Evening star., 1947-03-09

The House wants to cut 5000, 900 600
i and the Senate only $4,500 ,000, ,00l
from Mr.. Truman's $37, SOC, 600 90,
estimate of Government require.
ments.
House Tax Hearings Near.
The House Ways and Means Com.
mittee may start hearings late this
week on reduction of individual in
come taxes, but the extent of tax
relief 1t grants will depend largely
on the final decision in the budget
cutting resolution.
AS to revision of the labor laws
the Senate Labor Committee ended
public hearings yesterday, with in
dications the House will let the Sen
ate act first on that issue.
Amid the mounting discussion OF
how the Republican Congress is pro-
crossing. Senator Baldwin, Republi-
can of Connecticut, called for a
unity conference between Republi-
can Senators and Carroll Reece, the
party'S national chairman. He made
the suggestion in a letter to Mr.
Reece.
Informed of the Baldwin letter
Senator Taft said I'VE have been
more or less in touch with the ma
tional committee right along"
Senator Baldwin had taken the
lead earlier in presenting to party
leaders suggestion from the 16
new COP senators that party con-
ferences be held more frequently
Senator Taft indicated he welcomed
that suggestion, and pointed out
that under Republican rules five
Republican senators can call party
lconference.
Will Debate Fund Bill.
Senate leaders hope to get a finaI
vote tomorrow on the Constitutions!
amendment, already passed by the
House, placing a limit of two four.
year terms on the Presidency.
Without waiting for a final decis.
lon on on the overall budget ceiling
the House win start debate tomorrow
on the first 1948 appropriation bill
for the Treasury and Post Office De.
partments. A sharp partisan debate
is IN prospect as to whether q pro-
posed $500, ,000, 600 cut in estimated
tax refunds in 1948 is an actual
economy, or a hope that cannot be
irealized.
Senate leaders must decide this
week whether to proceed next with
the fight over confirmation of David
E. Lilienthal to be chairman of the
Atomic Energy Commission, or the
portal-to-portal pay bill and sugar
control extension. If, as all signs
indicate, the Lilienthal nomination
leads to a long debate, the number
OF unfinished bills will pile I'D on
the waiting list.
Avoid Impression of Split.
Although Senators Taft and VAN
denberg-both influential in Repub-
lican ranks-are expected to be on
opposite sides in the Lilienthal fight,
they were said by friends to be tax
ing steps to avoid the impression
there is any general split in party
leadership. Senator Vandenberg is
expected to support the nomination,
while Senator Taft has announced
he Is against Mr.. Lilienthal.
AS an indication that their dis
agreement is not general, 1t was re-
ported yesterday that Senator Van
denberg took steps to have Senator
Taft included in President Truman's
conference with Congressional lead
ers on foreign affairs tomorrow
morning At the same time, Senator
Taft was said to have invited SEN
ator Vandenberg to meet with the
policy committee when it discusses
domestic as we'll as foreign prob
lens. He sat in at yesterdays policy
committee session. D
Various developments during the
past week point to the likelihood of
a general speeding up of the legis-
lative program from now on.