Evening star., 1947-10-24
Truman STALK
10 Tell
Need Of Session
High Prices as Well
As Relief to Be Topic
Of Congress Nov. II
HALLECK PLEDGES cooperation,
but criticizes lack of facts on crisis.
Page AS
By Joseph A. Fox


President Truman worked
with his staff today preparing
the report he will make to the
Nation tonight giving the COM
pelling" reasons for summoning
Congress back on November II
to deal with skyrocketing prices
at home and the growing eco
nomic crisis abroad.
Whether the President will give
the American people a tentative
preyiew of the legislation he win
seek or let this await later develop
ments was an open question.
At any rate, it seemed certain that
whatever the administration offers
will be countered by the Republican
majority. House Speaker Martin
told reporters after the special ses-
sion call went out yesterday AFTER
noon that there "is better than q
faint chance" that the COP lead
ership in Congress will at least have
its own foreign-aid program inde-
pendent of requests from the White
House.
Speaks Over All Networks.
The President speaks over all net
works at 10 o'clock, and observers
look for him to give a comprehen-
sive review of the world conditions
which finally moved him to call an
extra session after weeks of consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. Truman had said repeatedly
he would bring Congress back if it
became necessary, and it had been
becoming increasingly evident that
conditions in Europe were calling
for legislative action.
An unexpected element was in
jected, however, when the President
not only tied in the economic situa-
tion at home with the extra session
call, but also seemingly subord-
mated Europe's plight to the in
:a!sticaary threat here.
Senator Connolly, Democrat, OF
Texas, ranking minority member Of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee and one of the congressional
group with which the President has
conferred on the breakdown in
Western Europe, expressed surprise
at this turn, but Senate Minority
Leader Barkley said he understood
No. priority would be given to
European aid.
Early Date Is Surprise.
The Capital was surprised, too.
that the session call was set for mid
November, as it had been expected
generally that If Congress were
brought back in advance of the
regular January meeting, the date
would be around December /, which
would just about limit deliberations
to the relief issue prior to the
Christmas recess.
How far afield Congress now may
go will depend on the Republican
leadership.
Chairman Knutson of the House
Ways and Means Committee, who
plugged unsuccessfully for tax cut
at the last session of Congress and
has reiterated his determination to
introduce this legislation as soon as
Congress meets, said Mr. Truman's
action hadn't change his commit
tees plans "one bit"
However" he added, sit all de-
pends on the party leadership. II
they give us the green light we will
have a tax reduction bill ready to
60 November IT,"
Congressional Leaders Agree.
While congressional leaders agreed
with the Presidents right to call
the session, Republicans emphasized
that he did so on his own respon-
sibility.
Senator Taft of Ohio, chairman
of the Senate Republican Policy
Committee and a member of the
congressional group which President
Truman saw just before the call was
announced, told reporters Mr.. Tru-
man had emphasized upon us that
this was a crisis" and II certainly
don't object to the call"
Chairman Taber of the House APP
propriations Committee said in New
York on returning from Europe
that this country must assist"
European recovery, but he doubts
necessity for the stop-gap aid the
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