THE CONGRESS: Work Done

Last week the Senate:

¶ Heard, along with the House, that Senate-House conferees had agreed on a compromise bill excusing 18-year-olds from the draft.

¶ Gave Jimmy Byrnes sweeping powers to fire suspected Communists or fellow travelers in the State Department.

¶Approved the House's nine-months-to-a-year extension of the Second War Powers Act, but specifically prohibited use of its rationing and allocating powers to enforce price ceilings as a substitute OPA.

¶ Passed and sent to the White House the "Sweethearts Bill," permitting aliens engaged to U.S. servicemen to enter the U.S. as visitors for three months, ordering their deportation if not married by that time.

The House:

¶ Approved by standing vote a $900-million flood control project, despite opposition shouts of "pork barrel."