Evening star. [volume], May 09, 1948, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
% __
~ “ ~ 7 Home Delivery
Weather forecast The Evening and Sunday Star Is
Mostly sunny today, high in lower 70s. delivered by carrier to all subscribers
Cloudy, not so cool tonight. Tomorrow, at per month when 4 Sundays;
cloudy, mild, with scattered showers. $1,30 per month when 5 Sundays.
f »» ..T5T7SS**rT^..M *■«>»■«
2 p.m. ...64 8 p.m. .. .67 Midnight 51 per month.
4 p.m. __ 68 10p.m. ...61 1a.m. T--50 Telephone NA. 5000.
~ An Associated Pres$ Newspoper__
' 96th year. No. 130~ " ~~ WASHINGTON, D. C., MAY 9, 1948-154 PAGES. ★_ TEN, CENTS.
Parleys to Avert Rail Strike Fail;
Unions Set to Walk Out Tuesday;
U. S. Maps Plans to Seize Roads
President's Aides
Still Seek Peace;
New Talks Today
NATION FACES Food Scarcities,
Work Layoffs II Rail Workers
Strike. Page A-5.
CHRYSLER AND UNION Agree to
Farley ip Effort to Avert Strike,
Page A-5.
By Jomes Y. Newton
Leaders of three rail unions
said last night the Nation-wide
railroad strike “will go on” as
scheduled at 6 a m. Tuesday, but
it was learned that the Govern
ment has almost completed
plans to seize and operate the
carriers, probably in advance of
the strike deadline.
The union announcement was
made after Presidential Assistant
John R. Steelman held day-long and
apparently fruitless settlement con
ferences with both union and rail
road representatives. Neither side
budged from former positions during
the series of separate and joint talks
and both exuded pessimism when
they finally left .the White House
to return to their hotels.
But there still was real reason
for hope that the transport-crip
pling strike would not take place.
This was based on:
1. The possibility — apparently
rather remote—that a basis for set
tlement will be found, perhaps dur
ing new conferences Mr. Steelman
will hold with both sides today. The
Government may come up with a
compromise suitable, under pres
sure, to both disputants.
Although President Truman was
described as firm in his intention
to keep hands off the dispute, he
still might put the final settlement
proposition to the parties.
2. The far more promising pro
spect that Federal seizure of the
roads would lead to continuation
of operation of the railroads. The
Government, only 48 hours before
the walkout is scheduled, was be
ginning to think of last resorts.
Final Derision Indefinite.
A final decision had not been
made on whether to take over the
carriers tomorrow or shortly after
the strike, but the former course
pro’rably will be followed. It was
pointed out that in event of seizure,
the Government will operate the
carriers under the same wages and
other terms now prevailing, and that
whatever back pay the workers are
entitled to w'ould not be forthcoming
until final settlement of the dls
Unions Set Up Code
To Notify Locals of
Strike Developments
By the Aisocioted Pre4»
CLEVELAND. May 8 — Head
quarters of the Engineers’ and
Firemen's brotherhoods said
today they had supplied code
words to their local lodges in
connection with the strike
called for Tuesday.
The code indicates the
authenticity of any new in
structions sent’ by telegraph,
such as a postponement or an
end to the strike.
Similar plans were used In
the 1916 and 1946 strikes. In
1916 the engineers’ code phrase
was, ’’Eggs are 45 cents a
dozen.”
pute * reached and the roads re
turned to the owners.
Whether to support seizure ac
tion with a Federal court injunction
against a strike will be decided
after the attitude of the unions
toward working for the Government
is determined. Two years ago,
three rail unions refused to work
after the roads were taken over.
The injunction process may be
employed this time to support
seizure as was done before the
coal strike late in 1946.
One thing was clear, that what
ever settlement proposal the White
House may make will not provide
for any increase in the 15’u-cents
per-hour pay raise which a presi
dential emergency board recom
mended for the three unions six
weeks ago. A similar pay increase
“(See RAILROADS7Page A~57)“
Phone Strike Delayed
As Contract Expires
By the Associated Press
NEW YORK. May 8—There will
be no immediate strike of some 23,
000 long-lines telephone workers de
spite expiration of their contract
at 11 p.m. tonight, a union spokes
man said.
John J. Moran, president of the
CIO American Union of Telephone
Workers, made his statement after
the close of an unsuccessful media
tion session between union officials
and leaders of the American Tele
phone and Telegraph Co. to reach
a new pact before the expiration
deadline.
He said, however, there would be
no immediate strike since he had
accepted an invitation from Cyrus
S. Ching. head of the Federal Con
ciliation Service, to meet in Wash
ington Tuesday with representa
tives of the service and the com
pany in new talks.
There was no comment at once
from the company on Mr. Ching’s
Invitation.
The contract covers the 23,000
employes, handling the bulk of the
ration's long-distance calls, in 42
States.
Radio Programs, Page C-8
Complete Index, Page A-2.
'A Disgrace to Washington'
A Study in Futility
Last November The Star showed in a series of articles that
Gallinger Hospital’s psychopathic division is “a disgrace to
Washington.”
It pointed to the manacling of patients, the absence of segre
gation for types of afflicted patients—young boys thrown in with
alcoholics in the last stages of delirium tremens, perverts and old
men. It called attention to leaking roofs, elevators that wouldn’t
run, dirt-streaked walls.
It reported that medical schools, with their facilities for bring
ing modern care to mental patients, have shunned the place. It
showed that the head of the division was trying to do two jobs,
spending much time in court that should be devoted to administra
tion of the division.
The District Medical Society, the Public Health Service, the
District Commissioners, the Health Department—all agreed that
Washington’s mentally ill were not getting the care they deserve.;
A Public Health Service consultant, brought here from New
York, used the same phrase The Star had used in its series of
articles. He, too, described the psychopathic division as a "dis
grace to Washington.”
The air was filled with recommendations and promises. Some
thing indeed would be done, the Commissioners declared.
Six months have passed. What has been done? Very little.
1. The Commissioners in December voted to break up the two
jobs held by Dr. Joseph L. Gilbert, head of the psychopathic divi
sion, and District alienist. Dr. Gilbert would continue to serve as
District alienist. But the Commissioners would ask Congress to
create a permanent new position as chief medical officer of psy
chiatry and find the right man for the job.
Dr. Gilbert is still doing two jobs. Asked why a replacement
had not been found. Health Officer George C. Ruhland sent word
by his secretary that various persons had been asked to make
“suggestions.” But nothing has been accomplished.
The Commissioners have not even asked Congress to authorize
the new position. Why not? Because, Commissioner Mason says,
not all the .positions authorized at Gallinger Hospital have been
filled. This, of course, has little if anything to do with the failure
to find a man who can run the division, or failure to get the job
authorized.
2 The Commissioners voted to ask for 550,000 to make
the elevators run and 54,500 to make the seclusion rooms usable, so
disturbed patients could be secluded instead of strapped to their
Congress appropriated the money. The President signed an
urgent deficiency appropriation for these items March 4.
The District has just got around to inviting bids for the eleva
tors. It has not yet invited bids for the seclusion room repairs.
3. The Commissioners instructed Gallinger in December to
make the rest of the repairs and buy needed equipment out of
'“existing funds.”
The hospital, four months later, has found out it doesn t have
the “existing funds” to buy the equipment. Budget Officer Walter
Fowler said he couldn't understand that. Nobody had told him
about it. “I thought they had everything they needed,” he said.
4. Since low salaries obviously were one of the reasons why
staff vacancies could not be filled, the District Personnel Board
recommended putting chief medical officers at Gallinger under
the Classification Act. That would make them eligible for periodic
pay increases.
The Commissioners have never got around to acting on the
recommendation. Commissioner Mason said the problem has
“many aspects.”
5. The Commissioners voted to ask Congress for $60,000 to
draw plans for a new building for mental patients, geneially
agreed on as an inescapable need for the future.
The House deleted the request.
“I'm not sure we'll ask the Senate Appropriations Committee
to restore that item,” Commissioner Mason said. “After all, if
a lot of the patients are going direct to St. Elizabeth s we may not
need a new building.”
6. The Public Health Service consultant had recommended
direct admission of chronic cases to St. Elizabeth s. This plan
to short-circuit Gallinger—the plan Commissioner Mason said
might make a new building unnecessary—would require a simple
change in the law.
There was general agreement that this was a good idea. It
would save money, cut by one-third the over-crowding in Gal
linger’s meager psychopathic facilities and benefit the patients.
Early in March, when The Star asked editorially why this
simple change in the law had not been sent to Congress, Commis
sioner Mason said that action would have to be taken within 48
hours.
Two months have passed. The Corporation Counsel has never
been instructed to draw up the legislation. In fact, Commissioner
Mason has never laid it before the Commissioners. He said he’s
been too busy.
7. On January 23, Gallinger's superintendent, A. R. Sweeney,
issued a progress report. Painting of the buildings, he said, was
underway. Steps were being taken to install radio receiving ap
paratus with loud speakers to provide some recreation for the
patients.
Painting of the grim interiors did begin. But it nas not Deen
finished. Somewhere along the line the workmen were called off
to do something else. Now they are back at work in the psycho
pathic division. But after six months, the paint job is unfinished.
As for the radio receiving apparatus, the materials have never
been ordered. The hospital says it has no money.
8. Early'in January, District government engineers were asked
to find out why the roof lefks over the physiotherapy department
1 and how it can be corrected.
The roof still leaks. In the women’s physiotherapy division,
one of the two electric cabinets still cannot be used on rainy days
because of the puddle that forms around it. Attendants are
afraid they will electrocute a patient.
9. In January, the hospital promised its continuous flow tubs
for soothing disturbed patients would be repaired and in use in a
few weeks.
The tubs have been repaired, some training in their operation
is being given. But reports vary on how much the tubs are being
used.
One thing is certain. The only professional physiotherapist
j for the men is not using the one in his department. He has to
give electric cabinet treatments in another room and patients in
the tubs must be watched constantly. He has no help. Dr.
Sweeney believes the House deleted the request for another physio
therapist to help him.
10 The Commissioners considered that something could be
done about such problems as understaffing, lack of treatment
facilities and overcrowding by ordering an inquiry into the legal
questions of diverting some patients to St. Elizabeth’s. These are
the ones who go there eventually. Why have them unnecessarily
detained at Gallinger?
Patients in some wards are still sleeping within easy arm
reach of each other—the young, the old, the alcoholics, the
prisoners, the temporarily upset and the ones requiring long
term treatment.
That overcrowding is due directly to the failure of District
officials to ask for a law enabling them to send nonemergency
cases direct to St. Elizabeth’s.
That law, Commissioner Mason says, would solve many of
the psychopathic division's problems. But he hasn’t done any
thing about it.
I And the patients are still bej^ig manacled at Gallinger. f
Fay May Copy
New York Plan
In Gaming Fight
' /
Prosecutor, on Visit
To O'Dwyer, Discusses
Enforcement Methods
By Chris Mathisen
The techniques of New York
prosecutors in cracking big-time
gambling combines may find ap
plication here in United States
Attorney George Morris Fay’s ef
forts to cripple what he has de
scribed as a $100,000,000 business
of chance.
Combining business and pleasure
in a week-end trip to New York,
Mr. Fay has been conferring with
John Murtagh. New York City com
missioner of investigation, on meth
ods of gambling law enforcement
used there.
Mr. Fay left Washington Friday.
Mrs. Fay said last night she had
not heard from him and did not
know exactly where he was staying.
Mayor William O’Dwyer of New
York, however, said Mr. Fay was his
houseguest. The prosecutor could
not be reached at the time.
Guest of O’Dwver.
Asked by telephone whether Mr.
Pay had gone to New York to study
the city's anti-gambling procedures.
Mayor O'Dwyer told The Star he
was sure that was not his original
intention.
"He came up for. the 'Anvil
Chorus’ dinner tonight,” Mr.
O'Dwyer explained. “He’s an old
j friend of mine. He’s been my house
guest before. In fact, he usually Is
when he comes to New York.
“He knows Mr. Murtagh well, too.
They got to talking shop, and, nat
urally, ‘Morrie’ Fay was interested
in what we had been doing here. It's
a continuous battle. We think a lot
of ‘Morrie,’ and we’re only too gla$l
to help him in any way we can.”
Mr. O'Dwyer reiterated his belief
Mr. Fay had not traveled to New
York with the forthcoming special
grand jury investigation of gambling
; uppermost in his thoughts. He said
the “Anvil Chorus” gathering was
the magnet.
Anvil Chorus Described.
Ho described the organization as
a Brooklyn group devoted to good
fellowship and “kidding the man.”
Its dinner program last night was
to include a program of bantering
skits, the Mayor, explained.
He said he and Mr. Fay had be
c< me good friends while the Mayor,
an Army Air Forces colonel, was
handling an investigation at Wright
Field, Ohio, during the war. aiw4
Mr. Fay was assisting. Mr. Murtagh
also was there at the time, Mr.
O’Dwyer recalled.
' Earlier yesterday, Mr. Murtagh
told The Star he did not know Mr.
Fay was in New York, had no Ap
pointment with him and was not
aware a special grand jury was to
be impaneled here May 17 to in
vestigate the gambling industry.
Mr. O'Dwyer is a former prosecu
tor who, before defeating the late
FMorello H. LaGuardia for the
mayoralty in 1941, won fame for
breaking up the Murder, Inc., kill
for - a - price organization while
King's County (Brooklyn) district
attorney.
O'Dwyer Crusade Recalled.
In addition to his own experi
ence in fighting the underworld,
Mr. O'Dwyer could give Mr, Fay
the benefit of New York's case
records on gambling prosecutions.
An attack on major gamblingj
interests was part of the program1
of Gov. Thomas E. Dewey while he
was district attorney of New York
County. In 1937, he climaxed his
crusade by obtaining the indict
ment of "Dutch” Schultz, already
~(See GAMBLfSGTPage A-6l
Chinese Reds Holding
Five Priests as Spies
By the Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO., May 8.—The
Chinses Communists reported today
they were holding five Catholic
priests who "confessed” to being
American spies.
The Reds also charged in short
wave broadcasts that the United
States had violated Communist
"sovereignty” in trying to get 12
nuns out of the same North China
locality.
The broadcasts were heard in San
Francisco by the Associated Press.
The priests were listed as R.
Charvet and A. Baur of France:
Jeliet Lichtenberger and J. Motte of
Belgium, and Chia Shu-shan, a
Chinese, all of the Changchaia
chuang church near Hsienhsien, 90
miles southwest of Tientsin.
The Reds said the clergymen have
been held since last October. They
were accused of using a radio in the
church to send information to
American and Chinese government
intelligence agents.
Subsequent broadcasts in Chinese
and English said the American con
sul general at Peiping had sent air
dropped notes to Baienhien May 3
seeking aid of local Communist au
thorities in evacuating 12 nuns.
Consul General Edmund O. Clubb
in Peipig confirmed sending the
messages.
The Communist broadcasts said
the nuns were not involved in the
] alleged spy plot and were free to
go or stay as they chose. M
* *
Mother's Day, 1948
Expense-Paid Palestine Parley
Accused as Extremist "Front"
Participants, Including Congress Members,
Deny Pro-lrgun Influence on Decisions
By Newbold Noyes, Jr.
Approximately 20 persons in
cluding college professors, mem
bers of Congress, former Gov
ernment officials and journalists,
met yesterday at the Statler
Hotel to talk about Palestine,
amid charges by several other
organizations that they were,
serving unwittingly as a front
for the extremist American
League for a Free Palestine.
The league was paying their bills
j and had originated the idea of the
: week-end gathering. Both the
i league and conference participants,
'however, denied the league would
'< or could influence the conference
| whose name is the same as its an
nounced objective: “A United Stgtes
! Policy for Palestine and the Middle
East.”
The league, according to Maurice,
Rosenblatt, its vice president, “defi
i nitely” has supported Irgun Zvai
Leumi, the Jewish terrorist organi
zation in Palestine. On the record,
its program has been aimed at es
tablishment of a ncnreligious He
brew state for the whole Palestine
area, including Trans-Jordan.
“This group has encouraged and
assisted- violence and terrorism in
Palestine,” said Kermit Roosevelt,
chairman of the Committee for Jus
tice and Peace in the Holy Land.
He described the conference as a
"camouflaged scheme by the league
to push its program under the name
of prominent and unsuspecting
Americans.”
Mr. Roosevelt’s statement was
made with the concurrence of the
American Council for Judaism, ac
cording to Alfred M. Lilienthal,
Washington repx-esentative of that
organization. The Roosevelt group
is generally regarded as pro-Arab,
although both the council and his
committee officially favor a demo
~(See CO N FERENC E P a g e A- 5. )~
Congress Must Decide
ill Draft Will Deter
Or Provoke Soviet
Committee Minority
Tells House Bill Means
Controlled Economy
By Robert K. Walsh
House Armed Services Com
mittee majority and dissenting
reports-yesterday asked Congress
to decide whether a draft law
would "deter any rash decision”
by Russia or provoke war and
j “lay the foundation of a con
trolled economy” here.
The answer may come in a week
or 10 days in House and Senate
action on separate measures.
| A combination selective service
and selective training bill picked up
| speed toward Senate consideration.
! Chairman Gurney of the Senate
'Armed Services Committee disclosed
; last! night that his group will vote
ion that version tomorrow. It will
be ready for the Senate Tuesday, he
said. A heavy legislative program
j may delay floor discussion until next
week.
The draft bill reported out last
i Monday by a House Armed Services
I Committee vote of 28 to 5 is mark
ing time in the Rules Committee but
may be cleared by the end of this
week. Chairman Allen has a counter
proposal to build up the armed
forces bv paying bonuses to volun
teers. The Allen bill encountered
opposition of many Republican and
Democratic leaders and was termed
“asinine'’ by President Truman.
Arguments Put up to Congress.
Arguments on the draft issue were
put up to Congress in formal re
ports filed yesterday by the House
Armed Service Committee on the
bill sponsored by its chairman. Rep
resentative Andrews, Republican, of
New York.
The measure would authorize
Army, Navy and Air Force man
power ceiling increases from the
! present strength of 1,384,000 to 2,
! 005,822 and the drafting of men from
i 19 through 25 for two years service.
Tjie 28 members who reported out
the bill urged prompt passage be
cause of the “new and ominous pos
sibility that the Soviet Union may
now be willing to risk a showdown
on the assumption that the future
can bring only a worsening of the
Soviet position.”
They declared that "to deter any
rash decision on the part of the
Soviet government it is now im
perative for the United States to
transform a reasonable measure of
(See DEFENSE, Page ATiT)
GM Home Appliances
Reduced 5 Per Cent
By the Associated Pross
DETROIT, May 8.—A five per
cent price reduction on household
| appliances was announced by Gen
eral Motors Corp. today.
General Motors said the same price
cut would apply to small electric
motors used in such appliances.
The appliances includes refriger
ators, ranges, ironers, clothes dry
ers ahd water heaters, and auto
Imatic washing machines. 7
May Slaying Suspect
Held in Colorado on
'Red Hot Evidence'
Police Hunting Another
Named by Youth as Killer
Of Alexandria Couple
Hope appeared last night for
an early solution of the slay
ing of Robert Lee May II. scion
of a wealthy Alexandria family,
and his bride, Betty, who were
shot to death last August near
Omaha, Nebr.
Ted Richling, deputy county at
torney of Douglas County, Nebr.,
said he was working on "red-hot
evidence” obtained during the ques
tioning of a youth being held in
Colorado on a forgery charge.
Mr. Richling said the youth, who
is 19, told him and other Nebraska
authorities "some things about the
murder that have been our top
secrets and have never been maue
known.”
Boy Denies Shooting.
The prosecutor told The Star that
the boy staunchly dented shooting
Mr. and Mrs. May and named an
other person as the slayer, but Mr.
| Richling added that the youth was
! the first in this case who has caused
a lie detector to react.
"The r.eedles nearly jumped on
1 the machine” when he was ques
j tloned, the attorney said.
I Mr. Richling disclosed that police
in several Midwestern States are "on
; the trail” ol the person accused by
'the youth and also a third person
wanted as a material witness.
“When we find them,” he said,
j "we should be able to clear up some
: questions. If these two persons say
wnat we think they will, we believe
the boy in Colorado will crack.”
Buried Package Hunted.
Mr. Richling said further that in
formation obtained from the Colo
rado suspect had prompted a search
for a buried package believed to
| i See MAY, Page A-15.)
House Group Stirred j
By Mystery Document
Attacking Labor Bills
Report was Prepared
'Outside Committee/
'Investigator Says
A “confidential committee
print” attacking employment |
anti - discrimination bills, the
wage-hour law and proposed
equal - pay - for-equal-work has!
stirred up a battle in a House:
Labor 'Subcommittee, it was
learned last night.
The origin of the critical com-'
ments in the hitherto unpublicized
31-page document was a mystery.
Subcommittee Chairman McCon- j
nell said he did not agree wifh much'
of its charge that FEPC bills, the
Fair Labor Standards Act, and other
legislation concerning employer
employe relationships held grave
dangers of Federal encroachment
and control.
Mr. McConnell explained he did
not khow who wrote it. He said
that "when it came to my desk sev
ers! weeks ago I decided to send it
to various organizations, such as the
CIO, AFL, National Association of
Manufacturers and United States
Chamber of commerce for their com
ments;” The CIO has replied but
William Green, AFL president, has
refused thus far, Mr. McConnell
said.
Comments Awaited.
When all the returns are in, Mr.
McConnell announced, he will pre
sent what he hopes will be a “bal
anced'’ array of suggestions to his
subcommittee.
Several subcommittee members in
! eluding Democratic Representatives
Klein of New York and Madden of
Indiana have protested vehemently,
lit was learned. They reportedly ob
I ject not only* to the contents of the
i document but also to the way they
said it was prepared without identi
fication of authorship, and given a
limited circulation as a “confidential
(See LABOR, Page A-3.7
Murphy Rejects Plan
On Fireman Rotation
Fire Chief Clement Murphy has
turned down a Fire Department
i personnel rotation plan proposed by
a committee of his critics.
The committee, appointed by
Chief Murphy in February after his
acquittal on“demoralization”charges
by a special civilian trial board,
recommended transfer of firemen
to a new battalion each year for
their first six years with final as
signment to a permanent station
of their own choice.
This proposal Chief Murphy re
jected as unsatisfactory, declaring
it would not solve the department’s
ineed for additional training in the
i higher ranks.
“It doesn’t provide for officers or
prospective officers who have not
had enough experience,” he said.
“I’ll not approve a thing like that.”
The chief’s own personnel rota
tion program was a principal issue
in the January investigation into
his administration.
Lavish Program to Accompany
Congressional Baseball Classic
Democratic and Republican base
ball teams will not put on the whole
show at Griffith Stadium May 21
when they collide in their annual
classic, officials in charge empha
sized last night. A program rating
"lavish” in Hollywood terms is be
ing arranged for the evening, com
plete with bands, stunts and mili
tary units.
The only uncertainty is the
weather and the law-makers have
threatened to legislate the weather
man out of business if he doesn't
come up with a clear, comfortable
night. It will be the first time the
congressional rivals have met under
lights and a good turnout is ex
p€Ct€d.
Sponsored by The Evening Star
for the benefit of a summer camp
for underprivileged children, the
program shapes up as one of the
city’s early outdoor extravaganzas.
A salute to the States will launch
the evening's activities. This will
be one of the most colorful items
listed. The Army band. Naval Gun!
Factory ceremonial ban ^ the Marinei
band and Air Force band, accom
panied by units from each branch
of the service, will parade on the
field.
After them will come a bagpipe
band, leading the American Legion
Tsee BALL GAMET Page A-15.)
Tickets for Ball Game
On Sale in Star Lobby
Tickets for the Congressional
baseball game at Griffith Sta
dium May 21 can be purchased
in tiie lobby of The Evening
9tar Building.
The scale of prices is tl for
general admission, $1.25 for re
served seats and $2 for box
seats, tax included.
Those desiring to make res
ervations by mail should send
checks made out to The Eve
ning Star and address them to
Congressional Ball Game, Room
724. The Evening Star Building.
Home Rule Bill
Faces Battle to
Avert Filibuster
Procedural Contest
Expected Tomorrow
In House Committee
By Don S. Warren
A hot fight is expected tomor
row before the House Rules
Committee on the Auchincloss
bill for an elected and reorgan
ized District Government.
Both sponsors and opponents of
the charter bill are prepared for a
battle otfer a request of leaders of
the District Committee for a special
rule for House consideration to keep
it from being filibustered to death
on the House floor.
Authors of the measure were con
fident they would get a green light
from the Rules Committee, on the
ground that the House should have
a real chance to vote on the home
rule issue. Opponents, however,
served notice they would fight the
bill at every step.
Joint Hearings Set on Sales Tax.
Another major District issue
additional taxes to meet an impend
ing big revenue deficit—comes up
for joint House-Senate Hearings
Wednesday and Thursday on the
proposed adoption of a 2 per cent
sales levy. m
This also is expected to stir up a
contest, although increasing num
bers of members of Congress have
voiced acceptance of the sales tax
as the only adequate and practical
means of raising the extra millions
needed.
Representative Sabath, Democrat,
of Illinois, ranking minority mem
ber of the House Rules Committee,
yesterday promised to support the
move for a reasonable limit on
House debate on the charter meas
ure.
“A Lot of People Are Afraid.”
“I think the members of the
House should have a chance to vote
on the bill,” he said. Mr. Sabath
said he was not familiar with all the
provisions of the measure and had
been advised that "a lot of people
are afraid of it.” But he concluded
the House should have its chance
to decide.
The home rule plan will be sup
ported by a number of District com
i mitteemen, including Chairman
iDirksen, Chairman Auchincloss of
the Home Rule subcommittee and
Representative Allen, Republican, of
; California, one of its authors.
Representative McMillan, Demo
i crat, of South Carolina, former
! chairman of the District group, is
expected to lead the opposition.
While House rules are much more
rigid than those of the Senate, as to
dedating time, it is possible to talk
a bill to death on District days since
each member recognized may spak
for an hour—unless a special rule is
adopted. ’
Limit on Debate Sought.
Under the procedure requested
! of the Rules Committee, general
: debate in the House would be limited
! to one or two hours each for sup
1 porters and opponents. This would
be followed by a reading of the bill
for amendments, with five minutes
allowed for each member proposing
or opposing a suggested change.
Under the plan, also, points of
i order would be waived to prevent
disastrous delays from moves to
rewrite and expand the report on
1 the home rule bill to include long
sections of existing laws that are
mentioned in the charter bill.
Representative Bates, Republican,
of Massachusetts, chairman of the
fiscal subcommittee of the District
Committee, came out last night in
favor of creation of a joint District
Committe of Congress to take
charge of all city legislation, revenue
and budget matters.
This is one of the proposals of
the charter plan for limited home
rule. Mr. Bates said he was having
a separate bill drawn up for this
objective and would push for its
enactment should Congress fail to
! pass the charter bill at this session,
j "As it is now,” Mr. Bates said,
| “general city legislation is consid
jered by the House and Senate Dis
j ( See DrC LEGISLATION, PTa-5.)
Secretary Anderson
To Quit Tomorrow
By tht Associated Press
Secretary of Agriculture Anderson
has resigned, effective after tomor
row.
! The formal resignation, it was
(learned yesterday, was submitted to
President Truman by Mr. Anderson
at the cabinet meeting Friday. Mr.
; Truman has not officially accepted
i it yet and has not designated a
1 successor.
| Mr. Anderson plans to return to
New Mexico, where he is seeking
the Democratic nomination for the
Senate to succeed Senator Hatch,
Democrat, of New Mexico, who is
retiring.
Mr. Trurpan was asked at his
Thursday news conference about a
successor to Secretary Anderson,
i who previously had made known his
Intentions to leave the agriculture
post. The President said he was
not yet ready to announce his choice.
Frequently mentioned have been
Undersecretary of Agriculture Nor
ris E. Dodd, Assistant Secretary
Charles Brannan, Representative
Flannagan, Democrat, of Virginia,
former chairman of the House Agri
culture Committee, and Senator
Hatch. The name of Carl Vrooman
of Bloomington, 111., who was Assis
tant Secretary of Agriculture, from
; 1914-1919, also has been suggested.
Mr. Dodd recently was named di
rector general of the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization.
He has postponed taking that post,
having notified the FAO that he
was needed at the Agriculture De
jpartment until the current legisla
! tive program is concluded.
Unless there are developrrtents to
keep him in Washington, Mr. Ander
son plans to leave tomorrow night
or Tuesday for Chicago, enroute to
New Mexico. He is scheduled to
speak in Chicago Tue^ay night.