Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-24
FLOOD Of BUSINESS
CONFRONTS SENATE
Passage of Tariff Measure
Will Break Extensive Legis-
Iative lam.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Passage of the tariff bin by the Sen
ate will break the legislative jam which
has piled up all general legislation there
since the Christmas recess, but breath
ing spell for the remainder of the week
is in prospect before this pile of pro-
posals is given attention.
Two House bills increasing appropria-
tons for public building construction
and for Federal road aid will be pressed
for early decisions by administration
leaders, although the Norris resolution
providing for Government operation of
Muscle Shoals has been decreed the
order of business by Senator Watson
of Indiana, the majority leader.
viii Sandwich" Money Bills.
The series of annual appropriation
bills also is waiting attention on the
Senate calendar. Senator Norris, Re-
publican, of Nebraska, the author OF
The Muscle Shoals legislation, has agreed
to sandwich In" these bills during con-
sideration of his legislation.
The long threatened explosion in the
Senate on prohibition is the subject
most eagerly awaited. A thorough air
ing of the Senate'S views on the dry
law, including possibly a vote on the
resolution of Senator Blaine, Republic
can, of wisconsin, for repeal of the
eighteenth amendment is promised as
soon as Muscle Shoals is out OF the way.
The House bill transferring the pro-
hibition enforcement service from the
Treasury to the Justice Department will
lNe l,a yolN oil Pc
bate. All agree that the House bill
viii be passed. But there is consider
able disagreement over the proposal OF
Senator Norris for Senate investiga-
ton of prohibition enforcement.
The Norris resolution for an inquiry
into the administration of the dry law
comes before the judiciary committee
again today, but the author was not
ready to press it to . vote at this time.
There is every indication that the reso-
luton will be rejected by the judiciary
committee, but threats have been made
to carry the fight to the Senate floor.
Expect Adjournment In June.
Senator CouzenS, Republican, of
Michigan has two bills pending for re-
organization of the Federal Power Com
mission and for increasing the authority
of the commission. He will urge that
dCbiOu Dc ldkcl OIl tAiCSc.
June l is the earliest date at which
congressional leaders hope for an adj
journment Of the session, but they con-
cede that June rs is just as apt to be
the likely quitting time.
It is election year and that will con-
tribute 10 O general speeding up of
work, it Is believed, in order that the
legislators may go to the political chores
at home.
A real controversy Is in prospect over
the postwar problem of disposition of
the gigantic Muscle Shoals power
project in Alabama. Ever since the
war ended Congress has been quarrel
ing over this project. For several years
a bid of Henry Ford for the plant was
the subject of discussion, but the motor
car magnate finally withdrew his offer.
The Norris resolution for Government
operation was adopted two years ago by
Congress, but President Coolidge gave
1t a pocket veto. The attitude of
President Hoover is eagerly awaited. In
this connection considerable interest
attaches to the recent testimony before
the Senate lobby committee by Chair
man Huston of the Republican national
committee, an intimate of the Presi-
dents, that he sought legislation to give
the project to private interests. He did
this in his capacity as president of the
Tennessee River improvement ASsocia-
ton before he became chairman of the
party
1t is likely that the report Of the
lobby committee on HuSton's activities
will be presented to the Senate at the
time the Muscle Shoals legislation is
considered.