Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-06
An Important Session.

The SeVenty-f1rSt Congress squared
away today for its long, regular ses-
sion, the session which in the life of
every Congress is devoted to general
legislation and the session upon which
the administration must rely for action
upon its recommendations. The Christ
mas holidays are behind the present
Congress. The session is likely to last
for six months or more and to be an
active one, with politics vying with
legislative work for the spotlight.
The Seventy-first Congress is no
stranger to Washington. 1t met first
in April on call of President Hoover
to deal with farm relief legislation and
the tariff. Had there been no call of
a special session and had Congress as
sembled for its first session in Deem
Der, very different situation would be
presented today. Much water has run
over the dam since last April, and much
has been accomplished, despite the
critics of the administration and the
Congress.
In the first place, the most far
reaching and effective measure in the
interests of agriculture has been writ
ten into law and its operations have
already benefited the farmers of Amer
lea to great degree. Had there been
no special session. the Congress would
now be facing long wrangle over that
measure, and the farmers would be
waiting, patiently or impatiently, for
the Government to do something. In
the second place, the tariff revision
bill is now in position where it should
be passed by the Senate in four or five
weeks and sent to conference. IN
doubtedly the wisdom of the call of
the special session has been demon
strated.
It is true that Western and Eastern
Republicans have fallen out over the
tariff. But they would have fallen out
In any event, and the probabilities are
that the G. o. P. will now 60 into the
congressional campaign this year with
q tariff revision law on the statute
books, instead OF bill pending in Con-
gress, as might have been the case had
no special session been held.
The Congress has considerable
program ahead. It has at least one
constructive measure behind it, under
taken since the opening of the regular
session in December at the instance
of President Hoover, the tax reduction
law. In addition to dealing with the
tariff bill, the Congress will be called
upon to enact legislation to aid id the
enforcement Of prohibition, upon rec
ommendation of the President and his
Law Enforcement Commission. The
question Of prohibition enforcement has
been agitated vigorously in recent weeks
and is likely to lead to much debate
on Capitol Hill. If not to a congress
sional inquiry.
Further legislation is needed, 1t is
said, to bring about the consolidation
Of railroads. Amendments to the flood
control act must be put through. In
the Senate, If time permits, the ad-
herence Of the United States to the
World Court, under the revised statutes
Of that tribunal, may come up for con-
sideration and action.
The Congress, too, will await with
keen interest the results of the London
Conference on naval limitation. Upon
the results of that conference will
hinge the character of some of the
legislation which the present Congress
must enact. It Is the expectation of
many Of the leaders that treaties deal
ing with naval armament will grow
out of the conference, and these treaties
doubtless will be submitted promptly
to the Senate for its approval.
1t Is full program. therefore, which
awaits the legislators. An election,
coming in November, will be a strong
factor in bringing about as early an
adjournment as possible. All the mem
bers Of the House must stand for re-
election and one-third of the Senate.
The candidates for reelection will feel
the need of being on the ground to
make their campaigns. They must,
however, go to their constituencies with
as formidable record OF accomplish
ment as possible to recommend them
for denomination and reelection.
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