Evening star., 1956-12-27
ADA 10 Support
0-|tenn Program
|In05thCongress
BY J. A. O'LEARY

1
Action today announced an
8-point program it will support
in the S5th Congress. including
the opening-day fight for a new
antif1libustering rule in the
Senate.
Robert r. Nathan, chairman
of the ADA executive committee,
listed the following as major
objectives Of the organization: :
Support Of the U. NJ; a for
eign economic assistance pro-
gram; civil rights; broader i'm
migration: aid to education;
wider minimum wage coverage;
more adequate housing, and
Federal aid to depressed eco
nomic areas.
The fight to curb Senate fill
clustering is listed as part OF
the civil rights problem. but
the new rule, if adopted, would
make it easier to get a vote
lon any issue. At present 64
Senate votes are required to
limit debate. Liberals will drive
either for majority rule, or at
least for two-thirds of those
present.
Mr.. Nathan said he expects
the rules to change to get more
support this time than 1t did in
1858, but admitted it would be
hazardous" to predict victory.
President Called Key
The ADA official said the out
come will depend on what Re-
publican leaders do. Mr.. Nathan
told reporters that if President
Eisenhower would pass the word
to Republican leaders that he
favors the new rule, there would
oe enough votes in both parties
to put 1t over.
He admitted he has some
doubts as to whether a Presi-
dent should speak out publicly
on an issue affecting Senate
rules. But he suggested the
President could be just as effec-
tive by making his position
known quietly to Vice President
Nixon and other party leaders,
if he favors a rule change.
In addition to the eight sub
jects it will push, the ADA
made public a schedule of IA
issues that will require long
range attention by Congress.
This list included:
Wider use of Federal assist
ance to the States for services
and facilities which cannot be
met out of the "regressive" tax
systems used in many States.
Scholarships for college and
graduate study, and revival of
the CT education benefits.
Revision of tax laws down.
ward for lower incomes. elimi-
nation of loop holes and a grad
Iuated scale Of corporation tax
rates.
Emphasis on IVA self -f1nanc-
ing types of resource develop
ment.
Higher Benefits Backed
Increased social security bene-
| fits. with a higher ceiling on the
amount q retired individual may
earn in addition to his benefits.
A review of foreign policies, to
determine the adequacy of past
programs and the consistency of
political objectives in the world.
Direct income support for
farmers, in the form of produc-
ton payments rather than price
supports.
Statehood for Alaska and Ha-
waii. Although District of CO.
lumbia home rule was not men,
toned in the mimeographed
copies Of the ADA program, Mr..
Nathan said the organization
has worked for home rule in the
past and will continue to do SO.
Mr.. Nathan admitted that he
sees no chance for substantial
tax reduction in the next year
or two. But he predicted that if
peace can be preserved the
United States should be able
within Ave years to meet the
need for increased domestic
services and have substantial
tax reduction at the same time.
He based this prediction on a
belief that by 1861 this country
will have a gross national prod
Iuct Of $500 billion, which he
said would bring in $40 to SIS
billion more in revenue at
present tax rates. The present
national product is S425 billion.