Evening star., 1949-06-05
Congress Styn,ies President
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inal tax bill. Is now considering
social security legislation. Pay
roll taxes paid by employers and
employees may be raised: 1t is un-
likely the coverage will be vastly
extended to include the millions
OF persons Mr.. Truman mentioned
in his campaign speeches.
A few farm subsidies. based on
parity prices. may be revised this
session on an experimental basis.
The comprehensive program
drafted by Secretary Brannan
was received so late that Con-
gress will want more time TO
study its details. It's costs and its
consequences.
The Truman national health
program Is also In this delayed
category for the same reason Of
delayed drafting plus the vehe-
ment opposition Of the doctors
lobby. Some aid probably will be
voted. such as payments to
schools and hospitals and perhaps
the underwriting Of medical schol-
arships.
Federal aid to education ap-
pears on the way to enactment
although the House Committee
on Education and Labor has not
yet scheduled any hearings on this
subject. The Senate passed a
bill last month to authorize $780,
000.000 to be made available an
nually to help the States raise
their educational standards. Even
should such a bill be approved by
the House. an appropriation bill
must also be passed to make that
aid effective.
Housing loans and subsidies also
appear to be on their legislative
way. The Senate has approved a
bill for low-rent housing and
slum clearance as In previous
sessions. This year 1t looks as
though the House. over the op-
position of many Republicans and
an aggressive real estate lobby,
will enact a bill on which the Sen
ate can compromise and which the
President will sign. 1t Is impossible
to forecast at this time what the
final bill. or conference report.
will contain.
Changing economic conditions,
which Mr.. Truman is now only
beginning to recognize. removed
the necessity for standby imitation
controls. including price and
wage controls and authorization
to the Government to build steel
and other plants. Disinfiationary
forces have outweighed the infia-
tionary forces and even II the
President renewed his demands
for limited. Government control,
Congress would continue TO ignore
them.
About the only antitrust law
change will be a moratorium on
enforcing the Supreme Courts de-
cision banning basing point
charges to producers prices or
authorization to producers to use
the basing point system II they
do not act in concert with other
producers. Some liberals viii op-
pose such O change although the
law and the decision are obscure.
Vandenbers Helps
The Columbia Valley Authority
Is not likely to be approved as q
total project, like iva. but there
may be congressional authorize
tions and even appropriations to
study the project. There Is no
chance for a Missouri Valley au-
thority at this session.
Public power got a boost with
the administrators victory IN OBJ
tanning funds to build a steam
plant to supplement Twas hydro
electric power. Opposition TO
public power is lessening, with
the fight now mostly over whether
governmental agencies will be
allowed to control the local dis
tribution. The private power
companies wanted TO buy the pow
er at the plant and to do the dis
tributing.
The administration. as In the
past. has been more successful
with its foreign than with ITS
domestic policies. thanks largely
to the statesmanlike views and
work Of Senator Arthur II. van-
denberg of Michigan and Repre-.
sentative Charles A. Eaton of New
Jersey. Republicans whose parti-
sanship stops at the waters edge.
An important step was taken
when Congress authorized the ful
budgeted amount for the second
year of the Marshall Plan aid.
Over the protest of the admins
trations and some Republicans the
amount actually appropriated for
this aid may be reduced.
The reciprocal trade agree
ments are expected 10 be o factor
in the economic recovery Of
Europe. The Republican eOth
Congress put serious restrictions
on the American negotiators--tie
Republicans called them safe
guards Of the American economy
and most II not all OF these are
likely 10 be eliminated.
The Atlantic pact. In the opin-
ion OF leading Republicans as
wen IS Democrats. win Be- rati-
fed by the Senate at this ses-
sion. There win be attempts at
reservations: at the prevent time
this prospect does not appear
serious. House action Is not re-
quired on the pact.
Military aid to Europe. TO back
up the pact. probably win be post
pcned until next session. The At
iantic paet and Russiak seeming