Evening star., 1950-03-26
Outlook Dim
For runnon's S
Pet Projects
Present Congress Mo)
Maui His Program
Worse Than 80th
By Jack Bell

Nearing the halfway mark ir
this years chores, the Democratic
81st Congress gives signs of maui.
ing President Truman's legis.
lative program even more roughly
than did the Republican 80th.
AS March ends on a low note
for the administration, the Presi.
dent can exhibit the oleo tax re-
peal bill as about the only major
provision in his program that vel
has become law.
However. Senator Myers Of
Pennsylvania. the assistant Demo
cratic leader, refuses to be dis
couraged by the present glum
outlook.
1--WE can't win them ALL" he
told a reporter. But if you will
check back you'll see that the ad-
ministration has a pretty good
batting average in the 8lst Con-
gress."
On the debit side of the ledger
are several clearly indicated losses
the aid-to-education bill bottled
up in the House, the middle
income cooperative housing bill
rejected by the Senate ano
House and the pointedly snubbeo
Brannan farm subsidy payments
plan. =,
From an administration stand
point, things may take a turr
for the better before hot-weathel
adjournment, but current readings
don't hold out much hope for sew
eral Of the Presidents pet projects
The civil rights legislation that
he wants seems even farther away
than 1t did last January. The
House cut the penalty provisions
its sponsors say the heart-out
of a Fair Employment Practice
Commission FEPC) bill and left
only a voluntary and advisory
FEPC.
Other Matters Blocked
That measure is resting on the
Senate's doorstep now. ignored
while administration leaders try
to rally enough support to get ap-
proval of a compulsory FEPC
measure of their own.
The House-approved voluntary
bill might possibly clear the Sen
ate If it ever is brought up. But
1t doesn't satisfy the minority
groups that have been demanding
legislation with teeth in it. Thus
the effort to pass the compulsory
measure.
President Truman's demand
renewed last January, for repeal
of the Taft-Hartley labor law
continues to be ignored.
His aides aren't making any
serious effort to get action on his
proposal for compulsory health in
surance. knowing that it wouldn' I
have a chance in Congress pres
ent frame of mind.
The Presidents request for ex-
tension of the military draft has
been put on a sidetrack.
His st. Lawrence seaway pro-
posal languishes.
1t seems certain that he CAM
get any change in the Atomic En-.
ergy Act which will broaden CO.
operation with Britain and Can.
ada.
(This proposal has been
broached quietly but not yet
put into formal language of
message.)
The Presidents point four
program for aid to undevelopee
areas of the world isn't going any.
where at present. Administra.
ton leaders haven't given up hope
for it though.
They may fight for congres'
sional approval of the Interna'
tional Trade Organization char
ter, but without any certaint!
that they can get it.
Instead of the 81 billion in nev
taxes the President hoped to picl
up through closing loopholes il
present laws, he is likely to flint
that Congress has cut excise take
by substantial amount with onl,
vague moves to replace lost reve
nue..
Although he said his $42 ,439,
100000 budget for the year be-
ginning July / was bedrock ant
couldn't be cut without harmins
the country. he may find 1t slicet
by a couple of billion.
Vote Due on DPS
The President can count con
fidently, however, on getting an
other years funds for operation
of the Marshall Plan in Western
Europe. He may not get all h
wants, but no program-cripplinl
reductions seem in sight.
There is a fight brewing owe
foreign arms aid. But here again
a majority of Congress seems t,
feel that it is committed to tn,
program.
The Senate may get down t,
the voting point soon on the long
delayed, House-approved dis
placed-persons bill that wa
pledged by Mr.. Truman in hi
1948 campaign.
A science foundation bill h
wants has cleared both houses
But the House tackled on al
amendment to put the FBI in tn
business of passing on the loyal
ty of foundation employees an,
those to whom the foundation
would give scholarships. Tha
has kicked up a rumpus amonI
lawmakers who think the FB
should remain solely fact-gath
ering organization.
A House-approved social Sc
curity bill is being unwound from
seemingly endless hearings by tn
Senate Finance Committee ant
prohahlv will he passed in SOM