Evening star., 1949-03-05
The Political Mill
Administration Moves
Seen Hurting Program
Changes by Senator Taft in Labor
Law Now Held Probable
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Two astounding moves by President Tru-
man and his followers have creased the ways
for the downfall of some Of the principal
items Of Mr. Truman's program. The first
was the Presidents own statement to the
press that he favored majority cloture to
cut off debate in the Senate. The second
was an unprecedented ruling by Chairman
Thomas of the Senate Labor Committee that
no amendments to the administrations labor
bill--to repeal the Hartley law-would
be considered by the committee and the
immediate report of the bill to the Senate.
The first probability now is that If there
are any changes in the labor laws at the
present session of Congress. they will be
Senator Tafts and not MIR. Truman'S. The
second probability is that passage Of the
so-called Truman civil rights program will
be indefinitely postponed.
Whether the administration is in panic
or merely inept remains to be seen. The
Presidents declaration that he favors closing
debate in the Senate, on any subject, by ma
jority vote-a majority Of those Senator'S
present and voting-hit the Senate like
thunderbolt right in the middle of a fill
buster against a proposed change in the
rules to make the two-thirds cloture rule
effective The number of Senators who be-
lieve in majority cloture is very, very slim.
SOuthernerS' Warning.
The Southern Democratic Senators, fill
rbustering against the pending rules amend
mert, had warned their colleagues that the
effort to make the two-thirds cloture rule
iron clad was just first step toward bring
ing about majority cloture. The Presidents
declaration, therefore, gave their argument
added steam. so much steam that 1t now
looks as though the plan to strengthen the
two-thirds cloture will be ditched. Senators
VINO had been prepared to vote to sustain
an expected ruling by Vice President Barkley
that the cloture rule could be applied to
motion to take up a measure for conSidera-
tion as we'll as to a measure itself, decided
swiftly to oppose such ruling.
What's to become of Mr.. Trumans brave
assertion that the administration would fight
the filibuster to a finish in order to pave
the way for future <otes on the anti-lynch-
ing, anti-pon tax and pro-fair employment
bills? If the President hasn't the votes in
the Senate, how is he going to get the Taft
Hartley labor law repeal which he promised
to organized labor leaders?
The President, in his speech at the recent
jefferson Jackson Victory dinner here vir-
tually said that if Congress did not go ahead
with his program promptly, he would go to
the country-get on a train and stump the
country. This in itself was a challenge to
CQe congress-, WHICH uldOe llLA IcWCl AAlCAloo
on Capitol Hill. At the present writing it
looks as though he had better order his
train and get going.
Thomas Ruling Denounced.
The ruling of Senator Thomas of Utah,
as chairman of the Senate Labor Committee,
cutting off the right of members of the COM
mittee to offer amendments to the admin
istration's labor bill, was Immediately de-
nounced as the most high-handed proceed
ing in congressional committee history. His
ruling seems so entirely out of character
with the Utah Senator that right away the
question was asked Who told MIR. Thomas
to take such action? The suspicion arose
that either orders had come from the
Democratic leadership Of the Senate or from
the White House. Mr.. Thomas himself was
quoted as saying that if his ruling was high
handed at least it was necessary"
The usual custom is to permit the offer
ing of amendments to bills being considered
by committee and then for the majority to
vote them down or up. Some of the Demo-
Gratis on the committee, it is reported. had
indicated a leaning to some amendments.
The administration has been intent on hav-
ing the bill reported from the committee
Just as it came from the White House. Pos
sbly the Thomas ruling was intended to
prevent the adoption of any amendment as
well as to speed the labor bill to the Senate
calendar
One effect the report of the bill will have.
It will make it possible for the administra-
ton forces to call this measure up If and
when the administration finds itself COM
PEELED to lay aside the rules-civil rights fight.
This would be matter of face-saving only.
For the CIO, for example which is for the
Senate rules amendment is even more anxl-
GUS to get action on the administration bill
repeating the Taft-Hartley Act.
The Truman administration and its lead
ers in the Senate seem to be getting them
selves begged down-and it doesn't seem
quite bright.
Nuae+;one nnd Anewers