Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-02
THE SUNDAY STAR
Washington. D. c.. June z, 1868
BY ROBERT X. WALSH
Star staff Writer

House Majority Leader Al
bert yesterday predicted pas
sage of civil rights legislation
this year. He also saw a good
chance for a Federal aid bill
for public elementary schools.
The Oklahoma Democrat
forecast House adoption of a
voting rights measure fairly
soon" He said a broader civil
rights bill might get Rules
Committee clearance and 60
through the House with some
Republican help before ex-
pected adjournment in Octo-
Der.
In an exclusive ION The
Record" interview with cor
respondents of the Detroit
News. Newark News, st. Louis
Post-Dlspatch and The Star,
Mr.. Albert discussed such wide
ranging legislative and political
matters as wheat production
controls and the possibility of
Vice President Johnson's sue
ceeding President Kennedy in
1869.
Wheat Law Doubtful
He described as very doubt
full" the prospect for House
passage of new wheat legisla-
ton this year in view of the
farmers rejection in a referen-
dunn of the administrations
strict controls program.
But he doomed Mr.. johnson
for the presidency and hailed
the Texans terrific record in
certain areas" including civil
rights. He voiced a personal
opinion that Mr.. Kennedy
would support Mr.. johnson for
the presidential nomination in
1868.
While indicating that he
favors the administration pro-
posal for elementary and Sec
ondary school aid for public
schools only, Mr.. Albert raised
the possibility Of a compromise.
He said congressional approval
Of Federal funds for private
and church-connected as we'll
as public institutions Of higher
learning would enable the ad-
ministration to make a strong
er pitch" for aid to elementary
and secondary public schools
In any event Mr.. Albert re-
garded elementary school aid
and medicare "the two tough
est in the whole bunch" of
problems confronting Demo-
cratic legislative leaders.
Their progress in the House,
he said, will depend to a great
extent on success of other high |
priority items in the admins
tration's legislative program.
He admitted that I'VE are going
to be hurt as a party" if too
of those measures fail.
He said he looked for passage
of medicare legislation next
year.
Mr.. Albert took a dim view
of complaints that this is a do
nothing or indecisive session.
He said he was confident the
final record will show it was
more productive "than most
sessions in terms of what the
President wants"
The transcript of the inter-
view AOAlOWos
@. Congressman Albert, the
public picture of the 88th Con-
gress at this stage is one of de-
lay and indecision. a Congress
that is doing nothing. Is this
an accurate picture?
A. Well, I would say that the
Congress is busy at work. 1t is
true we don't have very many
bills out of committees, and you
can't do anything with them
until you do get them out of
committees. But the commit
tees are at work. For instance,
the Ways and Means Commit
tee has been awfully busy on
the tax bill the one which Isl
going to have a lot to do with
measuring the record of this
session. All the committees are
at work on important bills.
I look upon this session as
being one that will be produc-
tive. 1t will be, I think. more