The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-02-25
Inside
Washington

Ok on inaugural I1ckef Tax.
Makes Party Leaders Ponder
Special TO Central Press
WASHINGTON - President
Truman may have more trou-
BILE with his legislative pro-
gram in the Senate than he had
expected. Last Nov. 2, the over
whelming Democratic majority
of 81 to AZ looked pretty con-
vincing.
The Southern bloc was still
in the saddle to be sure. How
ever, politicos thought the IL
vote margin would be enough
to insure complete administra-
ton control.
Then the administration got
a sudden jolt which forced the
presidents lieutenants on Cap
itol Hill to reconsider their po-
sition.
Ironically, it came on a bill
which had passed the House
handily and which most observ-
ers thought would be approved
by the Senate without any
trouble.
This was the bill to exempt
inaugural tickets from federal
tax. Six Democrats joined solid
Republican ranks to defeat it.,
Al to As. Five of the Democrats
were Southern conservatives
who opposed Mr.. Truman's cleo
ton. The other was Senator
Edwin c. Johnson of Colorado,
who occasionally bolts the
party.
While the COP hopes for
more Democratic OBJECTIONS
like the above to help upset the
administration, the Dixie Dem
ocrats are relying on the Re-
publicans to provide enough
votes to keep the filibuster ira
dition alive.
Philosophical Senator Rich
ard B. Russell CD Georgia, who
master-minds the Dixie strate-
gy against civil rights propos-
ais, is hopeful the COP will
rally to prevent approval of an
anti-filibuster measure. This
despite their ardent espousal
of such a bin last year when it
appeared the Republican
would again control the Senate.
I've noticed that majority
leaders always want to tighten
the rules to curb filibusters,"
Russell says. "They want to
strengthen their controls over
legislation. AS minority lead
ers, they have pretty generally
been cool toward anti-filibuster
moves. Their viewpoint is diff
ferent. They might want to use
extended debate themselves
some time"
RuSsell's reasoning is borne
out by Minority Leader Ken
meth S. Wherry (R) Nebraska,
whose resolution would still re-
tain the requirement that a
two-thirds majority vote is nee
essary to impose a gag" rule
on the Senate.
Last spring, when the COP
was in control, the Republican
leadership pledged reforms
which would strip filibusters
OF their most valuable parlia-
mentary maneuver - the ex-
emption of motions and "cor-
recting the journal from gag
rule procedure.
The Air Force-Navy feud on
which will control heavy bonn
bardment may not be won by
either party - but by Defense
Secretary James Forrestal.
Forrestal's appointment of
the Weapons System Evalua-
ton Group means that that
group will decide on all pres
ent or projected systems of at
tack or defense" involving the
United States.
This gives the group power
to pass on the value of stra-
tegic bombing as upheld by the
Air Force, as against strategic
bombing as fought for by the
Navy with its 65, 000-ton air.
craft carrier plans.
1t. Gen. John E. Hull, head
of the Weapons Evaluation
Group, is an Army man and
therefore not personally in
volved in the bitter controversy.
Therefore, it seems assured
that the two systems, with
much to be said for each, will
get a thorough "going over" by
an impartial third party who is
seeking out only the best de-