Evening star., 1949-10-17
BY the Associated Press

the end of it's first session with
its disputed record certain to be a
major political issue next year.
Its leaders hope to adjourn
sometime this week after more
than nine months of almost con-
tinuous session.
Depending on how one looks at
It,, its record is either very good
or very bad.
Senate Majority Leader Lucas
handed President Truman a re-
port today which he said shows
"outstanding progress in far
reaching progressive legislation"
at this session.
Senator Lucas told reporters
the report was prepared by the
staff of the Senate's Democratic
Policy Committee.
He added that the President is
"happy and pleased at the prog
ress in both houses"
Senator Lucas talked with re-
porters after the usual Monday
conference of the President with
Democratic congressional leaders.
Senator Lucas said one of the
first things the Senate will do at
its next session in January is to
pass bill for expanded social Sc
curity. The House already has
passed such a measure.
Presidential Secretary Charles
Ross has described the record of
the 81st as rather remarkable, {"
a summation in which Democratic
congressional leaders generally
concur.
Republicans can't see it that
way. Only yesterday Senator
Wherry, Republican. of Nebraska
said Congress under the Demo-
Gratis has been poorly organized
and weakly led" He added that
campaign pledges of President
Truman had turned out to be
empty promises.
Congress this year has followed
the leadership of the President
generally on foreign matters. It
has differed sharply with him on
some domestic legislation and has
fatty rejected him in some major
cases.
Domestic Achievements Cited.
Senator Myers, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania said yesterday that
the record is good domestically as
well as foreign. On the domestic
side he cited passage of bills on
housing. rent control, Government
reorganization. crop insurance,
public words planning and hospital
aid.
Senator Wherry noted the 8lst
Congress has created the worst ap-
preparation jam in the history of
Congress. Even today, more than
three months after the start of
the 1850 fiscal year, Congress
hasn't appropriated for the needs
of the military establishment for
the year which began July /.
Senator Brewster, Republican, of
Maine, said in a radio talk that
the 81sts major achievement "is
to be in session longer than any
other Congress except during
period of war" He contended that
1t is "the worst" and said that
most of the measures enacted by
1t were merely extensions of laws
passed by the Republican 80th
Congress-"
1t has conducted some of the
more interesting Investigations in
recent years, such as the Senate's
probe of f1ve-percenters and the
House inquiry into Mayfair Force
differences.
Truman Rebuffed by Senate.
The Senate has fatty rebuffed
President Truman on two major
nominations for appointive Office
That of Mon c. Wallgren as head
OF the National Security Resources
Board never got out of committee
and the choice of Leland Olds for
third term on the Federal Power
Commission was rejected on a vote
of SO to is.
There has been no conclusive
action on the Presidents request
Tor broadening of social security,
repeal of the Hartley law,
Federal aid to education, and civil
rights-all key domestic issues.
But the 81st Congress still has
another year to go and it's record
may be altered substantially a
year from now.
AS of today, here is the record
on major legislation:
international affairs
Continuation of the Marshall
Plan for economic aid to non
Communist Europe: Approved
and financed.
Extension of the Reciprocal
Trade Agreements Act: Approved.
Broadening of the Displaced
Persons Act: Passed by House,
sent back to committee by Senate.
Military aid to Atlantic Pact
and other non-CommuniSt ma
tions: Approved.
Aid to Korea Held Up
Technical and industrial aid to
underdeveloped countries: Not
passed by either branch.
Aid to Korea: Passed by Sen
ate; awaiting House action.
North Atlantic pact: Ratified
by Senate; no House action
needed.
National defense:
Strengthening of Armed Serv-
ices Unification Act by defining
powers of Secretary of Defense:
Approved.
Pay raise for military personnel:
Approved.
Construction of military public