Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-16
HOUSE KEPT BUSY
BY CONSTITUENTS
Members Receive Numerous
"Axes to Grind" as
Session Begins.

The great American constituent and
his multitudinous requests are expected
to keep House members busy during
the special session, regardless of how
rigidly the leaders are able to limit the
legislative program.
The curb on legislation under the
present plan will mean, at least for
most of the session, organization of
committees on which only 70 of the
435 Representatives are serving. OF
these, approximately so members of
the agricultural and ways and means
bodies will complete their respective
tasks of preparing farm relief and tariff
revision legislation early in the session.
But they and the members free of COM
mittee duties will have plenty to do.
Almost every Representative daily
has score or more of matters pre-
sented by mail or in person by consti-
tuentS or interests in his district which
necessitate his seeking information from
Governmental departments or endeav-
oring to get some governmental action
favorable to his section.
Often Is Kept on Jump.
During regular session, with morn
Ing committee meetings, the Represent
atlve often is hard pressed to perform
his secretary. But the special session
is regarded by many House members
as an ideal opportunity to give per-
sonal attention to their constituents
request-and they can think of few
better wa5's to build up political fences.
Furthermore, the limited legislation
program has not deferred large num-
Der of House members from plans to
accomplish enactment of their legisla-
tive ideas and measures. More than
500 bills have been introduced and
hundreds more are expected within
few days, although under the present
program there is little, if any, hope
of action on them until the regular
session in December.
For the new member, the committee
less extra session Is viewed as an
advantage. Veteran Representatives
declare that the members can learn
more about the actual operation of the
House legislative machinery under
such circumstances than at regular
session. with committee meetings and
efforts to obtain passage of their own
legislation.
The flood of bills began in the House
as the special session opened yesterday
despite determination of Republican
leaders to confine the activities of
committees to farm relief and tariff
revision.
In contrast, not a measure was pre-
sented in the Senate. But many are
expected there in the days ahead.
The leading measure-the farm re-
lief bill-Was given the number 'one"
and goes to the committee on agricul-
ture.
All other measures that could be
handled yesterday were referred by the
Speaker after conference with Repub-
lican leaders, to the committees which
at 3 regular session would receive them.
But these committees are not to be Or
ganized, under the plan of majority
leaders, so Just what status these bills
have is question.
Failed of Passage Before.
Although many of the measures were
of national Importance, affecting immi-
grafton, tariff. industrial, market gov
erning. narcotic and other laws, most
were revised bills which had failed of
passage before
Representative SABBATH Democrat, Of
Illinois, introduced resolution attack
ing the constitutionality of the prohibi-
ton law and declaring it was "brutally
and cruelty enforced" He asked that
orders be issued to enforcement officers
to restrict activities to manufacturers
and bootleggerS and ito desist from ha-
RAISING and annoying citizens In their
homes"
A bill to provide $5,000,0O0,000 for
construction of Nationwide system Of
hard-Surfaced post roads was introduced
by Representative Holiday, Republican,
of Illinois. This measure provides for
issuance Of bonds to finance the project.
A bill sponsored by Chairman Porter
of the House foreign affairs committee
authorizes the President to place an en-
barge on expectation of arms and mu-
nitions to belligerent nations.
A resolution by Representative Fish,
Republican, of New York, to prohibit
expectation of arms and munitions to
belligerant nations, was given the num-
Der zone" for House joint resolutions.
Representative Burtness, Republican,
of North Dakota, offered a measure to
provide for sterilization of the purchas-
ing power of money
Aliens would be excluded in the count
of persons for reapportionment of House
members under bill filed by Repre-
sentative Stalker, Republican, of New
York.
Representative Cross, Democrat, of
Texas, introduced measure providing
$S00,000,000 to stabilize the price of cot
ton by taking the surplus of the mar
bet In times of overproduction.
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