Tidelands: Senate continued on S. J. Res. 20, to provide for continuation of operations under certain mineral leases covering submerged lands of the Continental Shelf, to encourage the development of such leases, and to provide for the protection of the interests of the U. S. in the oil and gas deposits of said lands, adopting modified O'Mahoney amendment respecting U. S. title or interest in lands beneath navigable inland waters within boundaries of respective States. It was unanimously agreed that adoption of the O'Mahoney amendment may be reconsidered at request of any Senator on Wednesday or Thursday. Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on LaborFSA continued hearings on 1953 budget estimates for the Federal Security Agency, and received testimony with respect to these estimates from the following witnesses: Senator George, and Harry Schmid, State director of vocational education in Minnesota, who testified with regard to vocational education; Mrs. Margaret A. Coffin, representing National Board of YMCA, National Consumers League, and United Church Women, and Mrs. Ada B. Stough, the American Parents Committee, who appeared in behalf of the Children's Bureau; Robert Barnett, American Foundation for Blindness, Dr. Henry Kessler, Kessler Institute, East Orange, N. J., and Howard Benshoof, Rehabilitation Association, Des Moines, who testified with respect to vocational rehabilitation; Dr. James Perkins, National TB Association, who discussed new TB drugs; Mrs. Gertrude F. Zimond, National Child Labor Committee, who testified with respect to the Office of Education; and representatives of the American Legion and VFW, who testified regarding the Veterans Placement Service. Hearings continue tomorrow. DEFENSE PRODUCTION Committee on Banking and Currency: Committee continued hearings on S. 2594 and S. 2645, amending and extending the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, and the Housing and Rent Act of 1947, as amended, and heard testimony from the following witnesses: Representative Herlong, who discussed percentage mark-up on retail prices; Henry P. Taylor, National Canners Association, who urged price decontrol on canned products; Herschel D. Newsom, National Grange, who urged that all agricultural commodities be removed from price controls except when supply situation requires rationing; William Rhea Blake, National Cotton Council of America, who proposed various amendments; John J. Riggle, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, who urged price decontrol of all agricultural products and favored extension of section 104 (fats and oils); C. W. Kitchen, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, who urged that price controls be removed from fresh fruits and vegetables; Mark W. Pickell, Corn Belt Livestock Feeders Association, who testified with respect to the abolishing of the OPS; Paul L. Selby, National Consumer Finance Association, and Charles C. Freed, National Automobile Dealers Association, who favored repeal of regulation W; and J. A. Sargent, Manufacturing Chemists' Association, who suggested specific amendments to price and wage control provisions if Congress decides to extend the act. Hearings continue tomorrow. PREPAREDNESS REPORT Committee on Armed Services: In executive session, Preparedness Subcommittee discussed contents of its forthcoming annual report. Subcommittee recessed subject to call. EXTRADITION CONVENTION, FOREST FIRE Committee on Foreign Relations: In executive session, committee ordered reported supplementary extradition convention between U. S. and Canada, signed at Ottawa October 26, 1951 (Exec. G, 82d Cong., 2d sess.), and with amendments S. 1835, granting consent of Congress to participation by Canadian provinces in Northeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact. Committee referred to subcommittee S. 2269, to create a commission to study relations between U. S. and other NATO nations. Senator McMahon made a motion that the committee invite General Eisenhower to return to the U. S. for the purpose of testifying before the committee on extension of Mutual Security, but consideration of the motion was deferred to a later date. There were ordered favorably reported 19 nominations to Mutual Security posts, Diplomatic and Foreign Service, and UN bodies, including those of Eric A. Johnston, of Washington, to be member of Public Advisory Board, James Clement Dunn, of New York, to be Ambassador to France, Ellsworth Bunker, of New York, to be Ambassador to Italy, and Cavendish W. Cannon, of Utah, to be Ambassador to Portugal. TANKERS Committee on Government Operations: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held further hearings on the sale of overseas T-2 tankers, and heard Newbold Morris, Special Assistant to the Attorney General, explain his connections with the transactions. Subcommittee meets again tomorrow. SUN RIVER, DEATH VALLEY, UTAH LAND, HAWAII, INDIANS, AND RECLAMATION Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs: Committee, in executive session, ordered favorably reported with amendment H. R. 586, private bill; and without amendment H. R. 3144, to make certain construction cost adjustments in connection with the Greenfields division of the Sun River irrigation project, Montana, H. R. 4515, to authorize the acquisition by exchange of certain properties within Death Valley National Monument, Calif., H. R. 4798, to amend the Hawaiian Organic Act relating to qualifications of jurors, H. R. 6242, to restore certain land to Hawaii and to authorize exchange of whole or a portion of the same, H. R. 3954, conveyance of certain land to Salt Lake City by Mount Olivet Cemetery Association of Salt Lake City, H. R. 1043, to provide for medical services to non-Indians in Indian hospitals, and H. R. 3847, issuance to School District No. 28, Ronan, Mont., of a patent in fee to certain Indian land. Committee also ordered reported, pending a report from Department of Interior, S. 2610, providing that excessland provisions of Federal reclamation laws shall not apply to certain lands receiving water supply from San Luis Valley project, Colorado. TRANSPORTATION Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce: Committee continued hearings on bills relating to domestic land and water transportation, and received testimony from the following witnesses: J. Haden Alldredge, William J. Patterson, Walter M. W. Splawn, Charles D. Mahaffie, and John L. Rogers, all members of the ICC, who testified in favor of S. 2353 and S. 2354, and also favored, but with suggested amendments, S. 2355, S. 2356, S. 2357, and S. 2364. Committee continues to morrow. BANKRUPTCY (FARMER-DEBTOR), NAVY EMPLOYEES, NOMINATIONS, AND PRIVATE BILLS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee, in executive session, took the following actions: Ordered reported with amendments the McCarran-Hayden substitute to S. 25, to amend the Bankruptcy Act (farmer-debtor re lief), which would provide for farm moratoriums; and without amendment S. 2266, to authorize and validate payments of periodic pay increases for temporary indefinite employees of the Navy Department; and ordered reported favorably 28 private immigration bills (S. 171, 365, 569, 762, 779, 794, 992, 1189, 1420, 1469, 1527, 1555, 1766, 1843, 1855, 1891, 2051, 2102, 2307, 2635, 2770, H. R. 748, 899, 1416, 2283, 2775, 2833, 3668), and 2 original concurrent resolutions (S. Con. Res. 67 and 68) on deportation referral cases. Three private immigration, and two private claims bills were indefinitely postponed. Committee also ordered reported favorably the following four nominations: Harry E. Pratt to be U. S. district judge for division No. 4, District of Alaska; Clemente Luiz Nazario to be U. S. district judge for the district of Puerto Rico; William W. Hart to be U. S. attorney for the eastern district of Illinois; and Howard L. Doyle to be U. S. attorney for the southern district of Illinois. NOMINATION Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee held hearings on the nomination of Philip Neville to be U. S. attorney for the district of Minnesota, and heard favoring testimony from Senator Humphrey. Mr. Neville testified in behalf of his own nomination. MATERNITY BENEFITS FOR DEPENDENTS OF ARMED FORCES Committee on Labor and Public Welfare: Subcommittee on Health continued hearings on S. 1245, to provide maternity and infant care for wives and infants of servicemen, and S. 2337, to provide maternity and infant care for wives and infants, and hospital care for dependents of servicemen, receiving testimony from the following witnesses: Representative Bosone, who appeared in favor of title I of S. 2337; Miles J. Kennedy, director, national legislative commission, American Legion, who testified in favor of S. 1245; and Charles Slayman, director of research and legislation, AVC, who urged enactment of S. 2337. Hearings continue tomorrow. GOVERNMENT PRACTICES, MAIL WEIGHT LIMITATIONS, AND NOMINATIONS Committee on Post Office and Civil Service: Committee, in executive session, ordered favorably reported without amendment S. Res. 288, to extend authority of and provide additional funds for Committee on Post Office and Civil Service to investigate personnel needs and practices of the various governmental agencies, after receiving progress report from its Subcommittee on Federal Manpower Policies; and S. 2677, to readjust weight and size limitations for appliances for the blind sent through the mails. Committee also ordered reported favorably sundry postmaster nominations. Pages 2113, 2137-2138 Bills Reported: Reports were made as follows: Conference report on S. 1851, to assist in preventing aliens from entering or remaining in the United States illegally (H. Rept. 1505); H. R. 3098, to amend title 28, U. S. Code, relating to amount in controversy (H. Rept. 1506); H. J. Res. 363, to provide for the presentation of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Henrik Kurt Carlsen, master, steamship Flying Enterprise (H. Rept. 1507); H. R. 4678, a private bill (H. Rept. 1508); H. R. 3166, to amend act relating to the acquisition of public lands by States for recreational purposes (H. Rept. 1509); and H. R. 5577, declaring that the United States holds certain lands in trust for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Inc., Wisconsin (H. Rept. 1510). Page 2137 Prior to its passage, the bill was amended to make all records and files compiled, under this act, by the Civil Service Commission available to the committees of Congress upon request. Pages 2113-2131 H. Res. 555, the rule for the consideration of S. 2077, was previously adopted. Committee Meetings NAVAL VESSEL CONSTRUCTION Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported to the House H. R. 6787, extending the Rubber Act of 1948 for 2 years, until June 30, 1954. Also heard executively, further testimony in connection with H. R. 6140, to authorize the construction of modern naval vessels, from Admiral William M. Fechteler, Chief of Naval Operations; and Rear Adm. Homer N. Wallin, Chief, Bureau of Ships. Will resume on this measure next Tuesday morning. MILITARY PROCUREMENT Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments: Bonner Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations heard testimony today from John D. Small, Chairman of the Munitions Board, regarding regulations that have been drawn up regarding the Armed Services Procurement Regulations Conference methods of purchasing and procurement by the armed services. Mr. Small spoke of the enlargement of single service procurement assignments by the Munitions Board. He stated that "over 75 percent of the total procurement program by dollars has already been assigned to single or joint procurement. The remaining items, with the exception of electronics, are relatively small in dollar value." He also said that Secretary of Defense Lovett had approved an appeal that he made last January to provide for more civilian authority in military buying policies. SALT WATER RESEARCH-PUBLIC LANDS Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs: Ordered the following bills reported to the House H. R. 6578, amended, to provide for research into and demonstration or practical means for the economical production, from sea or other saline waters, of water suitable for agricultural, industrial, municipal, and other beneficial consumptive uses; H. R. 5577, declaring that the United States holds certain lands in trust for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Inc., of Wisconsin; H. R. 4678, a private bill; and H. R. 3166, amended, to amend act relating to the acquisition of public lands by States for recreational purposes. Jacob N. Wasserman, Chief Counsel, Bureau of Land Management (Interior), testified on this lastmentioned bill. Also considered, but passed over, H. R. 1550, increasing maximum allowance for attorney's fees under provisions authorizing the Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin to submit claims to the Court of Claims to 10 percent of the amount of the judgment recovered (now 5 percent); and H. R. 3541, declaring that the United States holds certain lands in trust for the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. RADIO BROADCASTING Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce: Resumed executive consideration of S. 658, amending the Communications Act of 1934, relating to issuance and revocation of broadcasting licenses. Will continue on same subject tomorrow morning. FAIR TRADE Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported favorably to the House H. R. 6925, amended, resale price maintenance bill to make effective the fair-trade laws of the various States. JUDGESHIPS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee No. 3 in executive session approved for reporting to the full committee with amendments, S. 1203, to provide for the appointment of additional circuit and district judges. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Committee on the Judiciary: Chelf Subcommittee Investigating the Justice Department held an executive meeting. MAIL, BLIND-POST OFFICES Committee on Post Office and Civil Service: Ordered the following bills reported to the House H. R. 6383, to restore to 70 pounds and 100 inches in girth and length combined the maximum weight and size limitations for appliances, or parts thereof, for the blind sent through the mails; and H. R. 6839, to modify and extend the authority of the Postmaster General to lease quarters for post-office purposes. Witnesses heard on this bill were Representative Tollefson, of Washington, author of a similar bill on this subject; Sam R. Broadbent, acting legislative assistant to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, accompanied by Henry H. Merry, a staff member of the same Bureau; and Charles E. Johnson, legislative attorney, General Accounting Office, accompanied by J. Edward Welch, Assistant General Counsel, GAO. FEDERAL AID TO HIGHWAYS Committee on Public Works: Resumed executive consideration on Federal aid to highway legislation (H. R. 6094, 6180, and 6390). Committee adjourned until next Tuesday, March 18, when it will continue on the same subject. VETERANS' BENEFITS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Completed hearings on bills to provide education and training and housing benefits for those veterans who serve on or after June 27, 1950. Final witness to be heard was William Bethke, La Salle Extension University, representing private school associations. When printed hearings have been made available the committee will hold executive consideration of the 33 proposals pending before it. After the above subject has been disposed of by reporting a bill to the House, the committee, as agreed on January 30, 1951, will open hearings on the recommendations of the Hoover Commission, i. e., those recommendations which are pending before this commit tee. CONTROLLED MATERIALS PLAN Select Committee To Study Problems of Small Business: Subcommittee No. 3 resumed hearings regarding problems of small business under the Controlled Materials Plan. Testifying today were Samuel W. Anderson, Deputy Administrator for Aluminum of the Defense Production Administration; and Howard Young, Deputy Administrator, Defense Materials Procurement Agency. Mr. Anderson presented a chart explanation showing the progress of the expansion program in aluminum, while Mr. Young furnished a progress report on the increase of supplies of copper and iron ore. The DMPA is responsible for increased production of these two commodities. Hearings will be continued tomorrow. Joint Committee Meetings CREDIT CONTROL AND DEBT MANAGEMENT Joint Committee on the Economic Report: Subcommittee on General Credit Control and Debt Management continued hearings with regard to problems of general credit control, debt management, and monetary policies, and heard views with respect thereto from William McChesney Martin, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System. Hearings continue to morrow. INAUGURATION, INSTRUMENT RECORDATION, D. C. GAS TAX AND TAX LAWS Joint Meeting, Fiscal Affairs Subcommittees of the Senate and House Committees on the District of Columbia: Joint subcommittees, after holding open hearings on the following seven measures, took action thereon, in executive session, as indicated: Senate Subcommittee ordered favorably reported to full committee (subject to confirmation of this action by polling of absent members), without amendment, S. J. Res. 134, to provide quarters for troops participating in 1953 inaugural ceremonies; S. J. Res. 137, granting of permits to Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies; S. 2735, recording and releasing of liens by entries on certificates of title for motor vehicles and trailers; S. 2736, amend D. C. Code as to recording of bills of sale, mortgages, etc., of personal property by Recorder of Deeds; S. 2703, to increase D. C. gas tax; and with amendments, S. J. Res. 138, maintenance of public order and protection of life and property during 1953 inaugural ceremonies, and S. 2605, to amend D. C. tax laws. House Subcommittee ordered favorably reported to its full committee, H. R. 6811, to increase D. C. gas tax, and H. R. 6676, to amend D. C. tax laws. Testimony received in hearings on these bills was as follows: On S. J. Res. 134, 137, and 138, favoring testimony was received from Vernon West, Corporation Counsel, accompanied by his assistant, Irving Bryan, and from Melvin Hildreth, general chairman, Inaugural Committee. On S. 2735, Vernon West and Irving Bryan, A. Oliver Thornton, Acting Recorder of Deeds, and George E. Keneipp, Director of Vehicles and Traffic, testified in favor. On S. 2736, Vernon West, Irving Bryan, and A. Oliver Thornton appeared in support. On S. 2703 (H. R. 6811), Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robinson, Engineer Commissioner, accompanied by J. N. Robertson, Director of Highways; S. R. Harrison, Deputy Director of Highways; George E. Keneipp; Vernon West (accompanied by Irving Bryan); Blair Lee, National Capital Park and Planning Commission; Washington I. Cleveland, manager, D. C. American Automobile Association; Mrs. Harlene James, representing Committee of 100; and Horace Walker, executive director, Retail Gasoline Dealers Association, favored the bill. Lester H. Steinem, representing Federation of Citizens Associations, opposed the bill, and William S. Canning, engineering director, Keystone Automobile Club, interposed no objection. On S. 2605 (H. R. 6676), John W. Ahern, D. C. Bar Association, Vernon West, Corporation Counsel, and his assistant, Mr. Walker, favored enactment of the bill with certain amendments. Wednesday, March 12, 1952 HIGHLIGHTS Senate debated reorganization of Bureau of Internal Revenue, and passed appropriation bill for Motor Carrier Claims Commission and legislative branch. House debated third supplemental appropriation bill. Senate committees ordered reported bills on soil conservation and land transfer. Bill amending Communications Act regarding broadcasting licenses ordered reported by House committee. Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages 2139-2145 Senate Bills Introduced: Eight bills were introduced, as follows: S. 2841 to S. 2848. Page 2140 Bills Reported: Reports were made as follows: S. Res. 245, to investigate the administration of the Trading With the Enemy Act since December 19, 1941, with an additional amendment (S. Rept. 1294); |