Evening star., 1949-08-21
House Recess
Planned, , Senate
Begged in Bills
Representatives Hope
For Month Vacation
After This Week
By J. A. O'Leory


itself working alone after this
week while House members recess
for several weeks to relax and
find out what the folks back home
are thinking.
House leaders, who are far
ahead of the Senate on the leg
islative program, had intended to
take series OF three-day re-
cesses, starting about August 81.
which either branch may do with
out the consent of the other.
This, however, would require
keeping a corporal's guard of
House members here to hold a
routine session every third day.
The latest plan being consid-
cred by House managers is to seek
Senate permission, through a con-
current resolution, for the House
to close shop completely until late
in September, after it passes two
or three more bills this week. A
decision on the form of recess is
expected in a few days.
Mean while. Representative
Priest, of Tennessee, acting House
majority leader. disclosed that
many House members already
have started home for Vacations
before the fall school term starts.
No Concern Over Quorum.
Despite the exodus. Mr.. Priest
expressed no concern over the
danger of not being able to muster
a quorum.
when an important bill comes
up. we'll have a quorum he said.
Bills the House hopes to pass
this week are:
Ariver and harbor public works
program.
The so-called private housing
bill without which portions OF the
Federal Housing Authority law
will expire September l.
The $150.000. 900 Korean eco
nomic aid bill If the Rules Com
mittee gives 1t the green light.
When the Senate will catch up
on bills the House passed weeks
ago is anybody's' guess, but some
of the more optimistic Senators
still gaze longingly toward a pos
sible adjournment late in Septem-
ber.
There Is no reason on earth
why the Senate can't finish up
and be through by September 15,"
Senator Johnson, Democrat. OF
Colorado, said yesterday.
viii Have to Step Up Pace.
One glance at the roster of un-
finished Senate business. however,
makes it apparent that the Senate
will have to step up the pace at
which it has been jogging along
recently if it hopes to get home
by Thanksgiving.
Lined up awaiting Senate action
are:
Seven important appropriation
bills, five of which were due to
pass by July /, plus two deficiency
bills. Many Government func-
tions covered by these bills, have
been kept going by stopgap
resolution until September Is.
The $1,450, 900 900 foreign arms
authorization. which the House
cut to $869, sos, 900 last week and
which may be rewritten by the
Senate Foreign Relations and
Armed Services Committees this
week. No one can predict how
long this will be debated when it
reaches the Senate floor.
Extension of the Presidents
power to make reciprocal trade
agreements with other countries.
The bill passed the House early
in the session. Although this law
expired in June. agreements then
in effect continue. The lapse pre-
vents any new trade treaties from
being made.
Wage Bill Fight Seen.
The House approved a bill rails
ing the minimum wage law from
40 to IS cents an hour, which is
due to be taken up. in the Senate
as soon as the appropriation bills
are disposed Of. The administra-
ton faces q fight to get rid OF
House amendments, narrowing the
scope of employe-coverage.
Before that is reached. however.
(See CONGRESS, Page A-5D
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