Evening star., 1950-04-17
Woodworking Out,
But Kerr Bill Backers
Indicate New Fight
By fhs Assoe'o.ed Press

4 By fhs Assoet1ted Press
! An applauding wing Of his party
prepared a champion of the peo-
pie campaign role for President
Truman today on the strength of
his veto of the Kerr natural gas
bill.
Mr.. Truman killed the bill Sat-
urday in an action critics labelled
as purely political" and support
erS said was sound and timely"
The measure would have pre-
vented the Federal Power Com
mission from regulating the sales
of natural gas by so-called inde-
pendents. who produce 80 per cent
Of the product, but don't operate
pipelines.
Congress approved the bill de-
spite charges by opponents that it
would pave the way for an increase
in the price of gas to consumers.
While its proponents denied this
vigorously, Mr.. Truman made
clear that was on his mind when
he sent the bill back to Congress
labeled mot in the public interest"
Unless the independents are
subject to Federal regulations, the
President said. there is a clear
possibility that competition will
not be effective, at least in some |
cases, in holding prices to reason
able levels"
Senator Douglas, Democrat, of
Illinois. one Of the measures chief
opponents, put into words the |
thought of some Democrats who
want Mr.. Truman to array him.
self as champion of the little |
fellow in this years campaign for
control Of Congress.
Said Senator Douglas:
God bless the President of the |
United States. He has once again
shown he is the true defender of
the common people"
Said Senator Ellender, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, who supported
the measure:
II think the Presidents veto
was purely political"
Said Senator Kerr, Democrat. of
Oklahoma, one of the bills
authors:
The President has made mis-
take. Time will prove that the
consuming areas which need
abundant supplies of natural gas
will receive less gas and at higher
prices than If the bill had been
approved"
Talking to reporters later, Sena-
tor Kerr dismissed any idea that
supporters might try to override
the veto. However, he protested
quickly when one newsman sug-
gested that this apparently kills
the bill for this session.
II didn't say that" Senator
Kerr said. Il only say that I
haven't any plans yet as to just
what I should do. This is only
skirmish."
Mr.. Truman was reported to
have faced one of the toughest
political decisions in his career in
vetoing the measure.
Besides Senator Kerr, arrayed
in favor of the bill were such
staunch supporters of the Presi-
dent as House Speaker Rayburn
ord Ca~~oJl,,
Democrats from gas-producing
Texas.
Senators Douglas, Humphrey,
Democrat, of Minnesota; Myers,
Democrat, of Pennsylvania, and
O'Mahoney. Democrat. of Wy
oming, who back the Presidents
program. fought the bill in the
Senate.
When it was passed there
March % by 44-to-38 vote. 20
Democrats voted for 1t and 16
against it. Republicans split az
against to Is for, with Senators
Donnell. Republican. Of Missouri,
and KEN, Republican. of Missouri,
of the Presidents home State
leading the opposition fight.
The House passed the bill 176
to 174. with more Democrats
against the bill than for it: 116
Democrats opposed the bill; 81 ap-
proved it.
One Senator told a reporter Mr..
Truman had given the go-ahead
signal on the bill-in the form it
finally passed Congress-at a
White House conference before the
measure was brought up for Sen
ate debate. This Senator said he
attended the conference.
In Oklahoma City. the Daily
Oklahoman said in a story from its
Washington bureau that Charles
Murphy. chief counsel to Mr..
Truman. had handed the bill Sen
ator Kerr with the blessing of the
White House.
The newspaper said the Presi-
dent was unable to Withstand the
great pressure brought against 1t
after It's passage"