Imperial Valley Press

G.O.P. Senators Cite Delay on Soldiers Vote

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1. (UP) - Senators Robert A. Taft, (R.), Ohio, and Owen Brewster. (R.), Maine, Tuesday blamed the administration for delay in passage of soldier vote legislation.

They accused proponents of the compromise Green-Lucas bill of prolonging debate by seeking passage of a substitute for legislation already approved by the senate.

The charge was voiced in reply to a plea by senate democratic leader Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky that the senate complete action Tuesday or Wednesday on the substitute—the Green-Lucas measure.

SPECIAL BALLOT

This would provide a special federal ballot for absentee voting by members of the armed forces, whereas the senate previously had passed a bill for state ballots. The state ballot bill was up for house consideration Tuesday.

Pointing out that the senate has debated the new bill for more than a week, Barkley protested that "if it takes these soldiers and sailors as long to win, in comparison of their numbers and magnitude of their job, as it takes the senate to provide them with a vote, the war will last until the presidential election of 1972."

Taft charged that "all the delay is caused by the insistence of the administration that the senate reverse its action of Dec. 3. The senate on that date passed a bill which recommended that the various states amend their absentee voting laws, if necessary, to facilitate soldier voting by state ballot."

Taft blamed house speaker Sam (Continued on page 6, col. 1)

G.O.P. Senators Cite Delay on Soldiers Vote

(Continued from page 1)

Rayburn, house democratic leader John W. McCormack of Massachusetts, chairman Eugene Worley, (D.), Texas, of the house elections committee and chairman Adolph Sabath, (D.), Illinois, of the house rules committee.

Brewster recalled that after President Roosevelt demanded speed in a special message to congress last week, house republican leader Joseph W. Martin Jr., of Massachusetts, requested unanimous consent to take up the pending soldier vote bill immediately. Rayburn refused to recognize Martin for such a purpose.

Senator Scott W. Lucas, (D.), Illinois, co-author of the senate substitute, continued confident, meanwhile, that the senate will beat the house to the vote and pass his measure by Wednesday at the latest.