The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-08-06
On Wa4hunqton
with Rep. John Henderson

With Rep. John Henderson
BY tradition, around August l
Congress adjourns and leaves
Washington. The prospects of
such an event this year are as
unlikely as the cow jumping
over the moon. What has hap
pened so far this year might be
described as the warm-up for
the big issues which Congress
may still consider. Since jan
uary, there has been a good deal
more anticipation than accom-
plishment.
Six pieces of legislation rank
high in the list of issues. All are
fraught with controversy which,
in some instances, approaches
proportions Of bitterness. The
arguments over many Of these
bills are not confined to Capitol
Hill, but have invaded millions
of family living rooms as well.
Each issue has strong appeal to
some groups and invokes strong
opposition from others. A farm
bill (workable or otherwise,
higher gasoline taxes to prevent
a showdown in the highway
building program, more money
for foreign aid r several of
these issues. A housing bill
scaled down from the costly
legislation passed earlier and
vetoed by the President will also
be debated using shopworn argu-
ments resurrected from dusty
files which are still considered
crucial by their opponents. The
labor-management reform and
civil rights questions are two
which will, without doubt, result
in the most resounding debate in
the House.
Reform Bill
A acknowledgement bill was
passed by the Senate, and
changed considerably by the
Labor Committee of the House.
It is the House Committees bill
which is to be considered soon.
| When the bill was first made
public last week, l received a
storm Of protest letters-allega-
tons that, if enacted, the bill
would enslave the union member
countered by protests that the
bill would do little or nothing to
stop the kind of racketeering
which Congressional hearings
have disclosed. A third large and
aroused group demands legisla-
ton this year which will Danish
the racketeers and outlaw UNI
ethical practices without denying
legitimate rights to either unions
or to management. ..
Before the debate is concluded,
a bewildering rash of proposals
and contemporaries will have
been made reflecting many de-
grees of these sentiments.
Amendments will have been
offered and decided upon. The
probability of writing legislation
in the confusion of a limited de-
bate on the Floor of the House
is likely. Out Of all of this may
come legislation. What its quality
will be cannot be predicted.
However, because of the demon
strated need for a reform bill,
this Congress will be judged by
what it does with this issue more
than on most of its other actions
put together.
Civil Rights
) Civil rights, an emotionally-
charged term, usually brings up
impressions Of the school de-
segregation decision of the Sup
RENE Court and the events in
: Little Rock and other commun-
/ tiles in the South. Two years ago
the first real civil rights legisla-
7 ton in 80 years was enacted
This is now followed by pro.
t posals in both the Senate anc
House of Representatives which
t are still several steps away from
the front pages of the nations
newspapers.
4 The most detailed proposal is
likely to be that offered in the
House. There, legislation under
: consideration by the Judiciary
Committee proposes to deal with
the problem from many sides
From a study of the bill, it be,
t comes apparent how many of the
parts of it r related to situa'
: tons that have arisen in the pas
several years. One propose
would make it a Federal offense
to interfere with court order!
= for school desegregation. The
S bills sponsors hold this, woule
allow the arrest Of mob leader.
when violence eruptS in a com
munity. A second provision
+ would make it a Federal Grim.
to flee across State lines to avoit
prosecution for the destruction
of church II school property b,
fire or explosives. Still anothe.
would require local officials II
preserve Federal election record
and make them available in tn,
,,o ~ ,1,Dy.rn- tnn{ ~ lsyl, so l