Milford chronicle., 1927-01-28
2oS
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

SoS
ORR WASHINGTON LETTER
(From National Editorial Association)
Especial to Chronicle)
Washington, d. C.-January 20
Legislative affairs have reached the
stage where they are being clocked.
The element of time is foremost in
the discussions in Congress these
days. Whenever a proposition is
mentioned and demand made for it's
enactment the alibi artists call at
tention to the fact that the time is
all too short" The defeat of many
meritorious measures throught post
pOnement in their consideration by
the Senate and House is inevitable.
The result is that Washington is
thronged with legislative represen-
tatives of organized groups in fin
al effort to obtain action on bills
which they deem of vital Importance
in their particular field of endeavor.
No race horse was ever more care
fully clocked than the present Con-
gress.
Though several gestures have
been made by legislators interested
in farm conditions, it is generally
recognized that no serious effort
will be made to take up the agri-
cultural problem at this session. 1t
appeared for time that some emer-
gency legislation giving financial re-
lief to stricken agricultural areas
would be enacted. Attempts to
amend some of these bills to relieve
the difficulties of the cotton growers
and other amendments is said to
have brought about an impasse.
The flight of time is recognized to
such an extent that some legislators
are resorting to parliamentary
tricks to obtain action on measures
they sponsor. The favored method is
to offer amendments to apprOpria-
ton bills from the floor of the Sen
ate and House, hoping that no OBJ
lection will be made to the cOnsid-
Grafton of the amendment. The
chances are against the finad adop-
ton of amendments of this sort, but
frequently political situations leave
no alternative.
The furry in Latin-American af-
fairs is having a salutary effect on
the preparedness program. Nobody
in high official-circles seriously con-
siders a war with the southern re-
public. The discussion has brought
about an intensified study of nation
al defense. The Congressional Rec
ord is filled daily with patriotic dis
cussions concerning the effective
ness of the Army and Navy. The
committees of Congress dealing
with the military and naval estab-
lishments are beseiged by earnest
advocates of preparedness and dis
armament, with the result that COM
mittee members are hard pressed in
their efforts to serve. Years ago
congressman had a job which was
regarded as sinecure, but now-a-
days if he fulflls his duties the po-
sition calls for real work.
Now that the public buildings
bill, carrying millions for post
offices, has become a law the .Secre-
tary of the Treasury and the Post
master General are besieged with
requests from various communities
to consider local patronage. In other
words, they want new buildings |
erected in their particular territor-
les. The public buildings bill, how
ever, confines the appropriations to !
certain projects SO that cabinet Off
GERS have little lee-way in the mat |
ter. Government buildings valued !
at $5O,OOO,OOO will be erected in
washington within the next five
years. This work is necessary be-
cause many important government
agencies are housed in privately
owned buildings at excess rentals,
so that true economy will be effect
ed in housing them in government
structures. Construction work has
not started, as some differences ex-
ist between the city planners and
officials. Every effort
is made to maintain the reputation
of Washington as "The City Beau
tiful."
WEATHER PHILOSOPHY