The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1927-02-10
Washington Letter

| heavy trading may be found these
| days. In the cloak rooms and on
the floor of the Senate and House
| the well-lnown game of barter
ing is openly played. The Sixty
ninth Congress will automatically
expire on March a, and political
trading is highly essential. The
legislative jam at present has
reached such proportions that no
one can predict with any degree
of certainty as to the final out
come. It is believed that many
important legislative measures
which the country expected would
be written into the statutes will
never reach a vote.
There are two or three individ-
| uals in the Senate, particularly,
who are notorious for blocking leg
lislation by utilizing parliamentary
devices available under the pres
ent rules of procedure. AS a rule
these men are haranged privately
in the cloak rooms, and sometimes
at their desks on the floor by SEN
ators promoting certain measures
and fearing THE prolonged objec-
tions, which will prevent a vote.
| Usually on one day of every week
the Senate has a calendar day."
or an agreement to vote on these
measures which they place on the
schedule or calendar"
The Calendar is not more than
a list of bills, orders and resolu-
tions which are to be taken up con-
secutively unless otherwise pro
vided. In the corridors and in
private offices of senators and con-
gressmen visitors to Washington
hear the words Unanimous con.
sent" 1t is a parliamentary rue
which gives one man the power to
block or delay action On important
measures. By simply stating Oh
lection to the consideration Of the
bill lone obiectoc may postpone
vote on hundreds of measures.
Hence, the over:l res from prop m-
ents of various measures in the
oak rooms.
Politicians, generally, are won
dering as to the possible outcome
of an alliance between the advo-
Gates of farm relief and branch
bank legislation. 1t has been Gus
tomary to find banking organiza-
tions opposed to organized farm
groups, but these economic blocs
have banded together, apparently,
to force consideration of their re-
spected proposals. 1t has been re-
ferred to facetiously as 'tthe union
of Wall and Main Streets. The
outcome of this unusual combina-
ton may have an effect upon the
organization of the Seventeen
Congress. The feeling exists that
the sponsors for branch banks and
farm legislation in reality want I'd
place the blame for the failure OF
the legislation on the President
for political reasons.
AS this session draws to close
those interested in pending legis-
lation have sufficient grounds for
concern. Of the eleven appropria-
ton bills necessary for the main
tenance of the Federal govern
ment only three have been written
into a law. The House has one
or two measures to whip into
shape, but there is little controv-
ersy at that end of the Capitol.
The Senate Finance Committee is
holding sessions daiiv f,r the pur-
pose of restoring similar measures
to the Senate. Unless these bills
are passed by March 4 the Presi-
dent will be obligel to call an ex-
ira session of Congress. There are
certain groups having this situa-
ton in mind, and are doing their
best to contribute to legislative
snarl.
For the second time within a
year impeachment proceedings are
under way in the House in regard
to charges against Federal Judge
Cooper of New York. 1t is alleged
that he conspired with prohibition
enforcement officers in methods
calculated to entrap law violators.
Claim is advanced that he violated
the rules of the judiciary.
Perhaps the busiest man in
Washington today is the Chinese
Ambassador. Mr.. SEE, educated
in American colleges md a close
student of public opinion III Amer
lea, is constantly in confereI. e
with the Secretary Of State, IN |
watching closely the mobilization
of naval forces in Chinese waters.
The Chinese trouble has temper
arily side-tracked the Mexican
controversy in official Washing ion.
There has been some sporadic de-
bate in Congress and some state
ments issued by the Ad,ninistra-
ton, but it has Loss It's place as a
principal topic of conversation.
The Senate has eight appropria-
ton bills still to be considered.
The Senate Finance Committee has
been working on the alien proper
ty bill, but the proposed Senate
bill is not acceptable to the Ger
man nationals. The milk importa-
ton bill provoked considerable dis
cussion during the week. The
Southwest and West. Senators are
considerably agitated over the
Boulder Dam bill and charges and
counter-charges are freely passed.
The postal rate bill, which the
publishers of the country and 9th
1 err mail users have endeavored to
bring out Of Congress for eight
years, may be submerged in the
Senate, unless a vote can be
reached.
The radio legislation, which, for
. 49, 4brootonod Tn uncover no.