Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-09
Politics ait Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

Sucn influences as have been at work
in an effort to forestall a special ses-
sion OF Congress, on the theory that
the country and business generally are
happier when the National Legislature
| is away from Washington, apparently
have been unsuccessful. The one thing
which could have prevented special
SeSSion-the enactment now of farm
relief bill-seems entirely improbable
before March 4.
The farmers themselves, as repre-
sented in their organizations, have been
waiting for this legislation for more
than four years. Politics more than any
other one thing has delayed the enact
ment of farm relief law: and, in a
measure, politics continues to place OBJ
stacles in the way of prompt action
The proponents of the old McNary-
Haugen farm BILL with its equalization
fee principle, are hostile to President
Coolidge. They do not wish to see
farm bill put through now in the clos
ing days of the Coolidge administra-
ton, with the credit going to Mr. Cool
idge. Further, they hope to obtain a
more liberal farm bill at the hands of
the new Congress. and Mr.. Hoover. So
these farm organizations and their Rep
resentatives in Congress are content to
wait few months more before seeing
a farm bill go through.
| X X \ X
The Democrats are insisting that any
farm bill enacted into law must have
! the Hoover o. K. They are willing
too, that a special session shall be
called soon after Mr.. Hoover takes Office
| on the theory that with Congress here
! the new Republican administration may
be harassed. Like Mr.. Micawber, the
Democrats are hoping for something to
| turn up which will be of assistance
| to them in the congressional elections
in 1890 They think that the Hoover
farm bill, when it is enacted into law.
may not prove. after all, the help which
the farmers desire. They see, too.
chance for Republican disfavor in the
revision of the tariff which Is expected
to come at a special session of the
| Congress.
The difficulties of special session
soon after he is inaugurated have been
pictured to Mr.. Hoover at considerable
length by some of the Republican lead
ers, among them Senator Fess of Ohio.
But Mr. Hoover does not seem to have
been particularly impressed. Indeed,
! there is reason to believe that Mr..
/ Hoover will not seek by any action of
his own to prevent special session.
There are problems. including both the
farm problem and that relating to the
! tariff revision. which his administration
must meet. He is not the kind to seek
to avoid their consideration or to delay
when action has been promised.
| y x X x
With the Kellogg treaty renouncing
war soon to be disposed of, whether it
be this week or the first of next, a
real fight is looming up over the bill
to construct Is modern cruisers for the
Navy The pacifiSt element in the
country has trained its guns on the
cruiser bill and is doing all it can to
prevent the passage of the bill at the
present short session. If it cannot de-
feat the bill, then it wishes the number
of cruisers authorized cut down to 10
or 5. So far it appears that the cruiser
bill will go through the Senate by a
brought to vote. There is not the
slightest doubt that the Navy needs
these cruisers. Since the ratification
of the Washington treaty limiting naval
armament, the United States has done
practically no building, and there has
been no effort to keep the Navy up to
the $3.50 ratio established at the Wash
ington conference for this country,
Great Britain and Japan. Senator
Hale, chairman of the naval affairs
committee. is doing all he can to bring
the bill to a vote. He is strongly OPP
posed to striking from the bill the
provision calling for the laying down
of these new cruisers within specified
time, notwithstanding the fact that
President Coolidge recommended that
provision be taken from the bill and the
matter of laying down the cruisers thus
be left largely to the discretion OF the
Chief Executive. The House passed
the bill with the time limit provision
and doubtless would stand strongly for
! 1t in any event. To remove this pro-
viding for a paper" Navy.
/ x X X X
The opponents of the cruiser bill in
| the Senate are urging the critics OF
the Kellogg treaty to continue to de-
bate that measure. Every day con-
sumed in debate of the treaty naturally
brings the end of the present session
nearer and makes f1libuSter against
the cruiser bill more effective. 1t hap
pens, however. that some of the critics
of the treaty, including Senator Moses
| of New Hampshire and Senior Reed of
Missouri, are friendly to the cruiser bill.
| They apparently have SenSed the Situa-
ton and are seeking now to bring about
| an adjustment whereby the treaty may
/ be disposed of and at the same time
given to the world that this country has
reservations" regarding the treaty.
If the cruiser bill is not forced to a
vote, the measure dies and will have to
| be brought up anew in the next Con-
gress. Mr. Hoover has indicated in his
speeches that he believes in adequate
national defense. 1t is possible that the
cruiser bill might be taken up and put
| through at the proposed special session
along with farm legislation and tariff
revision. There would be no constitu-
tional time limit to end that session of
Congress and If necessary it might run
right along until the next regular Ses-
sion in December. 1t is quite clear, how
ever. that if the pacifiStS are successful
in Stalling off the cruiser bill at this
present session, they will do their best
| to impress the incoming President with
their demand that these cruisers be not
constructed.
| Mr.. Hoover, now that he has returned
| to Washington. is getting mere advice
than any other man in the world. Re-
publican leaders and near leaders are
going to him in droves with recon-
mendations for this or that legislation,
and particularly with recommendations
| for appointment to cabinet and other
offices. Perhaps he has taken a wise
course in coming to Washington and
letting them blow off steam. He plans
| to leave here the first part of next
week to go to Florida. There he may
have rest and an opportunity to di-
gest all the information and advice he
has been given. So far there has been
no real indication he has picked any
| members of his cabinet. He is listen
ing to the recommendations for these
key positions in the administration with
out committing himself But sooner or
later he must make his selections.
X X
Representative Box of Texas, newly
elected Democratic whip of the House