Evening star., 1954-07-11
Ryxxo The Week
CongressHasfens AdiournmentNears
President Stand 81 FoII' Dictum Comes Home
70 Roost as Congress Rushes Toword Finish

the Republican bin. 500 ID 38: and
the measure went to the Senate.
Anti-Subsersion
Prominently displayed on the
Republican platform for the coming
campaigns is the Communist issue.
10 bolster that issue, the q. q. r.
was supposed TO approve heavy
calender Of antf-C Communist legis-
lation. None, however, has been
passed to date.
Last week there was action on one
arlti-Red bill. The House approved
323 TO 0. q bill to provide the death
penalty for peace-tilne spying and
to require foreign spies and sabo-
teurS to register with the Justice
Department. Definitions Of sabotage
also were broadened to cover modern
atomic, chemical and germ warfare.
Senate action still IS needed. &
GA Probe
Not strictly . matter Of legislation,
but q vital point between the Presi-
dent and the Congress was q move
last week to provide q cautious
checkup on the sacrosanct Central
Intelligence Agency.
Senator Joseph r. Mccarthy,
Republican. OF wisconsin had
promised to conduct q thorough In
vestigation Of the CIA. looking for
confirmation Of reports Of Commu-
mist infiitration. CIA Chief Allen
Dulles. however. had promised that
his agency would be probed McCar-
thy-style only over his dead body.
President Eisenhower last week
found an excellent way to avoid
such public. intra-party clash. He
simply gave the investigative job
to two responsible and above
reproach public figures. The CIA
will be studied by Gen. Mark Clark
under the supervision of former
President Herbert Hoover (now
heading another Government survey
group.)
Even Senator Mccarthy could not
complain. He praised Gen. Clark
and said he would be glad to- CO.
operate In any way he could. And
since the Senator showed signs last
week Of wanting to lie low until after
elections, there was good chance
the CIA probe would be conducted
in well-mannered atmosphere.
Postal Poy
Postal workers have what is con-
sidered to be one Of the most ef-
fective lobbies on Capitol Hill. Un-
ion leaders who speak for the 600.-
600 Post Office employees are listened
to by Congressman who know that
the workers, scattered through ey-S
cry town and village In the Nation,
are politically hep.
Last week the postal workers
became the first group OF Federal
employees to get congressional ac-
tion on q pay-boost bill this year.
The bill was not just what the
group asked for. 1t was 5 per
cent instead of q per cent raise.
And it contained reclaSsifica
provisions and administrative
changes which did not suit all per-
sons concerned.
But the bill did clear the House
Post once and Civil Service Com
mittee and was on its way to the
fioor. Differences over provisions
seemed likely to cause q stiff House
fight, however. The administration
wants q smaller increase. But many
Representatives have petitioned for
the original postal union bill.
A pay-increase bill for other Gov
ernment workers is the next meas
ure on the House committee agenda.
Rehabilitation
Both Houses approved q bill to
extend Federal vocational rehabil-
itation services. This was part.
though not a major part, Of the
Presidents health program. Anoth-
er health bill. the controversial plan
to provide Government backing for
private health insurance plans, was
given boost last week by Health
Education and Welfare Secretary
Oveta Culp Hobby. The measure was
likely to clear committee and see
some action this year.