The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-04-08
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, April 6-With the
members of the Senate and House
pressing hard for an early adjourn
ment, the situation in Washington
may be ikened to the closing of
school. Everybody is trying to get
away for the summer and fall months
but Selling every possible advantage
to increase their political standing
with the home folks. Senate leaders
are hoping to complete their program
by May Is, and the House is now in
a position to wind up it's affairs on
short notice.
The word has been passed to dis
courage new legislation at this time.
Anybody who introduces any measure
from now until the House ajourns
risks the censure of his associates in
Congress, regardless of party affilia-
tons. Incidentally, the congestion
on the Senate and House calendars
is bringing about considerable
amount of "trading." The basic idea
of these trades is to have the legis-
lators consult the various leaders and
support legislation which he has hith-
erto opposed in exchange for assist
ance in promoting bills in which
their community or friends are partic-
ularly interested.
Two of the most powerful groups
in the Senate and House today are
the steering Committees" composed
of the members of the majority party
and selected by the Committees on
Committees which by the way, is NAM
ed as an outcome of the organized
caucus of the majority. They differ
somewhat from the Committee on
Rules which has a bipartisan men,
bership.
1t is the duty of the steering COM
mittee to take a hand in the legis-
lative situation in order that pending
measures considered of real conse-
quence to the party in power can find
a place at the top of the calendar.
For instance, the Republican steering
committee has decided that when the
Italian debate is out of the way in the
Senate the public buildings will be
next in order of importance. The
other measures listed for considera-
ton by the Senate leaders include
a bill to provide for the prompt dis
posal of disputes between railroads
and employees; another to amend the
national banking law, known as the
McFadden bill; and finally measure
to increase the efficiency of the Air
Service of the Army.
In the House Speaker Longworth
and his associates among the major.
ity leaders have scheduled the pass
age of a SIS, 200, 900 bill for develop
ment of public highways; an increase
in the pensions for Spanish War Vet
Grams; a bill authorizing five-year
building program for the Army and
Navy Air Services; increased ap-
preparations for the Veterans Bureau
and farm relief legislation. The last
proposed is of great Importance to
members of the House coming from
agricultural districts. Hearings are
now under way in the House dealing
with agricultural subjects but it is
doubtful if anything of great value
will come from these inquiries.
The public buildings bill has al
ready, passed the House. It pro-
vides for an expenditure of $685.
100000 over a period of five years.
Of this amount some $4,000, 900
will be expended in the District of
Columbia for Government buildings.
The balance is confined to practical
ly six states for post office buildings.
Those opposed to this measure have
classified it as ''pork Barrel" bill
which would give the Postmaster Gen
eral the whip hand over certain con-
gressional groups. The theory is
that in exchange for approving the
erection of certain buildings the
Postmaster General could request the
support of the SENATOR'S and con-
yressmen from that locality in pro-
noting legislation in which his de-
oartment is interested.
As several states will hold their
,rimarits before the Congress de-
.lares a recess, leaders of all parties
IRE watching developments in these
particular districts. The first test on
he World Court issue will come in
Illinois and administration leaders are
banking heavily upon the outcome so
hat the matter may be sideracked in
he majority of primaries.
The Democrats feel that their chance
IF controlling the Senate has been
by recent developments
but of course Republican leaders
challenge this opinion. 1t is obvious
that the Democrats are going to con-
centrate their fire on the senatorial
battles although they will make a
strong fight for increases in member
ship in the House.