The Washington times., 1930-12-02
HOUSE TO ACT SOON ON MEASURE BARRING LAME DUCK SESSION.
Tillergrans
Of the
Times
BY Theodore Tiller-

by Theodore Tiller-
This column today confirms
the news that the President of
the United States is transmit
ting an annual message to Con.
gress. The message gives the
fellows on the Hill something to
talk about-and how they'll do
it.
The Constitution provides
that a President Shall from
time to time give to the Con
gress information on the State
Of the Union" etc. Presidents
now give information at least
once a year. If he feels in q
writing mood he may send up
a half-dozen a year.
In the days Of Cleveland,
Mckinley. Roosevelt and Taft
it was customary for Congress
to receive a message from the
White House. listen dutifully
to its reading, and refer It's
various proposals to different
committees for consideration.
Today. and since the advent
Of Woodrow Wilson. who re.
Vved the oldtime way by per.
sonally reading q message to
the Congress, no annual com.
munication of the President is
regarded as complete unless 1t
is followed by comment" E.
This means that newspaper
men nowadays go around the
Capitol corridors as soon as a
Presidents message GENES In
and ask nearly everybody
what do you thing Of it?"
It may be expected that to
morrow's papers will carry
dozens Of so-called comments.
1t is fairly easy today to fore.
cast them, remembering that
they change as Republican and
Demo ocra tic administrations
come and go.
For instance a message from
a Republican President is filled
with flaws from o Democratic
viewpoint and vice versa.
Let us now forecast the
comments" upon the message
sent in today by President
Hoover:
Administration leader-It was
a great state document. In all
my years in Congress I do not
think I have ever listened to q
more comprehensive. able and
brilliant message. Il will be
the duty Of Congress to carry
out the wishes Of our great
Chief Executive.
Anti Administration leader:
The Presidents message is good
in spots. Nevertheless, he leaves
out a lot Of things he might
have said and he put In several
things he might well have
omitted.
The Congress will go slow In
its consideration Of the annual
message.
Old time Democrat: The
message lacked the punch that
Grover Cleveland would have
put into it. And it lacked the
brilliancy of the addresses to
Congress by Woodrow Wilson
Frankly. am disappointed.
1nsurgent Republican: The
message skipped over several Of
my projects. I don't think
much of 1t and am about ready
to start q filibuster.
Folks sitting in the galleries
Of the Senate and House in.
variably are thrilled when a
message from the President ar.
rtves in either body. There is
quite q ceremony about such
an arrival. All members of Con.
greSs know that on the second
day of every new session there1l
come a message in writing"
from the White House, but this
knowledge does not extend to
everybody in the galleries.
Here is substantially the pro.
cedure, taking the House for
illustration:
One of the assistant secre.
taries to the President, attired
in so called morning dress.
reaches the big door leading to
the center aisle Of the House.
Bert w. Kennedy. the House
doorkeeper-in-chief. Is awaiting
him and each catches the
others eye. so to speak.
Doorkeeper Kennedy. escort
ing the White House messenger
halfway down the aisle. awaits
a nod Of recognition from the
Speaker and then Kennedy,
bowing low, says:
"Mr. Speaker, a message
from the President Of the
United States"
And Bert can put a lot of for
mality into those few words.
The White House assistant sec
retary or clerk then bows low
and impartS the following in.
formation:
MMr- Sneaker. I am hirnnAna