Evening star., 1947-06-22
Senate Labor FiIibuster Broken
With Veto Ballot Set Tomorrow;
Marqin TO Override Held Likely
Bill S Supporters
See Sure Victory;
Some Foes Agree
By J. A. CLeory

The Taft-Hartley labor bill last
night appeared to have a good
chance of becoming law over
President Truman's veto, after
Senate leaders broke filibuster
with an agreement to vote at 3
pm. tomorrow afternoon.
When the Senate recessed at 6:51
pm, after having been in con-
tinuous session for 80 hours and 81
minutes, supporters of the bill
claimed three or four votes to spare
over the tWo-thirds majority re-
Quired to override veto.
Some Democrats conceded this es-
innate of the situation, but defend
ers of Mr.. Truman's strong stand
against the bill hastened to empha-
size they have not given up hope OF
getting enough reaction from the
country over the week end to swing
the few votes they still need.
The voting agreement was reached
after a talking marathon, which
lasted more than 26 hours. But the
debate then went on, although only
five Senators remained on the floor,
with Senators Murray, Democrat, of
Montana, and Johnston, Democrat,
of South { Carolina, speaking against
the bill.
Debate to Resume Tomorrow.
Finally, after the longest session
in 20 years, the Senate recessed until
noon tomorrow, when the debate
will start again and continue until
the hour of the vote.
The House voted to override the
veto by to l ratio Friday, but
the Senate roll call tomorrow will
be the decisive one. Unless both
branches override, the bill dies.
Like the Republican tax reduction
bill vetoed by Mr.. Truman early
last week, the labor measure is likely
to be 1948 campaign issue, regard
less of how tomorrows vote goes.
The President won the tax fight
when the House sustained his veto
by a two-vote margin.
Taking the floor at $50 am. yes
terday, Senator Morse, Oregon's lib
eral Republican, spoke continuously
for 10 hours on diet of milk and
orange Juice, seeking to force post
ponement of the labor bill decision
until next week. -
Immediate Goal Achieved.
He had joined three liberal Demo-
crats-Pepper of Florida, Taylor of
Idaho and Kilgore of West Virginia
who had held the floor from late
Friday afternoon until the sun rose
on weary Senate yesterday morn
ing.
They achieved their immediate
goal of putting off the vote, but only
tomorrows developments will show
whether they made any headway in
paving the way for weekend re-
action from back home, sufficient to
turn the tide on the bill.
Mr.. Truman gave no sign that he
plans any further fight to prevent
passage of the bill following his
busy Friday when he sent his veto
message to the House, called in a
dozen Senators for a luncheon con-
ference, and took his arguments to
the Nation by radio He was at a
baseball game at Griffith Stadium
yesterday when the break came in
the Senate.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio,
who joined Representative Hartley
Republican, of New Jersey, in spon-
soring the thorough revamping of
the labor laws of the New Deal era,
was confident last night the Senate
will enact the measure into law.
Line Is Holding, Taft Says.
1--WE are all right, the line is hold
ing very WELL" said Senator Taft,
who frequently is made the center of
Mr.. Trumans attacks on COP poll
CieS.
I'VE are absolutely certain to
override the veto," agreed Senator
Wherry of Nebraska, Republican
whip, who took the lead in obtain
ing the agreement that ended the
filibuster.
Senator Ball, Republican, of Min
nesota, strong backer of the labor
bill, estimated I'VE have three or
four more votes than We. need right
now" to override.
The vote will find two Senators
absent who could have been counted
n