Evening star., 1930-12-16
Special Session.

Public opinion, as expressed by the
press generally, men of business and
the leaders Of both major political par
ties, Is averse to a special session Of
the newly elected Congress this coming
Spring. Business, If the reports are to
be credited, looks askance at the pos
sibility Of special session because OF
Legislative uncertainty" The legisla-
tor, provided he be proper legislator
has the interests Of the country at heart
when he legislates. The politician on
the other hand has foremost In his
thoughts his own personal political in
terests and those Of his party. Too often
the legislator Is lost in the politician
That Is one reason why the country
generally prefers to see the Congress
adjourn on March not to return until
the following December. Especially
does this hold true when the business
OF the country is seeking a recovery
from a depression which has been
far more extended than was at first be-
lieved to be the case The country, ac-
cording to the leaders, and to the press,
editorially expressed, desires q breath
ing spell.
Unless the leaders in Congress, both
Republican and Democratic. experience
change in heart, it appears prob
able that the special session Is to be
avoided. Obviously, with the political
margin between the two parties almost
at the vanishing point In the next
Congress, the going is not likely to be
smooth for either. The Republicans in
the House have 218 to 2l6 for the
Democrats and / for the Farmer-Labor
party. In the Senate the count stands
4s Republicans, Al Democrats and /
Farmer Laborite. An insurgent mi
nority on either side Of the Chamber
might cause trouble for the party
leadership.
The Republican leaders are opposed
to q special session Of Congress, realiz-
ing that If they organize the two houses
Of Congress, as they probably viii do
when the time comes, the country
viii continue to look to the @. o. P. TO
help 1t cut Of the depressed condition,
and at the same time, with the Norrises,
the La FolIettes and the Borahs, the
Republican majority in the Senate and
IN the House Is merely nominal. The
Democrats for their part, fresh from
victory at the polls In many congress
siohal and senatorial districts, fear that
il the new Congress Is called into session
in the Spring, and no really conStruc-
tive measures are put through, the
country win say to itself: OF what
avail to elect Democrats?
The leadership Of Senator Robinson
Of Arkansas In the Senate Is impress
ing itself more and more on the Demo-
Gratis. Even those who at first were
inclined TO cavil at the statement signed
by the Democratic leader Of the Senate,
Leader Garner Of the House Democrats,
and five other leading Democrats Of the
country. are beginning to realize that
the country Is rather sick of politics IS
played on Capitol Hill and prefers con-
structive legislation. Senator Robin
son has urged q proper measure Of CO.
operation with the Republicans In order
to speed emergency. legislation. This is
no apology. for Democratic victory at
the polls. It is sound common sense
when the country Is in need of what
ever assistance the Congress can give It.
II 1t could be followed through in the
next Congress, then the threat Of spe-
cial session in the Spring would not
have such terrors for the country. The
next Congress, however. viii be con-
cerned with the national election In
1882. Both parties win strive for as
tendency and for political gain.