Milford chronicle., 1928-04-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
From National Editorial ASJOciafiOHl
ESPECIAL TO cHRONICLEl

From National Editorial ASSOciafiOHl
ESPECIAL TO cHRONIcLEl
Neutrality-suspicious. of approaching
summer, which means intense pc
litical activity, are noted in the at
tentiOn that legislators give the
hordes of visitors now flocking tt
Washington for the Easter Season
Machine politics has never YET
reached the stage where the skillful
leaders can afford to ignore the per
sonal element in vote-getting. The
result is that handshaking is now
cultured because the thousands OF
high school groups coming to Wash
ington for the first time will be the
full-hedged citizens and factors OF
, tomorrow. Legislators and their Of
fee aids managed to find time to
greet the delegations so that the
youngsters on returning home will
present friendly opinion of their
representative in the Senate and
House to their seniors.
Aside from visiting historic places,
the chief ambition of visitors COM
lll5 " w dolAlSJOA 10 " AACCL bAC
President at the White House. Be-
cause these visitors come in drOVes
during the holiday season, Mr.. Cool
idges finds it necessary to restrict
handshaking as it would interfere
with political business and subject
him to severe physical strain.
However, it is sometimes possible
for small groups to visit the Chief
Executive through the intercession
of their legislators. The Members of
Congress even go to the extreme of
entertaining an entire delegation,
numbering several hundred students
at the Capitol dining rooms in order
to make an impression on the fu-
ture voters. 1t is not very eXpen-
sive and is undoubtedly good poll
tics.
The most noteworthy development
in Congressional affairs has been
the recognitio nthat this legislative
body can, when the need demands,
prosecute business with dispatch.
The Senate has approved an appro-
priation of $325,000,000 for flood re-
lief in the Mississippi Valley. This
bill carrying an enormous expendi-
ture of taxpayers money was pass
ed within an hour, and completely
upset the plans of certain Senators
who wanted to debate the subject so
that their districts and the country
as a whole would be informed of
their views on this legislation. The
Senate bill conflicts with the plans
advocated by President Coolidge, be-
cause it authorizes the Federal Gov
eminent to assume all responsible
ity without local contributions. The
House bill as now reported calls for
a system of food control which au-
thorizes an appropriation of $473,-
100000 to be administered by flood
control committee appointed by the
President. The differences between
the Senate and House bills will
probably be smoothed out within
few weeks, for there is a marked
difference between the two measures.
It is said that President Coolidge
will not let his plan stand in the
way of flood relief, provided an
agreement can be reached between
the Senate and House within reas-
enable time.
Investigating committees of Con-
gress are encountering legal snags
in their fishing expeditions" as
their searches into private files are
called. The West Virginia coal pro-
pritors have refused to give data on
production costs to a Senate commit
tee and other committees are meet |
ing with similar difficulties. It takes |
4 bold individual or strong organiza-
lion to stand out against Congress
sional pressure and demand their
rights, when search
light of political investigation is
.urned on their affairs.
It appears that the question of un-
will figure prominently
n the political campaigns this sum-
ner. The Department of Labor sub
nitted a report on this subject to the
senate a few days ago and their fig
res were Immediately challenged.
he debate seems to center on how
much prosperity is due to political
arties.
The tax program has been revised
S a result of estimates prepared by
he Treasury Department, based
pom income tax returns of March
5. Estimates submitted to the SEN
tie Finance Committee this week ]
how that the tax receipts will be
pproximately $4,000, 100000, which
ill permit, it is assumed, a moder- I
te tax reduction. The estimated
1rplus for 1929 is $215,000, 900,
hich is far below the tax reduction
roposal of the House Of Represen-
Ltives. These items will be thrash
out in the Senate Finance Com /
ittee during the next few days. !
oubt exists as to the ability Of the
enate and House to reach an
before Congress adjourns
tie in May.
THE Nnnn nm nave