Milford chronicle., 1926-12-31
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
(From National Editorial Association
Especial to ChronicIe)

I Washington, December % The
exchange of social amenities among
government officials and Members Of
the Congress during the holiday sea-
son may bring results. The holiday
season is regarded as propitious for
political trading and no secret is
made of the fact the party leaders
are taking advantage of the occasion
to patch up political fences. 1t is OBJ
vious to all observers that halt
must be called upon the growing
spirit of dissension, which is break
ing down party solidarity and build
ing up factions.
It is reported that Republicans
and Democrats alike are concerned
over the possibility of an extra ses-
sion, resulting from the increasing
number of squabbles, particularly in
the Senate. 1t is only strategy of the
highest order that can prevent a spe-
cial session being called to provide
appropriations necessary for the
conduct of the Federal Government
during the fiscal year beginning July
1, 1927. A filibuster or protracted
delay will leave the President no
alternative.
1t is reported that the Admins
tration is gravely concerned over the
radio situation. The Department of
Commerce has advocated a measure,
and Members of Congress. have Of
fered substitutes with the result that
the proponents of the various meas
ures have not reached an agreement.
The radio controversy is of far
greater political significance than
the surface view indicates. 1t is in
separably hooked up" with alleged
electrical monopolies and nation
wide propaganda concerning public
utilities and the Muscle Shoals pro-
ject.
Though the question of reappor-
tionment is being agitated in the
East and far West, little encourage
ment is given to the proposal to
change representation based on pop
ulation in Congress. Statistics show
that many localities have more leg
islators than their population war
rant, while the faster growing COM
munities like California, New York,
Michigan, Illinois and Iowa are at
disadvantage. Proposal is made in
certain quarters to delay reappor-
tionment until after the 1880 census
is completed. The complaint against
unfair representation is growing,
and Congress will undoubtedly dis
cuss the problem next year.
Few people realize the tremend-
Gus growth of population in this
country. For instance, the latest re-
port of the Census Bureau submit
ted to Congress last month shows
that 'in continental United States,
approximately 2,7OO,OOO births and
l 800 900 deaths occur annually, pro- '
ducing an annual increase in the
population of 100000. To this must
be added the net increase resulting
from immigration and emigration. !
On July 1, 1926, the population of the /
United States as thus estimated was
l17,196, ,00O." Proposals have been
made by Government officials to take
a census every five years.
There are one or two measures
pending in Congress concerning a
National divorce law. The question
If divorce has been revived of late,
ind the Census Bureau has present !
I'd some interesting figures based
lpon study completed last June.
IN the basis of reports from 80 per
,ent of the country "the number of
marriages so far reported shows a
light decrease, as compared with
he number reported from the same
States and counties for 1924, but the
lumber of divorces shows an in
.rease of not quite per cent, or
bout twice the percentage of in
rease in the general population of
he United States" On June 80 the
vailable reports showed for 1925
16,S61 marriages and 15S,646 di-
orces, as compared with a total of
1888 marriages and 170,952 di-
orces reported for the year 1924.
Romance still lives despite these
Encouraging figures.
%O9
AS long as so many persons are
atisfied with the veneer of life
here will be plenty of it.
Human nature today is very much
S it has been recorded in history,
kept that there is more of it.
EVER FUR ANIMALS