Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-26
But Any One of Several Is
sues May Jam Legislation,
Requiring Extra Session.
NAVY INCREASE BATTLE
DUE RIGHT AFTER RECESS
Farm Relief Factions Also Lining
Up-Seating of Frank L. Smith
Is Explosive Question.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

TraVetlnG at nlgn speed, congress
in two weeks time has rolled up an
impressive record of legislation. If
it can maintain the same speed dur
ing the two months which will re-
main of the present session after the
Christmas holidays there seems little
avoid a special session Of the next
Congress in the Spring and Summer.
The House has passed three of the
annual supply bills for the Govern
ment, the Treasury and Post Office
bill, the Interior bill and the Agricul-
ture BILL The Senate has put through
the first two bills and Is keeping close
on the heels of the House in the work
of providing the necessary funds for
the conduct of the Government dur
ing the fiscal year 1928.
The House has passed two legis-
lative measures of major importance,
the alien property bill and the bill
increasing the salaries of the Federal
judiciary. The latter had passed the
Senate in the last session.
Rivers Bill Through Senate.
bors bill has been passed finally, de-
spite it's many controversial pro.
visions. and If the House accepts the
Senate amendments it will not go to
conference.
The Senate has shelved for the
time being at least the poison gas
treaty, opposed by the American
Legion. It was recommitted and may
NOT he brought forth again at the
present session.
The Senate put through in quick
time the Smoot bill for the further
development Of the National Capital
the Pennsylvania avenue-Ma triangle
bill. This measure is now under con.
sideration by the House public build
ings. and grounds committee. and its
prompt report and passage by the
House Is predicted. 4
So much for the accomplishments
of the two houses. A number of mat
ters are pressing for consideration
which are likely to produce stormy
sessions. Among them are the naval
appropriation bill, Muscle Shoals,
farm relief, prohibition enforcement
legislation, coal legislation and. in the
Senate, the nomination of Cyrus E.
Woods Of Pennsylvania, former Amer
lean Ambassador to Japan.
Tax Issue Now Dormant.
Tax.rednction legislation appears
for the present to have entered a
state Of innocuous desuetude. The
House ways and means committee, by
a strict party vote, has tabled all pro-
posals to reduce taxes at this time,
Including the plan of President Cool
id1e for a remission Of part of the
taxes due in March and June Of the
coming year and the Democratic pro-
posal for an immediate reduction of
the tax rates. Democratic leaders
continue to declaim in favor of tax
reduction without delay, pointing to
the expected surplus at the end OF the
present fiscal year, which may reach
S400 900 900 or more. 1t appears, how
ever, that the Presidents alternative
plan-the use of this surplus to re.
duce the public debt, will be carried
out. The administration insists 1t
would be unwise to change the tax
rates until the 1925 tax law has had
a more complete tryout, notwithstand-
ing the surplus now accruing.
The naval appropriation bill Is to be
reported to the House as soon as that
body reassembles after the holidays.
The failure of the appropriations COM
mittee to include in the bill an item
for beginning the construction Of three
light cruisers hitherto authorized by
Congress and upon which construction
must begin by July /, 1927, will arouse
those members who believe in going
ahead now with the construction of
cruisers. The Butler bill calling for
the authorization of 10 new light
cruisers has not appeased them.
They want cruisers in the water
and not on paper, they say An
amendment probably will be offered
ting a small sum to begin work on the
three cruisers already authorized.
Certainly, the fight for the construc-
ton Of these cruisers will be made
in the Senate, where Chairman Hale
Of the naval affairs committee and
other Senators are intent upon build
ing up the cruiser strength Of the
United States with as little delay as
possible. The United States is far be-
hind Great Britain and Japan in mod
ern cruisers.
Farm Relief Battle Soon.
The battle over farm relief legisla-
ton has scarcely begun. Senator
McNary of Oregon, chairman Of the
Senate committee on agriculture, has
opened the ball with the introduction
Of a revised bill. embodying the equal
ization fee principle. Chairman
Haugen, after some deliberation, has
offered similar bill In the House,
and 1t appears that the old McNary-
Haugcn combination for farm relief
legislation Is to continue. For a time
it looked as though this combination
might go on the rocks because Mr..
Haugen did not think the new Nc
Nary bill went far enough.
Report has 1t that opponents of the
equalization fee principle in the Sen
ate and House. including Senator Fess
Of Ohio and Representative Fort Of
New Jersey, are working on a substi
tute measure. They have consulted
with Secretary Jardine Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. While the meas.
ure which they will produce Is not to
embody the equalization fee, 1t is
understood II will go much farther
than the s-Tincher bill of year
ago. So far there has been no In.
formation to indicate that the new
bill is to be considered an administra.
ton measure. The President in his
annual message to Congress left the
door open for Congress itself to frame
farm relief legislation, provided only
It should be sound, and not put the
Government into the business OF buy.
ing and selling or producing.
Opponents OF the McNary-Eaugen