Evening star., 1928-11-11
CONGRESS FACES
IMPORTANT SESSION.;
Opinion Divided on Need Of
Special Call for Farm
Relief.

BY the Associated Press.
Faced with q batch Of unfinished
business for the approaching short ses-
sion of the old Congress, leaders are
beginning TO take stock Of the out
look. with a difference of opinion over
whether q special session for farm relief
will be necessary.
The Boulder Canyon Dam bill has
first call In the Senate. This measure
of Senator johnson Of California ran
into q stubborn filibuster from Arizona
Senators last session and despite indi-
cations that it will be permitted to
come to a vote at this time, there Is
no doubt that 1t will require several
weeks Of debate.
Appropriation Bills Due.
The administration will center atten-
ton on passage Of the appropriation
bills. Boulder Dam and appropriation
measures alone will occupy probably the
first two months of the session. More
over, the administration 10 ready TO
put pressure on the naval construction
DlOSI dHl, dnCddy dpRAOFCu Ny Vic
House, and seek ratification by the
Senate of the recently negotiated
Kellogg BRAND treaty for the re-
nounciation of war.
While Chairman McNary OF the Sem
ate agriculture committee Is ready to
seek passage of a new falm relief bill
acceptable to the administration. and
believes 1t can be put into law at this
session, other leaders admit the load
OF unfinished business offers q possible
obstacle.
Herbert Hoover has declared a will
ingness to call special session of the
new Congress after next March 4 to
take up farm relief. If necessary, and
with this assurance there are signs that
some Of the farm leaders are willing to
bide their time and take the question
up in the special session with more
leisure. Congressional leaders feel that
the McNary- -Haugen bill, with its IA
nous equalization fee provision, which
was twice vetoed by President Coolidge,
Is now dead.
Some are hopeful that new meas
ure, along the fines of farm board, as
outlined by Hoover and Senator Curtis,
his running mate, In tile campaign,
might be adopted without diff1culty.
No Program Mapped Out.
But leaders have mapped out no pro-
gram. Senator Curtis the Republican
pilot, conferred today with President
Coolidge, but this conversation, like
most Of the discussions at this time,
revolved largely around the recent elec-
tion and Its reactions. Another ques-
ton facing Senate Republicans is the
selection Of leader to succeed Senator
Curtis, who Is expected to retire about
the first OF the year preparatory to as
sun1ing his office of Vice President.
Senator Curtis, however, has not de-
cided when he will retire.
Likewise, the Republicans really be-
gun to disentangle the snarl expected
in the selection of successor to Curtis.
Several Senators are now In the race,
including Watson Of indiana, Jones of
Washington and Fess Of Ohio, from the
West. and Reed Of Pennsylvania and
Moses OF New Hampshire from the
East ta -.s .a.,..
1t is entirely possible that sectionalism
may play part In the determination,
with both Hoover and Curtis coming
from the West. .ea..-
Muscle Shoals, which occupied much
time last session to result In the refusal
Of President Coolidge to approve the
bill sent to him by the two houses,
may also receive consideration at the
short session, but Senator Norris, Re-
publican, Nebraska. prime mover Of the
proposed legislation now indicates that
he will look to the courts rather than
to Congress. He takes the view that
the recent elections will strengthen the
opposition and that 1t would be i'm
possible to get enough votes to pass
veto. For that reason he Is hopeful
that the courts will hold that the bill
which the President refused to sign on
the last day Of last session became law
without his signature and did not die
from pocket veto.