Pain

In an election year the House of Representatives is as sensitive as an arthritic joint. Pain in the joint to the House, as it began work on President Roosevelt's estimate of income and outgo for the next fiscal year, was the President's recommendation that $460,000,000 be raised in new taxes. Last week, as a result, the Appropriations Committee applied a freezing-cold poultice to swollen estimates.

The Committee reported out the Independent Offices Supply Bill, shrunk by over $94,000,000 from what Mr. Roosevelt warned was the lowest figure that could be attained without impairing efficiency. Declared Representative Clifton A. Woodrum of Virginia, member of the Committee: "We believe these reductions have been made . . . without seriously crippling any needed Government activity." Wielder of many an ice pack in the past, fleshy Clifton Woodrum has taken an oath, and made the rest of his sub-committee swear, not to let any bill get past the committee if its appropriation exceeds the President's budget estimate. Last week Congressman Woodrum outdid himself.

Chief sufferer was the Maritime Commission. A fund of $200,000,000 for ship construction was cut to $125,000,000. Poulticed away to nothing (on a point of order--that there was no basic law authorizing their continued existence) were two White House growths: National Resources Planning Board, Office of Government Reports. Cut were estimates for the Civil Aeronautics Authority, the Veterans' Administration, the Civil Service Com mission, building projects. Tennessee Valley Authority barely escaped a bandage that would have tourniqueted the life out of it.

On the floor, more items were deleted by a warmed-up House, one of them a third White House growth: Council of Personnel Administration.

Finally, the House passed the bill, cut to $1,100,187,263; sent it to the Senate.

The House:

> Listened to Michigan Representative Frank E. Hook declare that he would submit evidence showing that fellow Democrat Martin Dies, chairman of the Committee on Un-American Activities, was connected with the Christian Front.

Appearing later before the House Rules Committee, Hook declared: "The picture I have painted ... is clearly one that puts Dies in active association with a prominent collaborator of the Christian Front." Saying he did not have time for lengthy remarks, Hook inserted a statement in the Congressional Record. Despite his charges, the House Rules Committee passed a resolution approving continuation of the Dies Committee for another year, sent it to the floor for a vote.

The Senate:

> Arranged for the state funeral of Idaho's Borah (see below), adjourned in sorrow to await it.

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