The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-08
Congress Likely to
Adjourn on June 9Th.

Washington, May o.-AdJOufH
ment of Congress by June 5 and n,
extra session is the plan now unde
consideration by Senate and Hous.
leaders. 1t is particularly desirable
that the legislative business of tn,
nation should be concluded at tina
time as the Republican and Demo
cratic conventions are scheduled TO
June. The fact that the presen
Congress paid little heed to the leg
islative program outlined by the
President is not regarded by the leg
islators, at least, as a deterrent fac
tor. Many of these lawmakers are
determined to return to their dis.
tricts to put their political fences
in order for the election contests
this fall. AS a result, every effort
is being made to expedite bills al
ready on the calendar or to properly
suuelch proposals which would con-
sumo the time of the national leg1s-
lative body during the summer and
fall months.
Little Hope for Farmers
Whether any good could be ac-
complished by keeping Congress in
session all summer is a debatable
question. 1t is stated in many quar-
tiers that the legislators, finding
strong candidates for their offices
and conditions topsy-turvy in their
home districts, are willing to close
the books without undue delay.
Statements have been advanced from
responsible sources that business men
would welcome an adjournment as
they find that unsettled conditions
in trade are due, to a large extent,
to "tinkering and meddling by Con
gress." On the other hand, it is arg
ued that the farmer has about aban-
doned hope of legislative relief but
would approve a longer session with
a prospect of real help, not empty
promises.
One of the noteworthy surprises
of the session was the marked de-
cline in the power of the farm
bloc" Admittedly, n of the strong
est combinations of Legislators In
agrarian problems, this clicque has
apparently faded out of the picture.
1t may be revived at another Con-
gress but a movement of this kind
now would not have sufficient CO.
hesion. Hope for a broad agricul-
tural program is at low ebb. Even
the resolution offered by Represen-
tative Howard, of Nebraska for keep
ing Congress in session until the
prime problem of the hour-legisla-
ton to relieve distress in agricultur-
al zones shall have been accomp-
lished by legislative enactment" fail
ed to provoke a ripple of enthusiasm.
It seems that the attitude of the eX-
ecutive branch of government IS
founded on the belief that the exist
ing fiscal agencies of the federal
government together with private en-
terprise will ameliorate the troub-
les of the farmers.
Mellon Plan Beaten
The Mellon tax plan once consld-
cred the trump card of the a1minis-
tration for election year, Jared the
sarre in the Senate as m the House.
Certain features Of the proposal
have heen incorporated in the Reve-
nue. Lill but the basic principles have
been beaten. Just now the Senate
and House leaders are wondering
what will happen when their point
effort is presented to the President
for signature.
Political observers are commenting
these days on Washington's social
whirl as an antidote for s~o-called
radicals" It is pointed out that a
certain Senator who was elected on
a platform calculated to strike fear
into the conservative element on
both sides of the Senate chamber has
been subdued. No amount of criti-
cism could have effected the change
of front but the desire for social
prestige brought about the conver-
sion. The law of association in So
cial ethics is exercising more influ-
ence in official Washington than the
ballot box.
Bonus Bill Strong
The Bonus bill is now before the
President, who must make known
his decision within ten days. Pro-
ponents of the measure believe that
it can be passed over a Presidential
veto.
The Naval Appropriation bill,
which has passed the Senate, includes
a provision calling for an interna-
tional conference looking to the lin
itation of the construction of subma-
rine, aircraft and war vessels of less
than ten thousand tons. Official
Washington is greatly interested in
this proposition as disclosures by
nautical experts indicate that this
country is below Great Britain and
Japan in naval efficiency. There is
a movement under way to inquire
irto the military and naval defenses
Of the nation and to provide plans
s