A Congressional Box Score

THE EISENHOWER PROGRAM

During the year's session, Congress passed no important law that had not been part of President Eisenhower's program. But many of the President's proposals were sharply modified, others defeated, some still pending. The lineup:

VICTORIES

St. Lawrence Seaway. Passed after 30 years of delay.

Tax Revision. A massive, 1,000-page streamlining of the Internal Revenue Code was passed, cutting next year's anticipated tax revenues by $1.36 billion. Democratic moves for larger-scale reductions were successfully blocked. The Administration request for dividend income relief was partially enacted. The House approved deductions up to $100, plus up to 10%, but they were thrown out in the Senate. The final compromise of $50 and 4% establishes the principle of this type of deduction, and counts as an Administration success.

Excise Taxes. With Administration approval, many 20% excise taxes were halved. The drive to pare tobacco, gasoline and liquor taxes was opposed by the Administration because the cost in lost revenue would be too high. It was defeated.

Air Force Academy. Approved.

Highways. A stepped-up program for highway construction, calling for $1.93 billion of grants-in-aid to states, was passed.

Commodity Credit Corporation. A $1.75 billion increase in borrowing authority was passed.

Korean Defense Pact. Ratified by the Senate.

Hospitals. A threeyear, $182 million program for hospital construction, medical centers and nursing homes was authorized.

Housing. A very limited victory, representing something like a 50-50 compromise on the President's mortgage insurance proposals, something less than that on public housing. Ike asked for 140,000 public-housing units in four years, got 35,000 in one year, with restrictive conditions under which they-must be built.

Atomic Energy. Passed. The bill sets up machinery to create a private atomic-energy industry for generating electric power, and permits the Atomic Energy Commission to exchange nuclear materials and information with friendly nations.

PROBABLE VICTORIES

Farm Parity Prices. A compromise version establishing the policy of flexible price supports passed the House, is delayed in the Senate.

Social-Security Expansion. Passed the House, tied up in the Senate, which is likely to eliminate some compulsory coverage the Administration asked for.

Death Penalty for Peacetime Espionage. Passed the House, awaiting its turn in the Senate.

Witness Immunity. Passed the Senate, awaiting House action. The bill would force Fifth Amendment witnesses to testify by protecting them from prosecution based on their testimony.

DEFEATS

Hawaiian Statehood. Passed by the House. The Senate simultaneously passed the bill but scuttled Hawaii's chances by linking it with Alaska, which the House would not accept.

Voting Rights for 18-year-olds. Killed in the Senate.

Taft-Hartley Act Revision. Killed in the Senate.

Health Reinsurance. Killed in the House.

Postal-Rate Boost. Killed in the House.

Wiretap Authority in Subversive Cases. Passed by the House, snagged in a Senate committee.

Foreign Trade. A one-year extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act was passed, but it contains none of the authority to cut tariffs that the President originally asked, thus defeating in principle a clear presidential policy. The administration made no serious effort to get the rest of its foreign economic program.

Liquidation of Red-Led Unions. Shelved in Senate and House committees.

Security Risks in Defense Plants. Gutted by a Senate committee, shelved by a House committee. The bill would give the Government power to order dismissal of any security risk in a defense plant.

IN THE BALANCE

Unemployment Compensation. Passed by the House, trying for its chance in the Senate. The bill would extend coverage to 4,000,000 new workers.

Debt Limit. The House authorized raising the limit from $275 billion to $290 billion. No action yet in the Senate.

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