Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-05
GOVERNMENT BUSY
WITHOUT CONGRESS
Departments Active in Work
of Interpreting Laws
Passed at Session..
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Although the country may have the
impression that Government more or
less ceases TO function when Con-
gress adjourns and the President de-
parts for the Summer White House,
the truth is the next few months will
see some vital decisions carried into
effect by the Government departments
charged with the enforcement of the
laws just passed.
Seven hundred and fifty-nine laws
have been added to the Nations stat
utes. They require Interpretation.
Regulations explaining their limits
usually have all the force OF the law
itself. Regulations are awaited with
almost the same degree of interest as
was exhibited by interested parties in
the making of the legislation. This
is because a regulation may over
step the bounds or 1t may not so far
enough. In any event, the regula-
tions must be drawn up by bureaus
and departments and proclaimed at
once.
Farm Measure Watched.
Take, for instance. the only piece
of farm legislation passed by Con-
gress, the measure creating bureau
i'll the Department of Agriculture to
supervise cooperative marketing.
There are about 1900 cooperative
organizations. They are intensely
interested in just how the Govern
ment is going to cooperate with
them. They have always been sensi-
tive on the subject of too much su-
pervision, but they are, on the other
hand, anxious for such ordination
as the Federal Government can give
them that is effective.
Then there is the new railroad
lgislation. known as the Watson
Parker law. The President has
named and the Senate has confirmed
the men who are to serve on the new
mediation board. The transporta
ton interests of the country are con-
cerned vitality in whether the new
scheme works, and there are indica-
tions that some test cases will be
shortly placed before the board for
consideration.
Regularly, too, the Bureau of In
ternal Revenue is proclaiming new
regulations with reference to the re-
Gently passed tax legislation. The
bureau is in some respects the center
of Summer activity here, except pos
sibly for the all-important work of
the Department of Commerce, which
maintains a contact with business
problems unaffected by whether Con.
gress or the Chief Executive is here
Matters of large policy are sent to
the President by Secretary Hoover.
but in the main, the department func-
tions along well defined lines.
Justice Office Active.
The Department of Justice shows
signs OF taking an even mae active
interest than ever before In com-
binations of big corporations and
there are evidences that this phase
of public policy will attract more and
more attention as the attitude of
the department is evolved along the
lines of Col. Donovans recent speech
The colonel, as assistant to the At
torney General, has more voice in
policies than is customary with an
assistant attorney general.
Then there is the big item Of
appropriations. Congress author
ICES the expenditure of more than
5000 900, 900, but the Government
Departments do the spending. The
sums needed for public buildings will
attract the eye of construction COM
panies, engineers and architects, as
1t will mean a stimulus to the build
ing industry here as we'll as in other
parts of the country.
On the whole the country may see
little Of the spectacular and dramatic.
and may hear less of the conversation
Tor which Congress Is noted, but the
action of the Federal Government
Will in. the next few months touch
vitally multitude Of interests. For
the beginning of the fiscal year-July
-.lst-was like New Year day in Gov
ernment, a day of beginnings on a
vast number of tasks, some Of them
impossible heretofore because of thc
of legislation, and some
just neglected till Congress could go
away and the Government administers.
tors be left to work out their prob.
lens undisturbed by the overhanging
club of congressional inquiries and
resolutions.