The Sauk Centre herald., 1924-11-13
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Nov. 12- Taking
stock of the legislative situation is an
absorbing subject in Washington
these days with the post election ex-
citement fading out. Two questions
are apparently uppermost in the
minds of the country. "What will the
present Congress do in it's last ses-
sion which begins next month";" and
''will the President, by virtue of his
tremendous personal victory at the
polls, be sufficiently strong to OBJ
tain favorable action by the next
Congress, to warrant the enactment
of Administration policies?" Obvi-
ously, the queries are related for the
activities OF the Congress just elect
ed will be largely influenced by the
doings or mSdoings of the expiring
Legislative assembly.
From reliable sources, it is learned
that Mr.. Coolidge intends to bring
changes in an orderly manner. There
is no doubt but the election returns
increased his personal prestige and to
that extent gave him a commission
from the American people. Whether
his influence as the chief executive
will be of such proportions to make
Congress tractable is solely matter
of conjecture. Nobody knows but
there is NO shortage of speculation.
At present, the records of the victors
for congressional honors are being
closely examined to determine their
position on matters which must in
evitably come to their attention in
their new jobs. On the face of cur
rent election statistics, the Republi-
cans are assured of a majority in
the House and a smaller majority in
the Senate. A non-partisan study
will show that these balances of pow
er, as claimed for the new Congress,
are classified as paper" majorities.
The history of recent legislative as
semblies is such to bring reasonable
doubts as to the plastic condition of
the newcomers.
1t will be necessary to select new
leaders for the majority in the SEN
ate and House. The election of
Speaker Gillette as Senator from
Massachusetts uncovers a contest for
this post between Nicholas Long
worth, present Republican floor
leader and Martin B. Madden of IL
linois, chairman of the House Appro-
priationS Committee, the most i'm
portant committee of the Congress.
Mr.. Madden's long service in the
House has stamped him as the one
authority on the business side of the
Government.
It is limited that Mr.. Hughes may
retire as Secretary of State next
spring and resume his legal practise.
Mention is made of Charles w. War
rem of Michigan, formerly ambassa-
dor to Mexico and Japan, and tenn
porary chairman of the Republican
national convention which nominated
Mr.. Coolidge, as successor to the
Secretary Of State. There is also a
possibility that Mr.. Hughes may be
elevated to the post as Chief Justice
Of the U. S. Court as Mr.. Taft's re-
tirement has been predicted on ac-
count of ill health. Two other va
cancies are anticipated at the Su-
preme court as Associate Justices
Holmes and McKenna are long
passed the retirement age. It is said
that Secretary of the Navy Wilbur
would be candidate for one of these
positions as he served for many years
as Chief Justice of the California
Supreme Court. Arthur Prentice
Rugg, present Chief Justice of Mas
sachussets, and an Amherst graduate,
is mentioned for Mr.. Justice Holmes
place.
Strangely enough, there are no
particularly divergent views as to
the legislative program of the Decem-
ber session. 1t is generally conceded
that there will be no major legisla-
ton enacted at the short session
which begins December and ends
March a, 1925. The time of Congress
will be taken up almost entirely with |
appropriation bills for the various
government departments. The House
Committee on appropriations has
already started it's hearings on fiscal
measures for the Treasury and Post
Office Departments.
This writer interviewed two of the
leading legislative agents here today.
Nathan B. Williams, representing the
manufacturing interests, expressed
the opinion that efforts to call spec
ial session of the new Congress would
fail, and that the outgoing Congress
would make no serious attempts ito
enact legislation of widespread in
terest. He said that the election of
Coolidge by such large popular vote
made clear the complete reversion Of
the idea has grown on the country
for more than forty years that WASH
ington may prescribed something in
legislative "curealls." It was his
contention that the belief in this
idea has been thoroughly dissipated
and recognition given to the fact
that the Government at Washington
cannot, no matter which party is in
control make six ears of corn grow
where only one grew before
Charles B. Holman, one OF the lead
ing representatives for the farm in
terests, does not anticipate any con-
gressional action which would affect