Milford chronicle., 1925-01-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
By National Editorial Association
c.,o1 g. nr;1eo,,d c1,roniolo


Special to Milford Chronicle
Washington, Jan. 6-Wbisperings about an
extra session of Congress have reached the talk
ing basis. The proposal for a spring session re-
yeals wide difference in opinion between the
President and congressional leaders. At present
it appears that the Chief Executive holds the
whip hand. It is said that Mr.. Coolidge wants
to call another armament conference here in
the spring and desires to be free from congress
sional criticism. His idea is that an interna-
tional arms conference is of sufficient impOr-
tance to warrant exclusive attention.
! On the other hand, one of the administration
spokesmen at the Capitol, Senator Borah, has
openly advocated an extra session. The legisla-
tive calendar at the beginning of the year is ex-
tremely crowded. It is claimed that time is all
too short to allow consideration of all important
legislative measures. Senator Borah says that
special session should be called to give at
tention to agricultural and general economic
legislation.
One of the proposals is to dispose of the rec
concentrations of the Coal Commission which
reported nearly two years ago. No action has
ever been taken on the recommendations Of the
Federal Coal Commission after long and inten-
sive study recommending reorganization of the
coal industry.
It is believed that the findings of the special
Agricultural Commission now at work Will not
be available until the early spring months. The
senate steering committee has framed an elab-
crate program for the short session which ex-
pires March 4. The developments Of the first
three weeks of the session shows quite clearly
that few, if any of the nine major bills reported
by the steering committee will ever find their
way into the statutes. True, they are on the
Senate calendar for immediate consideration but
the legislative situation precludes immediate at
tention.
One of the important bills on the Senate cal
endar is the Smoot reorganization measure. This
bill proposes to realignment of Federal bureaus,
including the establishment of Department of
Education. Action on this measure has been held
up at previous sessions because it is generally
agreed that the proposal contains political dy-
Mantle" The Senate expected to dispose of the
Muscle Shoals program before Christmas, but
parliamentary complications ensued with the re-
suit that nobody knows when the matter will be
concluded.
The House made cOnsi, hble progress on ap-
preparation bills during - early weeks of this
!
session The Senate Appropriations Committee
took steps to keep abreast of fiscal legislation
by taking note of the action Of the House on
each item for governmental expenditures. This
time-saving plan was practically wasted because
of the Muscle Shoals project holding up Senate
schedules.
Both houses have approximately seven weeks
of legislative days as distinguished from calen-
dar days, in which to dispose of nine appropria-
ton bills. The House has already passed three
appropriation bills and has made\excellent pro-
gress on the others. The Senate Appropriations
Committee is ready Ureport the fiscal measures
for the Interior and Agricultural Departments
but cannot find place on the Senate calendar
Special sub committees of the Senate and
House held hearings during the. Christmas re-
cess when representative mail users protested
against the enormous increase in their rates. 1t
is said that the Sterling bill was brought to the
Senate in an effort to bring about parliamentary
complications so that no postal measure would
be enacted at this session. Several days must
elapse before the postal pay and postal salary
proposition are disposed of.
It is believed that several Legislative measures
will be introduced at tkis session de1Sing with
retail prices The 6 ber of Commerce Of the
United States has conference here early
in January in ord nelp the buying publid
and the merchant. national Chamber
convinced that the sRpot "a
the retailer and his
this reason it isl
follow dix-1s