Evening star., 1950-04-01
Truman Studies Action
On Gas Bill Passed
In Sharp Party Split
sy the As,ocia,sa Pres,

ed by sharp division amone Dem
oeratS today as he considered
whether 10 sign or veto q natural
gas bill which soueaked through
the House by two-vote margin.
Brushing aside opposition cries
of "a grab" by big interests. the
House last night sent the bill 10
Mr.. Truman by l76-to-l74 vote.
The measure would prohibit the
Federal Power Commission from
fixing the price of gas delivered 10
pipelines by independent produc-
erS.
The bill was approved only after
Speaker Rayburn made a personal
appeal for its passage. In my
opinion" he said. this bill will not
raise the price of natural gas 10
any consumer by one red cent"
But other Democrats shouted
that the measure would take an
extra Sl00 million year from
consumers. principally in the
North and East. and hand 1t over
to special interests.
Douglas Demands Veto.
Horse thieves have been hanged
for lesser crimes" cried Repre-
sentative Dinsell. Democrat. OF
Michigan.
Senator Douglas. Democrat. OF
Illinois has demanded that Mr
Truman veto the bill.
/ However, Representative Priest
, Of Tennessee. assistant Democratic
House floor leader, said the FPC.
in requesting the legislation. hau
/ Informed him it was in accord
with the Presidents program. The
Senate passed it last Wednesday.
A to 38.
! In the final House vote. more
Democrats voted against the
measure than for it; it was sup
ported by 81 of Mr.. Truman's
party members. opposed by ll6.
The bill experienced a perilous
moment before its passage. With
the vote still unannounced off,
cially. opponents had a lead Of 6
votes, l78 to l72. But four men,
berS who had balloted against IT
changed their votes, They were
Representatives Shafer of Michi-
gan, Wilson Of Indiana and La
than of New York, Republicans.
and Moulder OF Missouri. Demo-
crat.
Would Ban Price Fixing.
The measure would ban the FPC
from fixing tie price on natural
gas delivered to pipe lines for
interstate transportation by in
dependent producers. These are
defined as producers who do not
own pipelines and are not afflli-
ated with them. Included are
some of the largest oil companies.
Since 1888 the commission has
regulated the rates and charges of
pipeline companies for gas moved
In interstate commerce. chiefly
from Texas. Arkansas, Oklahoma
and other Southwestern States. TO
the Northern and Eastern States.
Sponsors Of the legislation said
1t Is intended to curb FPC powers
over the production and gathering
of gas, as well as over interstate
pipeline transportation. If FPC
took over such power, Representa-
tive Halleck. Republican. of In
diana said, the Government then
might go on to control coal, oil
and other industries.
But Representatives from the
gas-consuming States. both Dem
ocrats and Republicans, assailed
the bill.
THE bounty of the Creator is
being grabbed for a privileged
few" declared Chairman Crosser
of the House Commerce Commit
tee. The wrath of the American
people will rise and plague those
responsible for this legislation"
Sees Raid" on Pocketbooks.
1T will cause the falling of polit-
ical heads" cried Representative
Madden. Democrat, of Indiana.
THE people who want this are
the people who are going to profit
by it," said Representative Hesel-
ton, Republican. of Massachusetts.
They're going to raid the con-
sumers' pocketbooks."
But hackers said natural gas
prices are about the only prices
that have come down in the last
10 years.
Mr. Rayburn told his colleagues
that he did not think his record
shows any desire to serve the
special interests over the people.
He said the Defense Department
had Endorsed the measure as a
means Of developing gas resources
needed for national security.
Senator Kerr. Democrat. of
Oklahoma. who piloted the bill
through the Senate, said congress
sional approval marks a great
victory" for consumers and pro-
ducers alike.
1t will bring the American
housewife the best available fuel
at reasonable prices he said.
and also will enable the pro-
ducers to expand their operations
for the development of additional
supplies.
Senator Kerr. a former Okla
homa Governor. added: The act
as passed stops In their tracks
those who have tried to socialize
one of the greatest basic raw COM
ynoJitiac pf THE Nation, -