Evening star., 1927-12-05
The Seventieth Congress.

For the SEVENTEEN time since the
beginning of Government under the
Federal Constitution the Congress
chosen by the people of the United
States assemblies today for session.
It is faced with a heavy task Of
duties to perform. It's program is
unusually long and the items in it
are complex and difficult. There is
doubt whether it can be completed
in it's entirety and some expectation
Is felt that the session will continue
through the Summer, unless political
expediency brings about a burst Of
speed in June to permit adjournment
on the eve of the presidential nom
mating conventions.
There are three major items Of busi
ness for the two houses to dispose Of
IL the public expectations are full.
filled. One Of these is tax reduction,
the measure for which has been pre-
pared and will today be introduced in
the House of Representatives. It's
passage by that house is expected be-
fore the Christmas recess, but even
with unusual expedition in the Sen
ate there will be difficulty in getting
the law enacted in season to affect
the current taxes for the calendar
year soon to open.
Farm relief Is another item, about
the fate Of which there is much ques-
tion. 1t is difficult problem, in
volving political as well as economic
considerations. Various measures for
the amelioration of the agricultural
conditions have been advanced.
There is no agreement between the
several groups of farm interests. De-
spite its defeat by veto last session
the McNary- -Haugen bill is favored by
some. Others urge a modification of
that measure, designed to meet the
Executive objections. There is no
certain prospect Of enactment, al.
though the need of some form Of leg
fslation for the relief of the farmers
In recognized as urgent.
Flood control will command the in
terested attention of Congress, per-
haps to the close of the session. For
the question is of magnitude, with
technical and economic aspects that
complicate it. The floods of last Sum-
mer in the Mississippi Valley cost
tremendously. It is felt that they can
be checked, IL not wholly prevented,
by the adoption of comprehensive
project that will cost enormously and
will cover several years in execution,
but will serve as an insurance against
disaster. The outlook for some such
act Of relief is brighter than for many
another item on the congressional
calendar.
The appropriation bills will, Of
course, constitute an imperative fea-
ture of the session. There is sufficient
time to complete this task, without
any such omissions as that Of last
session, which was permitted to end
without action upon an important
budget measure, the failure Of which
caused complications and wrought
much distress.
1t is expected that record-break
Ing flood Of proposals for legislation
will be loosed today, in both houses
public bills, private bills, resolutions,
some Of them meritorious, some un-
worthy, many proposed without ex-
pectation of action. There is no way
to stint these offerings to the con-
gressional grist mill. With a cam
paign year ahead, they will be printed
by the thousands, distributed by
their proponents as evidences of
political good faith, serving, with the
speeches to be delivered-or printed
by consent in the Record-as campaign
material.
Tax reduction Is assured, in one
form or another. Flood control is
likewise well assured. Farm relief
is not so certain, but 1t is probable.
Appropriations are requisite. Other
wise there is no possibility Of fore
cast Of the outcome Of the session.
II the three major items. together
with the appropriations. are worked
out to satisfactory enactment, the
Congress will have done well by the
country, however long it may remain.