, approved yesterday by the
Senate Banking Committee, will not
be brought before the Senate until
the Democrats finish writing their
amendments later this afternoon.
But he said he is pushing for ap-
proval of his program by tonight.
Meanwhile, he said, he will call
up another part of what he has
termed the 'stopgap" Republican
anti-inf1ation program-a bill to re-
impose consumer credit controls
which ended last month. This bill
has been approved by the Senate
Banking Committee.
The Taft measure would provide
for voluntary industry agreements
to hold prices in line and to parcel
out scarce materials, would extend
export controls and would continue
transportation controls.
Senator Barley said the Demo-
Gratis do not consider these pro-
posals sufficient to meet the cost of
living problem, although some of
the points were covered previously
in the Presidents program. He said
the Democratic group will meet later
in the day to draft its amendments.
Some Republicans May Balk.
Republicans still faced the posi-
bility that some of their own mem
bers would balk at efforts to speed
the bill through the Senate.
Senator Taft has said that unless
it can be passed there today there
is little likelihood that the House,
which rejected somewhat similar
measure Monday, could act on it
before The scheduled Friday night
adjournment of the special session
of Congress.
The House knocked down bill by
representative Wolcott, Republican,
of Michigan when the Republican
leadership attempted to forbid any
changes.
But Senator Taft said he feels the
House would almost be in a posi-
ton of having to take up" his bill
if it should clear the Senate today.
He added that on the other hand
there would be virtually no chance
for House action if the Senate were
to put off final vote until tomor-
row.
Martin Pledges Cooperation.
House Speaker Martin declared:
I'VE will do everything possible
to put it through the House during
the special session if it arrives in
the House in time"
An extraordinary burst of speed
engineered by Senator Taft yester-
day put his bill at the top of the
Senate docket for debate today.
Faced with the prospect of no
action on Republican anti-inflation
legislation as a result of Mondays
(See ECONOMIC, Page ADJ