Evening star., 1953-01-27
The Political Min
The Political Min
Message Is Awoited
On State Of the Union
Program Will Be Exumined
In Light Of 6. o. P. Platform
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
A Republican legislative program.
submitted by Republican President to
a Republican controlled Congress for
the first time in more than two dec
adeS, is coming up next Monday. It
viii be awaited with keenest interest
It will be examined in the light of the
platform adopted by the 1852 Republi-
can National Convention and the prom
ises made by President Eisenhower
in. his campaign speeches.
The contents Of the Presidents mes
sage on the state Of the Union-which
he has now promised to deliver in per-
son at Joint session of Congress -are
still closely guarded The Republican
leaders In Congress, to whom the
President talked about the legislative
situation for two hours yesterday,
properly feel that the country should
have the Presidents recommendation
from him, rather than to have them
dribble out In advance Of his address
to Congress. Speculation as to the con-
tents Of the Eisenhower program con-
tinueS.
2a Controls Likely to Expire.
II the new President looks upon con-
trolls as do many Of the Republican
members Of Congress, they will be per-
mitted to eXpire-particularly price
and wage controls. They are due to
end, under the existing law. April 80.
Rent controls are off June 80, unless
again extended. These are immediate
concerns Of the new administration.
Some suggestion has been made of
standby controlS-which may be used
in the event an emergency arises. How
ever, Congress can always be called
into special SeSSion-n that body be
In recess-to deal with an emergency.
Another law which is due to expire
within short time is the Reciprocal
Trade Agreements Act. President Eisen-
hover, in his inaugural address, saidi
Recognizing economic health a. IN
indispensable basis Of military strength
and the free worlds peace, we shall
strive to foster everywhere, and to
practice ourselves, policies that en-
courage productivity and profitable
trade. For the impoverishmen of any
single people in the world means dam
ger to the well-being Of all other peo-
pies" Extension Of the Trade Agree
mentS Act seems assured.
Already the wheels are beginning to
turn in the matter Of revision-through
amendment-of the Taft-Hartley labor
law. Senator Taft Of Ohio, co-sponsor
of that act and Republican leader Of
the Senate, has introduced series Of
amendments. Senator Alexander
~ 1Noi NJ "A
Senate Labor Committee, has been
holding conferences with important
leaders Of labor and Of industry in an
effort to ascertain the field of agree
ment on labor egiSlation-and to set
apart the field of disagreement--prior
to beginning committee work and hear
ings on proposed legislation. Chairman
Mcconnell of the House Labor Com
mittee Is planning to tackle this legis-
lation, too. A great effort will be made.
By the administration and by Repub-
lican leaders in Congress, to come up
with amendments to the law, recog-
nized as fair to both labor and man
agement and to the public. .sf
Tive Tough Nuts to Crack.
Two of the toughest nuts for the ad-
miniStration and the Republican Cen
gress are economy in Government e.
penditures and Federal taxes. Tie
Republicans have promised reductions
in spending and in taxes. Much will
depend on the foreign policy-and the
conduct of the Korean war. The larg-
est share of Government appropriations
and spending 60 for national defense
and aid to the allies Of this country
in counteracting Communist aggres-
sion. President Eisenhower has to de-
termine the course he will advocate in
the Far East-a course designed to
break the stalemate in Korea and wind
up that conflict. In that, he will seek
the cooperation OF the United Ma
tions. allied in this effort.
In conformity with the Republican
promise to lower taxes, Representative
Reed of New York, chairman OF the
House Ways and Means Committee.
has proposed that the excess profits
tax on businesses, due to expire next
June, be allowed to die, and that the
II per cent across the-board tax Inn
posed on individual incomes-due to
end December 31--be done away with
June 80. Whether this can be done
depends in large part on the ability
of Congress to reduce Government
expenditures. Certainly, the Reed pro-
posal has much support In both houses.
and SO far this is the extent of tax
reduction In sight.
It is expected that sometime soon
President Eisenhower will send his own
budget message to Congress. The
budget now before the body was pre-
pared and submitted by the Truman
administration.