Evening star. [volume], June 15, 1948, Image 1

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

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—jan^iA'MTrtSfirfJirTcnr- ____ An A-*.** n^p.,
I 96th Year. No. 167. Phone NA. 5000. ★*♦ WASHINGTON, P. 0., TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1948—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. 5 CENTS
f Sharp Exchange
i Opens Debate on
I Draft in House
Y Leaders Abandon Plan
^ For Passage Today;
Tomorrow Now Goal
By Robert K. Walsh
House debate on the draft bill
opened today with a stormy ex
change in which opponents at
tacked it as contrary to the
‘ democratic way” and advocates
warned that ‘ liberty throughout
the world may very well fail”
unless Congress passes this pre
paredness measure.
House leaders gave up hope of
passing the bill by nightfall and
aimed for passage tomorrow instead.:
House Majority Leader Halleck
told newsmen “this bill is too im
portant and too far-reaching to be
rammed through in one day.”
Will Meet Early Tomorrow.
Mr. Halleck said he will ask the
, House to meet early tomorrow so the
bill can be disposed of then and sent
to conference.
Backers of the bill predicted that
the House would approve legislation
in a form similar to the draft meas- j
ure voted 78 to 10 by the Senate last
Thursday. Opponents were armed
with more than 40 proposed amend
ments.
In the opening hour of debate
on a proposed open rule for three
hours of general debate on the
bill. Chairman Allen of the Rules
Committee announced he would
ask for a roll call vote on the bill j
but not on the rule. The Rules'
Committee yesterday, by a 6-to-4,
vote, cleared the bill for House con-'
sideration.
Allen Criticizes Bill.
Mr. Allen, urging the House to:
defeat the draft bill, said he was;
certain that a vast majority of the
members, after hearing the debate
today, "will be convinced that it is
not a good bill.”
Mr. Allen concluded by saying
♦ hat the draft proposal is opposed
by a majority of the American peo
ple as well as by school, church,
labor, farm and most patriotic or
ganizations. Its main support, he
added, comes from “a few interna
tional newspapers, a few American
Legion officials and the armed
services.” *
Representative Wadsworth, Re
publican, of New York, author of
i he wartime selective service law,
led the fight for adoption of the
rule and passage of the bill.
Citing the close margin by which
the bill cleared the Rules Commit
tee. Mr. Wadsworth said there
would have been no Justification for
that committee to deny the House
a chance to vote on the bill.
“The issue is to vital to be
dodged,” he continued. “The bill is
too important to be burled.
Responsible for Defense.
“We are too prone after a war
Is over to denounce our military
authorities. Today there are en
tirely too many expressions of lack
of confidence In them. Only a short i
time ago they were great heroes.
Never once In all my years here;
have I met any one of them who
wanted war. They, however, are
the ones charged directly with the
responsibility for defending this
country. Their suggestions should
not be idly brushed aside.”
Representative cox. Democrat, or
Georgia urged passage of the bill
to prevent ‘ sabotage of the defense
program on which we already are
spending billions."
Representative Barden, Demo
crat, of North Carolina attacked
the bill as being undemocratic,
against the best interests of society, |
unable to provide adequate defense^
a method of regimentation, and a
detriment to the educational sys-,
tern of the country.
The bill before the House was in- ■
troduced by Chairman Andrews of
the House Armed Services Com- j
mittee. The Senate bill was spon
sored by Senator Gurney, Republi
can. of South Dakota, chairman of
the Senate Armed Services Com
mittee, and originally had a pro
vision for universal military train
ing.
Expected House passage would
send the legislation to conference.
The House and Senate conferees
would have to decide, among other
things, whether to accept the Sen
ate provision for voluntary enlist
ment of 18-year-old youths for one
year of training.
Difference in Effective Date.
Another difference is that the
House version at present requires
the President to wait 75 days be
fore ordering the draft machinery
into operation by a formal procla-l
mation. The draft law would take
effect immediately under the Sen-:
ate bill.
In any event, it is believed un
likely that inductions would start
before 60 days, and probably not
until 90 days, after enactment of
the law. Military officials have esti
mated that about 250,000 men would
be drafted in the first year.
In related national defense legis
lative moves the Senate Appropri
ations Committee yesterday ap
proved a House bill allowing the
Navy to build a 65,000-ton aircraft
canier.
The carrier would be the largest
combat vessel ever built. Funds for
a start on the project would be made
i See^}EFENSErPageA-47)
Miss Hennock Approved j
For FCC by Senators
Sy the Associated Press
The Senate Commerce Committee
today recommended confirmation of
Miss Frieda B. Hennock, New York
attorney, as a member of the Fed
eral Communications Commission.
If confirmed by the Senate, she
will become the first woman ever to
serve on the seven-member commis
sion that regulates radio, television
and other forms of communication.
Chairman White said the vote
was "seven for and one voting
present.” but he refused to make
names public.
Miss Hennock was nominated for
a seven-year term to begin July 1.
«
Republican Leaders Brush Off
Truman's Call for Legislation
A _
Taft and Halleck
Firm in Plans for
Congress to Quit
By the Associated Press
President Truman’s demand
that Congress stay in session to
enact a controversy-laden eight
point program got a brisk brush
off from Republican leaders
today. They held firm to their
plans to close up shop on Sat
urday.
"Nothing new," snapped Senator
Taft of Ohio after looking over the
list of "very serious situations” the
President outlined in a Los Angeles
address. The list included:
Price control, housing, health in
surance, aid to education, social
security expansion, labor welfare, a
long-range farm program and wrater
resources developments. •
"I think when we get through
here the people will be well satis
fied with the record of constructive
legislation,” said Senator Taft,
chairman of the Senate Republican
Policy Committee and a candidate
for his party's presidential nomina
tion.
House Majority Leader Hallack
said the President “still demands
bureaucratic price controls and ra
tioning—those twin destroyers of
production."
He added that Congress is licking
the problem of high prices by steps
to boost production and by outting
Government costs and taxes.
But while thumbs are definitely
(SeeCONGRESS, Page A-3.»
I
James Roosevelt
Says President's
Tour Was Help
By Joseph A. Fox
Star Staff Corraspendcnt
ABOARD PRESIDENT TRU
MAN’S SPECIAL TRAIN, June
15.—The Truman safari turned
eastward today, after the Presi-J
dent’s three-day visit in Cali
fornia had “very definitely”
aided the Democratic cause, ac
cording to State Chairman James
Roosevelt.
The son of the late President ex
pressed his views, following a visit
with Mr. Truman in Los Angeles.
The Chief Executive was greeted
there yesterday by a crowd which
police estimated at 750,000 to 1,
000,000. They heard him make a
fighting speech, lashing anew at the i
Republicans for failing to do some
thing about price control and other
domestic legislation he has urged.
The Democratic chairman, who is
reported to be cool to the Truman
candidacy, was emphatic when asked
if he thought Mr. Truman had ac
complished anything by coming into
the State where the Democrats are
having factional differences.
“Very definitely he did some good
by coming out,” he said. “He hit
I the Republicans where it hurt.”
Mr. Roosevelt brought about 40
national convention delegates to Mr.
! Truman’s suite in the Ambassador;
Hotel for a handshake and later
ISee TRUMAN~Page”"A-37) :
G. 0. P. Bill Extending
Trade Act One Year
Sent to White House
Senate Amendments
Accepted by House
In Final Passage
By the Associated Press
Congress passed and sent to
the White House today a Repub
lican-sponsored bill extending
the Reciprocal Trade Agree
ments Act for one year with
some changes in its provisions.
The House completed congres
sional action, passing the tariff bill
by voice vote after accepting
amendments lacked on by the Sen
ate in adopting the measure yester
day.
In approving a one-year exten
sion and changing provisions of the
act, the Republican-dominated
Congress again disregarded recom
mendations of President Truman.
The administration had asked for
a three-year extension of the re
ciprocal trade measure without
changes. Unless Mr. Truman should
veto the GOP-sponsored bill, it will
revive the Trade Agreements Act
which expired last Saturday mid
night.
New Authority to FTC.
Urging renewal of the act on “as
is" basis. Secretary of State Marshall
had told Congress any other action
would cripple America's global eco
nomic leadership.
The Republican-backed bill gives
new authority to the Federal Tariff
Commission to recommend “peril
points" beyond which the commis
sion feels the President should not
go in making agreements. The
commission would have to make
such reports within four months
after it is called on to do so.
The President could disregard
these recommendations, but would
have to tell Congress why he did
so within 30 days.
A provision in the original House
bill giving Congress “veto power”
over agreements when the Presi
dent overrode Tariff Commission
recommendations was stricken from
the bill by the Senate. The House
accepted that action.
Democrats fought to the last in an
effort to get an extension of the
bill without changes.
Senate Republicans rammed their
bill through late yesterday, 70 to 18.
But the 23 Democrats who went
along with GOP members did so
only after the Senate had batted
down three motions by Senator
Barkley of Kentucky, the minority
leader, to continue to act without
change.
On practically party line votes, the
Republicans defeated a three-year
extension attempt, ,48 to 41, two
years, 47 to 42, and one year 46
to 43.
On final passage. Senator Cooper
of Kentucky was the only Republican
to line up with 17 Democrats who
voted against the GOP-backed bill.
The vote came after Senator Van
denberg. Republican, of Michigan
who helped fashion ‘ the measure,
sharply criticized the State Depart
<See TARIFF." Page A^4.)
U. N. Planes, Supplied
By U. S., Patrolling
Coast of Palestine
Ships Taking Immigrants
And Supplies Checked
Before Arrival
BULLETIN
CAIRO W.—Count Folke
Bernadotte said today that
United Nations planes, sup
plied by the United States, are
patrolling the Palestine coast
to check ships arriving with
immigrants and supplies.
By the Associated Press
CAIRO, June 15.—The Arab
countries, political delegates and
army chiefs of staff met here to
day. Arab League Secretary
General Abdel Rahman Azzam
Pasha said their purpose was an
“exploratory discussion of the
Palestine problem.’’
Count Folke Bernadotte, United
Nations mediator, returned from
Rhodes to Cairo by air today. He
plans to meet with the Arab lead
ers here and then go to Tel Aviv
-Thursday to confer with Jewish
authorities before returning to his
Rhodes headquarters.
The Holy Land continued mostly
quiet on the fifth day of a truce ar
ranged by Count Bernadotte to
pave the way for negotiation
toward lasting peace there.
Bernadotte Reply Awaited.
The Arab League political and
military committees met together
for five minutes and then the mil
itary leaders withdrew to a sepa
rate meeting. ,
Before the joint session the sec
retary general told reporters the
Political Committee was waiting for
-Count Bernadotte s reply to Arab
charges of Jewish truce violations,
j He said the mediator has not pro
posed formally to the Arabs any
roundtable Arab-Jewish conference,
-though he may have made verbal
'hints to some representatives. He
-would not forecast Arab acceptance
-or rejection of any such proposal,
Dr. Ralph Bunche, Count Berna
dette's assistant on Rhodes, side
- stepped a yes-or-no answer whether
a roundtable meeting was thought
possible. But he asked:
“What difference does it make
how the talks are conducted if they
end in peace?”
Seven Infractions Charged.
A mediation staff man on Rhodes
said last night neither side reported
any truce breaking yesterday. He
remarked, “This was the first day
we have heard nothing since the
truce began.”
Later, however, the Egyptian Mail.
Cairo newspaper, quoted Premier
Mahmoud Fahmy Nokrashy Pasha
as saying he had sent the. mediator
a note accusing the Jews of seven
infractions in Southern Palestine.
Palace officials in Amman, Trans
jordan, said last night that King
Abdullah has invited King Ibn Saud
of Saudi Arabia to pay him a state
call.
They said the invitation grew out
of an exchange of messages in
(See PALESTINE, Page A-4.)
Polk's Widow and 2 Newsmen
Kept in Greece, Griswold Says
By the Associated Brest
ATHENS. June 15.—Dwight P.
Griswold said today a Greek order
prohibits two newsmen and the
widow of George Polk, slain Colum
bia Broadcasting System reporter,
from leaving this country.
Mr. Griswold, chief of the Amer
ican aid mission in Greece, said the
order was issued by the Minister
of Public Order, Constantine Rentis,
so the group could be questioned
further in the case. However, Press
Minister Michael Alianos declared
"absolutely no such order has been
issued."
The three ailected. Mr. Griswold
said, are Stephen Barber of the
London News Chronicle, Constan
tine Argyris of the Greek newspa
per Vima. who is a correspondent
for the Christian Science Monitor,
and the widow, 20-year-old Mrs.
Rhea Polk.
The body of Mr. Polk, trussed
up and with a bullet wound in the
head, was found floating in Salonika
i
Bay a month ago. Mr. Polk. 34, and
a former Navy pilot, disappeared
i May 9 after telling friends he hoped
to make a trip to interview Markos
Vafiades, the Greek guerilla chief
tain.
Mrs. Polk and Mr. Argyris have
been questioned several times in the
case. Mr. Barber was interrogated
for the first time this morning.
Mr. Barber said he first learned
of g restriction when he was seeing
his mother off to Paris at the air
port last night. He said his mother
was delayed for some minutes by
security police when her name be
came known.
One officer had a card index file
with the name ‘ Stephen Barber” on
it. The correspondent, who was not
known to the police, asked what
this meant. He said the reply was:
“These people cannot leave i
Greece."
Mr. Griswold Investigated and said
the order had been sent by police to
all debarkation points. 1
I
Russia Agrees
To U. S. Idea of
Danube Talks
Note Urges Shipping
Be Discussed at Site
Other Than Belgrade
By Garnett D. Horner
Russia has agreed to an Amer
ican proposal for convening an
international conference July 30
to consider free navigation rules
for the Danube River, the State
Department disclosed today.
A note received from the Soviet
Embassy yesterday concurred in the
proposal, but suggested that the
conference be held in some city
other than Belgrade, Yugoslavia,
where the United States suggested
it be held.
The Russians also agreed to an
■American suggestion that Austria
be invited to send representatives to
the conference in a consultative
capacity, but rejected full partici
pation for Austria.
Held Up by Details.
This represents the first major
action toward settlement of pending
problems between Russia and the
western powers since the recent ex
change between American Ambas
sador Walter Bedell Smith and So
viet Minister Molotov.
At that time Mr. Molotov seized
on a remark by Gen. Smith that the
door is alwaj's ODen for discussion
and settlement of differences 'in a
way that raised hopes for full-dress
discussions that were quickly dashed
by the State Department. Ameri
can officials emphasized that prob
lems causing world tension could be
setted through existing machinery
whenever the Russians were ready
to act.
The Big Four—the United States.
Great Britain, Russia and France
agreed in December, 1946, to call a
conference to work out a new con
vention regarding navigation of the
Danube within six months of the
coming into force of the Balkan
peace treaties.
These treaties became effective
last September 15, but calling of the
conference had been delayed by dis
agreement over details such as Aus
trian participation.
Belgrade First Urged by Reds.
The last American proposal was
sent on May 25 to the Russian,
British and French governments.
It suggested that the conference be
called for July 30 in Belgrade—a
site previously suggested by the
Russians.
The Russian reply disclosed by
the State Department today said,
however, that the Yugoslav govern
K (See DANUBE. Page A-4.)
Reds Detour Traffic
I \
On Road From Berlin
By th« Associated Press
BERLIN, June 15.—The Russians
halted motor traffic between Berlin
and the west for a while today and
also stopped 140 carloads of coal
inbound from the British zone.
Late in the day, the Soviets be
gan rerouting motor traffic be
tween Berlin and Western Germany
to by-pass a bridge across the Elbe
River, which they said was closed
for repairs.
The bridge Is on the stretch of the
super-highway from Berlin to
Helmstedt. the only motor road Into
and from Berlin for the United
State, Britain and France. Berlin
lies deep In the Russian occupation
zon^.
Americans who made the trip to
day said a six-mile detour with ferry
service had been arranged.
British officials said the Russians
in 48 hours have stopped 140 car
loads of coal routed to Berlin,
asserting the cars were defective.
A Soviet survey team checked the
coal cars. The British said the
Russians halted many because they
had not been inspected within the
prescribed Deriod. Otherwise, rail
road freignt traffic is proceeding
regularly.
Bulletins
Operators Quit Coal Talks
Soft coal operators today
broke up negotiations with
John L. Lewis for a new con
• tract, saying that it was im
possible to make an agreement
with the United Mine Workers
at this time. The operator
negotiators walked out of the
conference about 15 minutes
after contract talks started to
day. They accused Mr. Lewis
of refusing to discuss the new
contract until the old issues,
involving pensions and welfare
benefits, had been settled to
his satisfaction.
(Earlier Story on. Page A-5.)
Explosion in Northeast
An underground explosion,
believed by police to have been
caused by a short circuit in
electric wiring under the
street, sent manhote covers
along Benning road N.E. flying
through the air this afternoon.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing
flames shooting for a moment
from the open manholes, fol
lowed by smoke. At Seven
teenth street and Benning
road, witnesses reported hear
ing an explosion and then see
ing a cloud of black smoke
rising 50 feet in the air. Cars
attempting to get away from
the smoke reportedly backed
into each other.
Reds Agree to Danube Talk
Soviet Russia has accepted
an American proposal to hold
a 10-nation conference July 30
to arrange for free interna
tional navigation on the Dan
ube River, the State Depart
ment disclosed today. 1
a
i
ilF^OF COURSE ^
¥ AGREE WITH YOU-1
M IT'S THE PEST IDEA I
IN THE WHOLE STACK!
, [_THAT’S WHY I ,
m PUT IT ON TOP! 4
One Good Answer to the Vacation Problem
Jury Resumes Probe
Of Gambling, Hears
Numbers Witnesses
Persons Questioned Are
Believed to Include
5 Awaiting Sentence
By Chris Mathisen
The special grand jury investi
gating gambling here resumed
its sessions today with a pro
cession of witnesses understood
to have had numbers game con
nections.
None of the six persons heard
during the morning would give re
porters full identification, but it was
believed five of them were five de
fendants awaiting sentencing on
numbers game charges after hav
ing pleaded guilty.
One of the witnesses said, In reply
to a question, that he had been
asked about policemen with whom
he was acquainted.
Sentences of Five Delayed.
The five persons whose sntences
have been held In abeyance pend
ing investigation by the probation
officer are Theodore A. Dorsey, 26.
; of the 2600 block of Georgia avenue
|N.W.; Burnie O. Love, 37, of the
1200 block of Eastern avenue N.E.:
Conway Chappelle, 41, of the 3700
block of Foote place N.E.: Mattie
Thomas, 36. first block of N street
N.E., and Edna Harris, 32, of the
1000 block of Lamont street N.W.
Ail are colored.
They pleaded guilty to numbers
game charges June 1 before Justice
Alexander HoltzofT of District Court .
Five of the witnesses heard this
morning were told to return during
the afternoon. The sixth, a young
colored woman, was not known to
have been Instructed.
Meanwhile, among others waiting
to be heard was Mrs. Erma Eliza
beth Green. 36, colored, of the 1100
block of Sixth street N.E., who has
said she formerly was a numbers
writer.
Wounded In Altercation.
Mrs. Green appeared despite
wounds she said she received early
yesterday in an altercation with an
other woman, also colored, near her
home. She said the woman, known
to her, attacked her with a beer can
openfer, inflicting cuts on her legs
and body, which were treated, at
Gallinger Hospital.
Mrs. Green has told police she
(See GAMBLING, Page A-47)
Dockworkers Strike
In 'Dirty Cargo' Dispute
By the Associated Press
LONDON. June 15.—About 3.600
dockworkers are idle and 33 ships
are tied up by an unofficial strike in
the port of London in an argument
over payment >to longshoremen for
getting their clothes dirty.
The walkout began yesterday in
protest against penalties assessed by
the National Dock Labor Board
against 11 men who refused to han
dle a cargo of zinc oxide unless paid
extra. The men said the chemical
was "dirty cargo."
Senate Committee Backs Raise
For Police, Firemen, Teachers
Flat $200 Increase Voted for All Categories,
But Boost May Be Changed in Conference
BILL TO ALLOW MENTAL pa
tients to go direct to St. Eliza
beths Hospital approved. Page B-l
By Don S. Worren
The Senate District Commit
tee, clearing its calendar for this
session, today reported cost-of
living pay raise bills for Wash
ington police, firemen and school
teachers and disposed of many
other measures.
The committee cut the police and
firemen’s bill from $500 to $200. the
same figure now set for the teachers’
pay raise. |
The pay bills will go to the Sen-!
ate calendar, but will be subject to
possible changes there depending
in part on what decision Congress
makes on pay raises for classified
Federal and District employes.
As reported by the Senate Oom
| mittee, the bill for a temporary pay
I increase for school teachers was
placed at $200, the same as passed
' by the House, but Senator Cain,
! Republican, of Washington, in
charge of the pay measures, said
the figure might be changed on the
Senate floor.
The House pay bill for police and
firemen, which applies to the United
States Park Police and the White
House police as well as for the Met
ropolitan Police, called for a $500
raise but the Senate Committe cut
this to $200 in order to permit a
later adjustment with the House.
Also reported favorably was the
House bill to correct several in
equities in the teacher pay act of
1947. This was left in the same
form as passed by the House.
Pension Increase Reported.
In another action the committee
favorably reported the House-passed
bill to increase pensions for widows
and orphans of District police and
firemen. Senator Dworshak, Re
publican, of Idaho, reminded the
I committee it was estimated the
measure would place an additional
cost on the District of a net of
$155,000 a year even though the^e
(See PTC. LEGISLATION, Pg. A-6.)
House Unit Criticizes
State Department and
NBC on Broadcasts
Calls Officials Negligent,
Says Network Failed
To Use Ordinary Care
By the Associated Press
A congressional committee
said today that ‘ unfortunate’’
broadcasts went out on the Voice
of America because the State
Department was “negligent” and
the National Broadcasting Co.
failed to use “ordinary safe
guards.
These conclusions were reported
by a House Expenditures Subcom
mittee which investigated the “Know
North Americk” series broadcast by
NBC under contract with the State
Department.
A storm arose in Congress last
month when Senator Capehart, Re
publican. of Indiana read to the
Senate transcripts of some of the
broadcasts. They contained »uch
statements as “New England was
founded by hypocrisy and Texas
by sin.”
Both Senate and House investi
gations were begun.
They developed that most of the
scripts were prepared by Rene Bor
gia, a native of Venezuela. Mr.
Borgia testified that he had not
liked "cheap comedy” in the scripts,
but that it was ordered by his su
periors.
The House group, headed by Rep
resentative Chenoweth, Republican.
(See VOICE, Page A-4)
-1
Your Gift—Their Camping
Mother Dreads Telling Four
Their Hope for Camp Is Gone
The mother’s eyes were red
rimmed but she kept on sewing.
The father rested his crippled
hand on the table and bent over
his figures.
“We can't do it,” he said, fin
ally. "There isn’t enough.”
"Not even with your new job,
Harry?”
He shook his head.
In the double-decker bed in the
next room, the children who were
supposed to be asleep were
whispering to each other.
“I’m going to learn how to
tumble,” Jerry told his brother.
“You know, standing on my
hands and flipping like this.”
He bounced on the top bunk.
Tom, his brother, gave the
younger boy a scornful look.
“All you think about is tum
bling and baseball. I’m going to
draw. But 111 make a picture of
you standing on your head to
show ma and pa.”
In the lower bunk, Janet was
whispering to her sister.
"They say everybody has their
A
own bed. And they have chicken
and French fried potatoes every
Sunday.”
Janet remembered belatedly
that her sister was too young to
go to camp.
“Ill tell you all about it when I
get back,” she added kindly.
The father put his papers away.
“Next year, maybe we’ll have
enough to send them,” he told his
wife.
She nodded. She thought of
the operation he had gone
through so no one could say he
was handicapped when he tried
to get a job. She thought of all
the sewing she had done in the
bad times to help put the family
on its feet. She thought of the
errands the children had run to
earn the dime* and quarters that
meant food when their father
was in the hoapital.
"We’ve all tried,” she thought.
“Next year, well make it.”
But she dreaded telling the i
(See CAMPING. Page A~-4J
Oleo Fight Is Revived
In Senate With Slim
Chance for Passage
Fulbright to Offer Repeal
Measure as Amendment
To Long-Range Farm Bill
The Oleomargarine tax repeal
battle broke out on the Senate
floor today, but the chances for
passage of the House-approved
bill before Congress quits still
are slim.
Margarine backers won a 57-to
26 vote to consider the bill during a
call of the Senate calendar. But
under Senate rules consideration
had to be completed by 1 p.m.
Senator Wiley, Republican, of Wis
consin. a long-time foe of tax re
peal, blocked any action by a half
hour filibuster lasting until 1 p.m.
However, Senator Fullbright,
Democrat, of Arkansas, chief mar
garine backer In the Senate, an
nounced that he Intends to offer
the tax repeal measure as an
amendment to the long-range farm
bill, due to be taken up later today.
Encouraged by Roll Call.
The senator was encouraged by
the roll call which showed a clear
majority of the Senate as favoring
consideration of tax repeal, if not
approval of it. Margaring backers
always have claimed they could win
a vote If one can be had and is not
blockad by a dairy-butter filibuster.
Senator Fulbright. however, point
ed out that even should the House
approve measure be taxed on to
the farm bill, a Republican ‘must"
measure, the conference from both
House and Senate would likely be
overwhelmingly anti-margarine.
Thus, despite approval of both
House and Senate they could throw
out the amendment. This would be
subject to a vote of both houses,
however.
Senator Wiley’s prompt filibuster,
! something he has threatened if the
bill came to the Senate floor, indi
cated the dairy-butter Senators
would not permit a vote without a
long fight. •
The farm bill would provide a
[permanent system of farm-price
support.
Speedy Passage Predicted.
Backers and foes of the measure
i predicted speedy passage. And
I Senator Aiken, Republican, of Ver
mont, floor manager of the measure,
Isaid he thinks the chances are good
the House will accept it.
The House last Saturday passed;
an 18-month extension of the pres-|
ent price support law. House farm
leaders indicated opposition to tak
ing up the long-range proposal this
late in the session. They hope to
avoid a party-line fight now on a;
topic bound to provide a major
election campaign issue.
Aiken Insists on Action.
Senator Aiken, however, told a
reporter he is going to insist that!
something more permanent be writ
ten into law.
“Failure to act_now would,
(See FARM BILL, Page A-V> i
I
U. S. Pay Raise
Is Expected to
Pass This Week
Sponsors Confident
Despite Stand by
Martin and Halleck
BULLETIN
Chairman Taft of the Senate
Republican Policy Committee
declared today that even if the
House approves only a postal
workers pay bill, the Senate will
amend the legislation to in
clude all Federal employes.
"Then we’ll send it to confer
ence and see what happens,”
Senator Taft declared.
By Joseph Young
Federal pay-raise sponsors to
day expressed confidence that
the legislation will be # approved
this week by Congres*s, despite
the statement by Speaker Martin
and House Majority Leader Hal
leck that they have not yet given
their approval to the bill.
The pay raise situation was
thrown into sudden confusion this
morning when Speaker Martin and
Mr. Halleck denied that the House
Steering Committee had given the
green light to the Government pay
0111.
Late yesterday new pay raise
legislation had been introduced by
Chairman Rees of the House Civil
Service Committee, who said he
was doing it with the approval of
the House leadership.
Rules Committee to Act.
Chairman Allen of the House
Rules Committee announced his
group would consider the legislation
this afternoon and give it the right
of way for House action.
When informed of the latest de
velopment, Mr. Rees said he was
confident that pay raises for all
Government employes would be ap
proved by Congress by the end of
the week, notwithstanding the
statement of Mr. Martin and Mr.
Halleck.
"There's no need to worry," Mr.
Rees declared. "This bill will be
approved.”
Mr. Rees is knowm as a staunch
party man and always has worked
closely with the Republican leader
ship. For this reason, observers be
lieve it extremely unlikely that ha
would have proceeded with nU pay
raise legislation without the ap
proval of the leadership.
■ Understanding Indicated. ,
Although Mr. Rees would not say
so specifically, he Indicated that ha
has reached an understanding with
the House Republican leadership re
garding the bill.
Meanwhile, the Rules Committee
[planned to meet as scheduled later
this afternoon and approve the $450
permanent pay raise for postal
workers and the *360 temporary
wage increase for the rest of the
Government's employes. The *360
bill would Ire effective only until
June 30, 1949.
In their statement today. Mr.
Martin and Mr. Halleck said the
Steering Committee might meet to
morrow to discuss the pay situation.
They said that postal pay raises
had been given clearance, but not
the general pay bill.
It's no secret that Mr. Martin and
Mr. Halleck were dead set against
the pay boosts for nonpostal Fed
eral employes.
But the vast majority of House
members, Republicans and Demo
crats alike, favor the raises. They
Were impressed by the arguments
of Federal employes and their union
representatives that the sharp rise
in living costs necessitates a pay
boost.
Called Discrimination,
i And these members were angered
by reports that postal workers might
be given pay raises, with the rest
of the Federal workers being left
[out in the cold. Many of them
i informed the leadership they
wouldn't ‘ stomach such goings-on.”
They called it "rank discrimina
tion" and had even stronger terms
for It.
Meanwhile, the pressure con
tinued to increase on the members
[ of the House Rules Commitee, which
i had bottled up the bill for more
(than two months on the orders of
jthe House leadership. Individual
members of Congress protested the
[stalling tactics. In addition, Gov
ernment employes and their friends
bombarded the committee with let
ters and telegrams demanding ac
tion.
Chairman Allen, who always has
1 been friendly to Government em
ployes’ legislation, had been in favor
[ of pay raise legislation. But, being
a good party man, he had agreed to
hold up action on the bills.
Finally, Mr. Allen decided that,
in simple justice, action should be
taken. Members of the Rules Com
mittee were irked that they had
become the "goats” of the situa
tion, and they met with the leader
ship to seek Immediate action.
Finally, the leadership In
structed Chairman Rees of the
House Civil Service Committee to
introduce pay raises of *450 for
postal workers and *360 for the
others. Mr. Rees Introduced the
measures yesterday afternoon.
Incidentally, Government em
ployes and their unions can take a
lot of credit for sending thousands
of letters and telegrams to key Re
publican leaders during the past
"(Continued on Page A-2, Col. 6.)
10 More U. S. Warships
Arrive in Greek Waters
By th» A>s6ciot«d Pr«i
j ATHENS, June 15.—Ten more
(American warships arrived yester
day at Suda Bay, Crete, as replace
ments for other American warship#
in Greek waters.
At present there are 24 American
warships in Greek waters, the largest
'■ concentration here since the war.
Comdr. Morton Sunderland. Amerl
c'-n Naval Attache, said 12 of the
other 14 ships would return to th#
i United States soon.
f