On the Move

The New York World Telegram last week ran a pair of unlikely double-take headlines side-by-side on Page One: TAX BILL DEBATE OPENS AND WAY CLEARED FOR DEBATE ON RIGHTS BILL. A few weeks ago, no one would have believed either event could come true so soon in 1964.

Both measures, thorniest to come before the hapless 88th Congress, had seemed hopelessly lost in the thickets of recalcitrant committees. But no more--the old lollygagging 88th was happily on the move at last.

The tax bill, calling for an $11.5 billion cut, was moved out of the Senate Finance Committee for floor debate, courtesy Chairman Harry Byrd. Virginia's Byrd was--and is--immovably committed to the proposition that a tax slash is "neither sound nor constructive" until the federal deficit is reduced. But he promised Lyndon Johnson that he would let the bill go. So he stepped aside and gave floor-management responsibilities to Louisiana's Russell Long, second-ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee. Long talked long and hard on the Senate floor, but it seemed his talents might not be needed. Administration leaders predicted at least 80 Senate votes for the bill, with passage this week.

Even more satisfying was last week's move by the House Rules Committee to free the civil rights bill for floor debate. Committee Chairman Howard Smith agreed weeks ago to release the bill by the end of January, and he did indeed keep his pledge--even though he opposes civil rights legislation. The Rules Committee voted to allow only ten hours of general debate on the measure, but beyond that any House member can speak for five minutes on any amendment. Best guess: the bill will pass the House easily--and virtually intact--probably by next week. From there it will go to the Senate, where even Lyndon Johnson admits it will face a fierce and prolonged Southern filibuster.

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