Evening star., 1947-06-21


obtained long periods of rest by de-
manding quorum calls when most
Senators have gone home Last
night, however. supporters Of the
labor bill stayed close enough to the
Senate chamber SO that quorum calls
were answered promptly, giving lit
tie relief to the filibusterers.
/ The House had voted to override
the veto Immediately after it was
read in that chamber yesterday.
The message was read to the Senate
at 2:3e pm. yesterday. Leaders i'm
mediatelY began negotiating to fix
pm. today as the voting hour, but
Senator Morse objected.
Senator Wherry of Nebraska, Re-
publican whip, served notice the
ma ajority would try to keep the Sen
ate in session and the endurance
test was on.
Senator Pepper took the floor at
$40, but talked for only about three
hours. When he sat down at $40
for a quorum call, Senator Morse
indicated there would be no agree
ment last night.
Recess Motion Defeated.
Shortly before 7 pm, Senator
McGrath. Democrat, of Rhode Is
land, moved recess, but was beaten,
50 to 16
It was then that Senator Taylor
took the floor and began his hours
and 20 minutes of mingled story
telling and serious discussion of the
bill.
When Senator Taylor sat down at
3:15 am, Senator Pepper invoked
another quorum call, but 65 Senators
promptly appeared, many of them
as sleepy as firemen awakened by
a gong, but on the job nevertheless.
No all-night session ever passes
without flare up, and this occurred
about $3.50, when Senator Taft made
| a point of order that Senator Kill
cores remarks on the bill were in
fringing the rules. .--..
The chair halted Senator Kilgore
temporarily, but after a parlia-
mentary squabble, he was permitted
to continue. He spoke until $40
am, when another quorum call
brought 68 Senators to the floor,
far more than the 48 required.
Senator Wherry then proposed an
armistice with an agreement to vote
at S pm, this afternoon, but this
was blocked by opponents of the
labor bill. Democratic Leader Bark
ley then suggested vote at 5 pm.
Monday, but all supporters of the
bill would not agree to that.
Other Suggestions Rejected.
Senator Wherry then suggested
! pm. Monday as a compromise, but
Senator Dworshak, Republican, of
Idaho, objected.
At am. today Senator Pepper
again sought to end the session with
a motion to postpone the veto debate
until pm. Monday.
Senator Taft promptly countered
with a motion to table the Pepper
proposal, and it was tabled, so to A.
Senator Wherry continued his
efforts at compromise by suggesting
vote at 3 pm. Monday, but this
time Senator Mcclellan. Democrat,
of Arkansas, protested a weekend
postponement
Byrd Predicts Overriding.
Senator Byrd. Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, predicted at 1880 am. that
the veto will be overridden, but the
vote will be closer than many think. :"
The result of sustaining the
Presidents veto might well be
calamitous, the Virginia Democrat
said. 1T would extinguish the last
hope for worthwhile labor reform
legislation for a long time to come.
1t would be a green light to arro-
CANT and willful labor leaders to
strike in vital industries again and
again and to use every method of
coercion and intimidation to gain
their selfish ends.
I'm this vote, America can truly
be said to stand at the crooss -roadss
If We cannot manage John Lewis
at home, how can we expect to pro-
tect ourselves against Joe Stain
abroad?"
While the talk went on, it was
evident that the Presidents veto
message had aroused some disagree
ment among those who ordinarily
support his policies.
Better Than None, Hatch Says.
Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico, a close personal friend of
Mr.. Truman, said he was not swayed
in his determination to vote to
override the veto.
Observing that the President had
pointed out some defects in the
bill. Senator Hatch told reporter
that "as weak as the bill is. it is
better than no legislation at all"
He said he agreed with Mr.. Tru-
man that the measure will not stop
national paralysis strikes, such as a
soft coal stoppage, but added that
once it was placed on the statute
books Congress can see how it works
and repeal some of its provisions If
necessary.
Senator Fulbright, Democrat, OF
Arkansas said nothing he heard at
White House luncheon to which
Mr.. Truman invited 13 Senators
yesterday nor anything he read in
the Presidents message had changed
his idea Of voting to override the
veto.
We'll have to go at this by the
trial and error method" Senator
Fulbright said. If the bill works
the way the President says it will,
we will have to change it."
Young Still for Overriding.
Senator Young of North Dakota,
sole Republican at the luncheon,
said that while he considered the
bill too tough in some respects. /"
he had not changed his mind about
voting to override the veto.
Administration leaders abandoned
any hope Of changing the votes Of
Senators George, Democrat, Of