The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-01
HOOVER FACED
HEAVY SESSION
IN FIRST YEAR
Naval, Tariff and Farm
Issues Big Tax on
Administration.
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
MA Service Writer

President took no summer vacation
and congress, with its short session,
its special session and lately its
regular long session, has been on
the Job much more than in any
ordinary year.
Last New Years day found Her
bert Hoover sailing home from
South America, concluding in his
good will tour the first important
phase of a strong but friendly for
eign policy which he has since car
ried with general approval Even
before taking Office he had begun
what was hailed as a new era of
more amicable relations between
the American republics and his sub
sequent policy has been designed
to foster the improved atmosphere.
Among other things he has under
taken to strengthen the caliber of
our diplomats in those countries.
Although not a great deal has
been definitely accomplished, the
administration has established a
foundation for reduction of military
and naval expenditures in HooverS
public uterances. The year saw
preliminary work completed for the
important London naval limitation
conference which will soon begin,
including the unprecedented per-
sona1 conferences Of Premier RAM
sey Macdonald and President
Hoover in Washington.
Farm Fund Passed
Everywhere, in foreign or domes-
tic affairs, one observes the begin
nings of efforts which, if success
full, Will result in substantial
achievements. Only a few of the
more important can be summarized
in this space.
After Inauguration, Hoover lost
no time in calling the special ses-
sion Of congress to deal with the
farm relief problem and a revi-
sion Of the tariff. The administra-
ton bill providing a federal farm
board with wide powers and a
$500 10000 loan fund became a
law without undue delay. The
board has been actively function
ing for several months, although it
IS too early to predict how effec-
lively it will contribute to solution
Of the agricultural problem.
In December, on President
HoOver's recommendation. congress
in regular session promptly passed
S160,OO0,0OO tax cut measure which
will go into effect this year.
Tariff legislation. the other of
the three most important legisla-
tive measures which the admins
tration sought. is badly begged.
That may be due to Mr.. Hoover'S
unwillingness to make known his
opinion Of the tariff bills cooked
up by the house ways and means
and senate finance committees or
of the drastic revisionS of the
HaWley-SmOot measure which have
been made on the senate floor. But
tariff legislation has been begun
and is rather sure to be completed.
in one fashion or another.
Foreign Debt Big Item
During the summer the admins
tratiOns firm intimation that it
would stand for no more dallying
obtained ratification in Paris of
the Franco-American debt agree
ment. France had to pay $40OO00.-
900 at once in case the agreement
wasn't ratified and Hoover and Sec
rotary of State StimSon refused to
forget about it. But only that much
/. has been actually accomplished. for
many believe that there must be
still further revision of foreign debt
findings.
The President recently directed
the affiXing of Americas signature
to the World Court protocol on the
theory that the senate's reserva-
tons had been met, but this may
not be submitted to the senate for
some time and a fight looms after
which our adherence probably will
be ratified.
The beginnings of what may be
fa<-reaChing reforms have been
made in regard to the yexing and
1ong-standing problem of law en-
fOrcement. The President APP
pointed a committee Of eXtraordin-
arily high grade under the chair
manship of George Wickersham,
primarily in response to wide
spread dissatisfaction with prohi-
bition enforcement conditions. but
also to investigate enforcement and
observance Of all laws Dealing di-
rectly with prohibition he has re-
commended the transfer of the en-
forcement job from the treasury to
the department of justice and the
question is now before congress.
Business As UsuaT'
Acting in the wake of the stock
market crash and anxious to re-
store public confidence as we'll as
to spur business as much as pos
sible. Hoover summoned leaders of
business and industry to Washing
ton in November and talked bust
ness as usual to them. He warned
against wage reductions and urged
all justifiable programs of eXpan-
sion with the promise that the
government would join in the gen.
eral movement. The effect of
Hoover'S emergency measures can
not be judged with eXactitude, but
he believes that confidence was re-
established and that a large amount
Of unemployment and suffering was
prevented.
Due largely to Hoover. there has
appeared the National Business
Survey Conference under the chair
msnSnio OF julius H. Barnes. which
recently appointed an executive
committee including a score of
Americas most important men in
business and industry.