Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-01
The Short Session.

The final session of abe SEVENTEEN congress. which
VIII open Mondss, faces Legislative and diplomatic
questions Of utmost moment. The session will last
exactly three months, including the Christmas recess
Of about ten days, ard the program includes appropria-
ton bills totslling $4,000, 100000. snd such important
measures as the Boulder dam, and farm relief. The
sdfisabiiiiy Of bringing Up the latter is still a subject
q controversy among party leaders, who assert that in
the event the committee reports cut a farm relief bill.
u viii be impossible for the short session to handle
any other legislation.
The Kellogg BRAND treaty 70 outlaw war, consid-
cred the most important diplomatic achievement of re-
cest years. will he weighed By the senate foreign rela-
lions committee, discussed by the senate. and probably
ratified. Senator Borsh. who accepts responsibility for
failure Of che United States t. enter the world court.
and the remnant Of that band Of senators who opposed
and defeated American participation in the League Of
Nations. are evincing = more kindly attitude toward
the Kellogg BRAND treaty, and leaders predict It will
meet no Scriocs opposition.
Despite the repeated requests from agricultural sec
tions, administration leaders have indicated they will
not permit the tariff schedules to be opened. asserting
that in tho event any effort l. made at this time to
extend the protection given agriculture the entire
tariff fabric will be brought under fire and that sew
eral months would be required to work out the con
troversisl features. In fast. their attitude toward the
agricultural tariff is similar 10 that in connection with
farm relief--that the necessity Of passing other meas
ures Of a pressing nature prevents taking up any con
troversisl measure which might delay action indefi-
nitely.
Political writers are forscasting that the short SEES
sion will be replete with plain talk" from both sides
Of the house. The breaking down of party lines in the
November election and the fact that four years will
elapsed before another general election, are factors eN-
pected to contribute to this predicted loosening Of
tosgues. Loyalty to the Coolidge administration cesaed
with the November election, the republican farm bloc
leaders assert. and they further declare they will be
prepared to air the farmers plants with more viEor
than formerly. Just what they expect TO attain by this
"airirg' is rather indefinite. party leaders asserting y
will be intended for "hcme consumption" only.
One subject, above all others. President Coolidge
has emphasized since he entered office. That IL econ
onv in expenditures. He is expected 10 have more to
say about Il IN his annual message. Congress will give
the most careful attention 70 anything the president
may have to say along this line, for II knows the sentt-
ment Of the country u with the White House in the
economy program. The preparation and passage Of the
annual supply bills or appropriation measures VIII 6e
ore Of the chief tasks of the short session. The house
appropriations committee has had various subcoHmit-
Tee. engaged on this task for some days. The prepara-
ton of the bills for the various departments Is as
signed to subcommittee Of the appropriations COM
mit.ees. and when congress opens most Of these bills
will be ready for consideration. Efforts will be made
BIZ the leaders Of the senate and house TO hurry the ar
nual supply bills 50 that all may be passed By March =.
Should any Of the principal annual appropriation
bills fail Of enactment By March A. when the life q
, the Seventeen congress expires, an extra session OF the
NV congress would be inevitable, and this Is what the
administration leaders desire 70 avoid, Il possible. no
definite decision has been reached as % the advis-
ehiIitv Of an extra session, and until such decision n
.rnourcsd the short session may BE- relied upon 20
hurry through appropriations with al haste possible