WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 193'
46
WANING SUPPORT FOR TEXTILE BILL INDICATED
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THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED THE TEXTILE BILL BUT THE VOTING SIGNALS A FURTHER DECLINE IN SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTIONIST LEGISLATION, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR PAUL WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE BILL, PASSED BY 255 VOTES TO 161, WAS THE SAME AS THE VERSION PASSED 60 - 39 VOTES BY THE SENATE IN NOVEMBER. IT IS SIGNIFICANT HOWEVER THAT YESTERDAY'S VOTE IN THE HOUSE ONCE AGA IN FELL SHORT OF THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IT WOULD NEED TO OVERRIDE A PERSIDENTIAL VETO.
YESTERDAY'S VOTING ALSO INDICATED A FALLING OFF IN HOUSE SUPPORT FROM AN EARLIER VERSION OF THE BILL WHICH WAS PASSED BY A MARGIN OF 262 TO 159 IN OCTOBER.
+ALTHOUGH THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL MARKS THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE HURDLE IN THE CONGRESS, IT STILL HAS TO GO BEFORE PRESIDENT REAGAN FOR SIGNING BEFORE IT BECOMES LAW AND ALL THE INDICATIONS CONTINUE TO POINT TO A PRESIDENTIAL VETO.
+WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THE BILL HAS YET AGAIN FAILED TO WIN THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO OVERTURN A PRESIDENTIAL VETO, MR WONG SAID.
HE SAID THAT SUPPORT FOR THE BILL HAD DECLINED ALTHOUGH THE BILL WAS AMENDED IN THE SENATE TO INCLUDE PROTECTION FOR THE FOOTWEAR AND COPPER INDUSTRIES.
AT THE PEAK OF ITS SUPPORT, THE BILL HAD ABOUT 290 CO-SPONSORS IN THE HOUSE.
+ THE FIGURES SHOW A FALLING AWAY OF SUPPORT, CLEARLY OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS TO SHOW THAT THE BILL IS MISGUIDED AND MISCONCEIVED HAVE HELPED TO TURN THE TIDE, + MR WONG SAID.
LOOKING AHEAD, HE SAID THE BILL WOULD PROBABLY BE SENT TO PRESIDENT REAGAN TODAY (U.$. TIME). THE PRESIDENT WILL THEN HAVE 10 DAYS (EXCLUDING SUNDAYS) TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO VETO IT. IF HE OPTS TO VETO THE BILL, IT WOULD BE REFERED BACK TO THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE WHERE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY WOULD BE NECESSARY TO OVERRIDE THE VETO.
+ON YESTERDAY'S VOTING. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT SUCH A PROPORTION COULD BE ACHIEVED, PARTICULARLY WHEN MANY CONGRESSMEN WHO MIGHT VOTE FOR THE BILL NOW WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT THE MORE SERIOUS STEP OF OVERRIDING A PRESIDENTIAL VETO, + MR WONG SAID.
/THE FINAL