Evening star., 1949-06-05

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D performance, but as Mr.. Truman
erence, his administration will be
lively set for July 81 or early Aug
ust, was ratification of the Atlantic
pact, extension Of the reciprocal
trade agreement law and repeal Of
the t-Hartley Act. President
Truman told a press conference
that the Senate majority leader
had not been fully quoted. Con-
gress, he said, would stay in session
long enough to pass other import
ant legislation. This week, due to
the prodding of Mr.. Murray and
the Americans for Democratic Ac-
ton, labor legislation was sched-
uled for early action by the Sen
ate
The ADA position was stated in
an editorial in its monthly publi-
cation, the ADA World, which said
in part:
The GOP-Dixiecrat coalition in
this Congress has proved far more
formidable than most liberals ex-
pected. Perhaps we were right
when we contended that the Dixie
Gratis should be elected from DEM
ocratic congressional councils or
they would run the show. But
we are by no means certain that
the coalition could have been ef-
fectively overcome.
ADA's Viewpoint
"On the other hand, you can't
win If you surrender before your
enemies raise their muskets. We
think the administration leaders
have done just that: they have,
In effect. betrayed their party's
pledges"
The legislation to be enacted
during the next two or three
months is likely to be a compro-
mise, as was the extension of rent
control early in the session.
The power of the Dixiecrats will
be most evident in the votes on
labor legislation to repeal" the
Taft Hartley Act and to increase
the minimum wage above the pres
ent 40 cents an hour.
The votes in the House. first to
pass the Wood bill as a substitute
for the Lesinski bill that would
have repealed the Taft-Hartley
law, and later to recommit the
Wood bill to the House Labor
LC o m mittee, demonstrated the
strength of the Dixicrats. Mr..
Truman called the recommittal a
victory" but the rollcalls indi-
Gated that any labor bill that goes
through the House will be sub
|stantially different from what Mr..
Truman promised in the cam
Ipaign. A similar lineup is likely
In the Senate, with many Of the
amendments proposed by the
Labor Committee minority being
adopted in place Of the admins
tration's Thomas bill provisions.
Labor Law Outlook
The Senate and House bills will
go to q conference committee and
/ If compromise report can be
agreed upon. there is still the dis
tinct possibility, almost a prob
ability, that Mr.. Truman would
veto the bill keeping many Taft
Hartley provisions. That would
leave the Taft-Hartley Act on the
books as a major issue for the
1850 congressional campaign.
Many conservative Southerners
are against raising the minimum
wage to rs cents an hour. They
also opposed the original bill years
ago that fixed the rate at 40 cents.
claiming such wages would ruin
many small Southern industries.
The best guess at this time is that
the rate will be raised to so or 65
cents.
In a letter this week to Mr..
Murray, Senator Lucas promised
action in minimum wages and civil
rights legislation. He cautioned,
however. that I'VE have unlimited
debate in the Senate and no en-
forceable rule of relevancy. There
fore. we can move only as fast
as the determination and the en-
durance of the opposition will per-
NIT" In the past, the Southern
fllibusterers have been able to kill
controversial legislation brought
up toward the end of q session.
The House probably viii pass an
antilynching or an antipoll tax
bill,. but it looks as though the
Senate would pigeonhole or fail
to vote on such legislation at this
session.
Northerners. from the dairy
States have threatened filibuster
tactics against repeal of the oleo-
margarine taxes, a promise in the
Democratic platform. The House
passed the repeater in April and
a bill with minor amendments Is
on the Senate calendar. The pos
sibility of 1t being talked to death
puts it in the less likely" column.
Tax Delay Expected
Increased taxes are In the same
class as economy. There Is likely
to be neither at this session. In
his state-of-the- Union message.
the President asked for an addi-
tiooal $4,000. .0oo. 900 in revenue.
mostly from increased corpora
tion. estate and gift taxes. but
lup to now no administration bill
has been introduced In the House.
Representative John d. Dingell.
an administration Democrat from
Michigan. has introduced q bill
to reimpose excess profits tax.
Nothing has been done about 1t.
Mr.. Truman and Treasury Sec
lretary John w. SNYDER have pre-