Evening star., 1949-02-24
The Political Mil
Democratic Leadership
In Senate Seen in Mess
Situation Arousing Ire of Truman
as Program Makes Little Progress
By Gould Lincoln


While congested areas of the country are
beginning to shout that the 81st Congress
is a "do-nothing' outfit, the Democratic
leadership in the Senate finds itself in a
dlsagreeable mess. Further the situation
is arousing the ire of President Truman, who
sees his heavy legislative program making
no dlscernlble progress. Whether the Chief
Executive publicly gives any of the trouble
makers the new presidential accolade-
S. 0. B.-remains to be seen. What he does
mentally is another matter.
After stormy session of the Democratic
caucus of the Senate, it was finally decided
to lay aside Majority Leader Lucas pro-
posal to give the right of way to the ad-
ministration bill to extend the life of the
Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act and to
force the issue on the proposed amendment
to the Senate rule curbing 1libusterS. The
latter measure is regarded as a sine qua non
for the passage of the Presidents civil rights
bills, antilynching, anti-poll tax, antisegre-
cation. and pro-fair employment practices.
Lucas Brushed Aside.
Leader Lucas found his advice brushed
aside after Senator Myers of PENNSYLVANIA,
the Democratic whip had made a long
speech in which he said that he had been
out in the country and found the criticism
of the Democratic Congress bitter in the
extreme. Senator Pepper of Florida backed
up Senator Myers in his demand for putting
cloture rule ahead of the Reciprocal Trade
Agreements Act.
Southern Democratic Senators, prepared
to fight the new cloture rule to the limit,
chldingly suggested that the Democrats were
turning the leadership of the Senate over
to the Republicans-Who have been press
ing ever since the Congress met in January
to have the antiflibuster rule brought up
for consideration. Now the SouthernerS are
ready to talk indefinitely-in order to block
vote on the cloture rule. The Republic
cans. for their part, probably don't care
how long the fllibuster continues-the longer
it goes the more difficult it will be for the
administration to get through it's legislative
program, including the repeal of the Taft
Hartley Act and the proposed bill to levy
$4,000, 100000 more taxes. The Republi-
cans do not like the Truman program, and
while they haven't the votes to defeat it.
if they get sufficient support from Southern
Democrats in the Senate they may be able
to hamstring a great part of it.
So far it is understood there will be no
night sessions of the Senate to aid in the
drive for a new cloture rule Without
night sessions. it has been virtually impos-
sibe to break a f1libuSter in the past. It
may be that the White House will seek to
bring order out of the chaotic condition,
exerting pressure where 1t is most effective.
Troubles Rise in House.
Even in the House, where the Democratic
majority is so great the Republicans have
little hope of blocking administration
measures, all is not beer and skittles The
House Rules Committee is now said to be
ready to report out any bill that is given
favorable report by a legislative standing
Notwithstanding the Veterans Com
mittee which has recommended the Rankin
veterans pension bill.
If and when that measure comes up on
the floor of the House, the administration
will have a tough time blocking it. Some Of
the House leaders just throw up their hands
and say it is sure to pass. Providing as it
does for the eventual expenditure Of billions
of dollars, it may put crtmp in the admin
istration measures which also call for the
expenditure of very large sums. The struggle
between the Congress and the President
apparently is on-much earlier than had
been expected after Mr.. Truman's trium-
phant victory last November.