Evening star., 1953-07-21
The Political MAl
Congress Considering
Summer Recess Plan
Completion Of Prosrom
By August ] improbable
By. Gould Lincoln


By. Gould Lincoln ,..
The wisdom of Senator TaftS orig
inal proposal that the. present Con-
gresS shoot for q summer recess, be-
ginning the last of July, and return to
Washington in October to care for i'm
portant legislation not accomplished,
is becoming more and more apparent.
With an overwhelming desire among
members of both houses for a con-
cluson Of the session by August I, 1t is
now apparent that it will be ifnpos-
sible, short Of a political miracle, to
complete the administration legisla-
tive program by that date. The like
lihood is that the session will run to
mid-August or September /, If the Con-
gress is to act on the postal rates in
crease bill, the displaced persons i'm
ton bills. not to mention the bill ex-
Agreements Act for another year. 0,a'
Even should Congress complete the
program, there would still be left a
mass of important legislation-much
of it controversial-to be handled at
the following session, beginning jan
uary 3. Take q look at some Of the
subjects that must be dealt with. First.
there is tax revision legislation-with
reductions, if possible. Second, there
is amendment of the Taft-Hartley la
Dor law. which was promised organized
labor during the campaign Of 1852.
Third, there is again the problem of
reciprocal trade agreementS-with the
old Republican protectionist tariff is
sue sticking up its head. Fourth. the
question of extending the coverage OF
the Social Security Act, another prom
Use made by President Eisenhower.
Vital Campaign.
The Republicans must 60 into ascam-
paign next year to retain control OF
Congress. It's a vital, campaign both
for the G. o. P. and for Gen. EiSen-
hover. They can't afford to go into
that campaign with a record OF little
accomplishment. Some of the leaders.
particularly those of the House, haye
taken the position that it will be pos
sible to deal with all these legislative
items after Congress reassembles in
January. The probabilities are, however.
that the Congress will do little or moth
ing during January, February and
March. It rarely does. It will be spring,
with the appropriation bills claiming
major attention and likely to hold 1t
until July. BY that time, a great urge to
get away from Washington will have
gripped members of Congress again
this time to get back home and look
after political fences. Every member OF
the House comes up for denomination
and reelection, and one third Of the
Senate membership. ;.
Taft Plan Favored.
Republican Senator after Senator to-
day is expressing a desire to fall back
on the Taft Summer-recess proposal, as
the best program looking to success
full campaign next year. They don't
understand why the Republican House
leadership should oppose it. Inciden-
tally, one Senator, speaking practically
and frankly, said that members OF Gen.
gress would find Washington safer
place next fall than their own home
States and districts, in which they
would be faced with demands that they
deliver speeches. What. commented this
Senator, would we have to talk about
with so many legislative issues un-
touched?
Another reason advanced for q fall
session of Congress-after summer
recess-is that Congress would be on
hand to increase the statutory limit OF
the public debt, if that becomes neees-
sary. Because of the unexpected IN
crease in the deficit at the close 'of
fiscal year 1858, June 80 last, there is
danger that it might be necessary some
time during the next six months to
increase the present $275-billion linAit.
... Over the Top. .,.
The tremendous expenditures which
the Government is called upon to make.
1t is said, might run the debt above the
legal limit, since the debt is now creep
ing within two and half to- three
billion of that figure. Naturally the
administration does not relish having
to ask that the debt limit be raised If
Congress is to reaSsemble in October, it
could take chance on no action now
a chance it might be hazardous to take
ii Congress were going away until jan
uary. .. ~ >.,
The Taft plan for fall session Of
Congress. if carried out, would solve
lot of difficulties. It would get the
members away from hot Capital City.
And it would provide all the time nee
essary for dealing with knotty legisla-
tive problems. So closely divided is the
Congress politically that the Democrats.
If they wish, can throw monkey
wrench into the program, it. lit is
allowed to 60 over until January, and
prevent its being accomplished before
the election campaign begins. They
could do it with one hand tied behind
their backs. so easy are delays manu-
factured, particularly in the Senate.