August 12, 1965

bd agrees to comply with Fed law; adds 2 extra days of citywide local regis, Sept, to cope with expected 55,000 Puerto Rican applicants; votes 3-1 to reject Wagner's proposal to use firehouses; holds them 'potentially dangerous'; Corp Council Larkin says Fed law supersedes state law and that pending outcome of const test, state law is binding

Sen, 57-33, passes bill creating dept; Johnson hails move; pledges dept will benefit all people; hails bipartisan support; 47 Dems, 10 Repubs voted for it, 14 Dems, 19 Repubs against; passage hailed by US Mayors Conf pres Blaisdell; bill does not provide new Fed programs but coordinates all Govt housing and urban development programs; dept seen having definite impact on cities and problems; Mayor Wagner mentioned as new Sec; denies he discussed post with Johnson; fight for bill led by Sen Ribicoff; need for dept challenged by Sen Dirksen; major difference between Sen and HR versions is Sen amendment to preserve FHA

HR subcom rejects Defense Dept plan to merge Army units into Guard; Hebert says merger would mean serious loss of combat readiness; way left open for compromise; Defense Dept officials to submit new plan; rejection is 1 of few setbacks McNamara has suffered at hands of Cong

Biaggi dismissed from NYS post as State Sec Lomenzo's aide for demanding he be given paid vacation while working for Beame instead of taking absence leave as offered by Lomenzo; Beame forces charge pol reprisal by Rockefeller adm; Beame demands reinstatement; Biaggi sees blow to NYS employes pol activity; says he is carrying out instructions of Grand Council of Columbia Civil Service Assns, of which he is pres, in working for Beame; Beame lauds him, s, assn meeting; pledges to find place for his talent after Jan 1

SNCC and NAACP plan ind 'blitz' voter regis drives in counties that now have, or may soon get, Fed examiners; ind action seen reflecting split between 2 groups