Evening star., 1947-09-17
Pressure on Truman
For Special Session
To Begin Shortly
Congress Seen Unlikely,
However, to ReussembIe
Before December |
Bv David Laurence

When President Truman returns
In few days, the pressure will be
begun to persuade him to call an
extra session of Congress. 1t may
be fortnight before a decision is
reached and, If a session is called,
there is usually 80 days notice in
advance of the date of convening
the two houses.
This means that Congress might
reassemble by November l but De-
cember l is the more plausible date.
BY December most of the travel
ing members of Congress will be
back In the United States. To wait
for the regular session in January
might mean considerable delay be-
fore the Marshall l-plan program is
acted upon.
The real dificulty about a deci-
sion in favor Of special session for
the immediate weeks ahead Is that
no comprehensive plan or formula
has been worked out as yet. Mem
bers of Congress would be marking
time while they waited for further
A14Ol C1l 45d1 OkCoLA ONl1A4SAOA1o.
Way Open for Tangles.
1t must be noted that while Con-
gress can be called into session to
consider special program, there is
no rule to prevent either or both
houses from taking up other sub
jects. If the Marshall program isn't
ready, the way would be opened for
lengthy. debate and legislative tan
giles on many other controversial
subjects.
President Truman nevertheless
will be on the spot when he gets
back from his trip to Brazil. If he
doesn't do anything about the spe-
cial session, he will appear to Euro
peans as Indifferent to their plight
II he sets the date too soon, he will
sntagonize many members of Con-
gress who have made other plans
for the ensuing few weeks, especially
those who are abroad gathering
first-hand information for the de-
bate. Certainly, nothing will be
gained by selecting an early date
and much the same benefit can be
obtained by an announcement that
there will be special session on
December !. This will give every
body here in Washington at least
10 weeks to prepare and 1t will be
notice to the Europeans that they
must have their program for self
help ready by then, along with their
list of items and formula for ham
ding the help America is to give.
One thing Is not clearly under
stood in Europe. If the Congress is
asked to act on plan that is not
carefully worked out, the whole
scheme may be indefinitely delayed
while the Senators and Representa-
tives wait for further action by the
European countries or for more in
formation.
Unfortunately, the knowledge
abroad that America Is sympathetic
to the cause of European rehabilita-
ton has led to mistaken beliefs"that
sums running up to total of $2o,-
600 ,000, 900 or more may be forth
coming over period of years.
Time Fixed by Constitution.
The truth is that no commitments
are going to be made for longer
than year at time. No Congress
can commit its successor. The length
Of time of appropriation bills is two
years and this is fixed by the Con-
stitution.
AS for the first years appropria-
ton, 1t is safe to assume that $3,-
900, ,000, 900 is high and that a sum
nearer $2,0oo,o00 900 may be the
initial appropriation. 1t will be sur
prising indeed if 1900, 900 900 year
is actually appropriated for as long
as three years.
This is based on the talk among
members Of Congress and among
some officials who know the senti-
ment IN Congress. Aid is to be forth
coming for essential parts of an
overall program but there will be
no indefinite commitments or blank
checks given. Unless the plan
offered is backed by leaders of both
parties, it will not be approved. I'm
less the plan appeals to American
public opinion as sound program
that will really help Europe to re-
habilitate herself, the chances are
that heavy opposition will appear In
both parties.
The signs are that Europe hasn't
walked up to the real situation In
Congress.
(RPnr0dnrtinp