The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1960-01-21
Senate Cloakroon
By ]. GLENN BEALL
United States Senator from
Maryland

vened for its Second Session. This
session of Congress promises to
be dominated by politics. It's
every action will be tied to the
fact that there will be an election
this year. Each one of the 437
seats in the House of Representa-
tives and 80 of the 100 Senate
seats must be voted on in NoVem-
Der At the same time, the Prcsi-
dency will be at stake-and sew
eral of my colleagues in the Sem
ate seem to be running for the
Presidency. AS a matter of fact,
since Vice Pres Nixon, unchal-
lengcd for the Republican nomi-
nation, is President of the Sen
ate, you will find within the walls
of the Senate Chamber this ses-
sion virtually all of the Prominent
ly Mentioned jockeying for posi-
ton.
What will Congress do this ses-
sion? Well, what it will do and
what it should do might present
two different pictures. Some
worthwhile legislation will sail
through; some will get tough
shedding.
Welfare Legislation Welfare
legislation will be pushed. Re-
tirement payments are likely to
be increased. Benefits for the total
ly disabled may be made more
liberal, and l believe there will
be favorable action on legislation
which l co-sponsored for free
health insurance to retired per-
sons. hope favorable action will
be taken in the Senate on the
Housc-passed Keogh-Simpson bill
authorizing certain retirement
plans for self-employed persons. !
Farm Problems-Thcre are
sharp political differences over !
farm programs, and it is, of |
course, in doubt as TO what kind |
of farm legislation, if any, will |
come out of this session. / would !
like to see developed program
which would ID reduce farm aid
costs, ~ halt the build-up of
and go reverse the
sharp decline in farm income.
Federal Aid to Education
Everything considered, | do not
look for this session to produce
any legislation for Federal aid to
school construction.
In the First Session, we in the
Senate passed bill to assist
draftees through college after they
have completed military service
and also authorizing Federal
grants for educational television,
but ! am in doubt as to what the
House will do with these bills.
Labor-Settleme of the steel
strike weakens demands for GER
tain labor legislation. A higher
minimum wage, with extended
coveragc. is likely.
Taxes-Don't look for an in
come tax reduction. 1t looks as
though there will be another OK
tension of the So per cent tax on |
corporate income. Excise taxes on |
and telephone rates |
may be cut There is no longer |
any excuse for wartime excise !
taxes levied to discourage travel |
and transactions during the
Second World War. A thorny prob
lem will be the financing of the
Highway System, with
Congress reluctant to further in
crease the gasoline tax.
Civil RightS-Thc subject of
Civil Rights will be seriously dis
,usscd in this session, and, as in
The past, | will support any eff
rectivc and practicable Civil Rights
legislation. There will be a fight,
but | expect TO sec legislation en-
acted which will require local Of
riciaIs to preserve voting records
in Federal clcctions-as an aid
10 Civil Rights Investigations. Also,
believe there will be the forma-
ion of a Federal agency to settle
ocal disputes over the racial prob
en-.
Interest Rates On Government
should certainly
lccedc to the Presidents request
10 raise the ceiling on interest
rates that the Government may
pay on long-tcrm Treasury bonds.
This is necessary for sound fiscal
l believe this has a
chance of getting through.
Foreign Tradc-Thcrc will be dc
bate, as usual, on the general sub
and a call for 2 pintS
in December Donors were sent
upon each occasion,
Mrs. Stemple said, in the same
that Mr.. Brookhart was
Last Nnek