Evening star., 1955-06-05
Johnson Sees
Senate Action
|0n 7 Big Bills
BY GOULD LINCOLN

Majority Leader Lyndon john
son yesterday expressed strong
hope for Senate action this week
on two major legislative pro-
Iposals-the minimum wage bill
and the omnibus housing DILL.
At the same time. the Texas
Democrat urged early House ac-
ton on the classified pay bill
which will give Government
workers increases in pay. The
Senate has passed the measure
with 10 per cent increase. The
House is expected to bring the
measure into line with the re-
Gently repassed Senate 8 per
cent postal pay bill.
"An increase in the minimum
wage Is one of the most impor-
liant issues on the program for
this session." Senator johnson
commented. "The Senate Labor
Subcommittee has approved an
increase to 81 the present MIN
Iimum wage is rs cents) and /
think this is a reasonable solu-
ton to the problem"
President Eisenhower recon-
mended the minimum wage be
increased to 80 cents an hour
and the labor unions have de-
manded that 1t be fixed at S1.25.
The full Labor Committee is to
take up the measure Tuesday
and is expected to report the
subcommittee bill. No increase
i'm coverage is included in the
bill as it now stands.
Senator johnson said he hoped
to have the bill taken up by the
Senate itself this week. He
plans to make it the unfinished
business of the Senate as soon
as the housing bill has been dis
posed of. Some Southern Dem
Iocrats may resist the increase, II
is believed.
The housing bill. johnson
said. will come to the floor OF
the Senate Tuesday.
$4,000 Units Per Year
"I certainly hope this impor-
tant measure will be approved,
he said.
The bill. as reported from the
Democrat controlled Banking
and Currency Committee. calls
for the construction of $4,000
public housing units during any
fiscal year. The committee de-
termined that the annual rate
: of $4,000 units is "unrealistic in
terms of need"
The principal contest over the
bill is expected to come on a pro-
5 posed amendment to cut tie
1875, 900 units figure back to TO-.
900, or even $4,000. A numbe,
; of Democratic Senators are
: known to oppose the higher
figure reported by the commit
: tee. Victory for the COMMITTEES
proposal may depend upon nov
many so-called liberal Repub-
; lican Senators support it.
; In advocacy of the committee
proposal of 1856 public hous-
ing units annually, Senator
johnson commented:
"Our population is increasing
at rate somewhere between {
; and 3 million a year. It is esti-
: mated we would have to built
! is million units a year for the
: next 10 years just to break even
This figure, Of course. represents
all types Of building-public
: private and Government aided
We cannot permit our cities tt
; collapse under the weight ol
obsolete buildings. We cannot
allow ourselves to reach the
? position of the Soviet Unior
, where several families may share
a single apartment. The Demo-
cratic housing bill points the
way to a solution and hope il
, is approved"
For Senate Pay Bill
Discussing the classified pay
increase bill, the Democratic
.. leader called it one of the most
important still before Congress
"It has already passed the
Senate" he said, "and I hope
2 we can keep 1t at or near the
! Senate figure (l0 per cent in
; crease) and make the increase
retroactive to March l. The
Government workers are loyal
/,