Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
DELAYS POINT WAY
TO EXTRA SESSION
Wishes of Members May Be
Upset by Jam Forcing
Congress Call.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

An extra session of Congress is now
almost certain. Delays in the legisla-
tive process have been such that with
only a few weeks remaining of the
present session there is likely to be
much important legislation left unfin-
ished, even without forcing the issue by
dilatory tactics, as is sometimes the
case when minority elements wish to
compel an extra session.
Opposition to the idea OF having the
new Congress assemble earlier than
next December comes principally from
the business element of the country,
who feel that the economic situation
would be psychologically improved if
Congress finished its business on March
4 and took a rest until next December.
During the last fortnight, however,
indications have come to members of
Congress from various quarters that,
aside from the business group, the idea
of an extra session is more or less a
matter of indifference, but that an eX-
ira session is being urged on account
Of the economic depression itself.
Argue for Session.
Admitting that the present crisis is
one of the worst in the history of the
country, many members of Congress
are saying that it would be mistake
to leave the country entirely in the
hands Of the executive branch of the
Government. Should an emergency
arise requiring a sudden call for an
extra session, the damaging effect on
business would probably be extensive,
because it would tend to accentuate
theoretical condition which might not
exist.
With the power to raise money to
levy bond issues and otherwise to APP
propriate for current needs solely in
the hands of Congress, the opinion is
being advanced now by Senators that
the public would not understand a sit
uation in which members of Congress
were at home and the machinery Of the
legislative branch was stopped from
March to December.
Naturally there is q political side to
this question of an extra session. It
involves the question of control. NO
body will know until vote Is taken
whether the Republicans or the Demo-
Gratis actually have a majority. There
is a disposition among some Repub-
licans to argue that the Democrats
ought to be permitted to organize the
House Of Representatives and assume
full responsibility before the country.
This could be accomplished very easily
If three or four Republican members
happened to be absent from the OPEN
ing session-something not at all i'm
possible, anyway, because Of illness or
other reasons. It is rare indeed that a
full House is in attendance.
Democrats Not Anxious.
But the Democrats are not at all
anxious to organize the House, knowing
that the next year and half will see
a tangled legislative situation. The
-,
campaign with the opportunity to
point the finger of blame at the Re-
publican party for having failed in both
the executive and legislative branches
of the Government to aneliorate the
crisis. Even the Democrats, however,
are not united on this view. Some
leaders believe the thing to do is for
the Democratic party to take hold OF
Congress and show the country that It
is not hostile to business and that it
can be depended upon to lead the Ma
ton out of its difficulties.
So far as the business world Is con-
cerned. the situation Is very much SINH
lar to that of a surgical operation con-
fronting an individual. Should 1t be
postponed-or should 1t be gotten over
with as quickly as possible? An over
hanging cloud such as Is contained in
the problem of organizing the next
House Of Representatives is not likely
to be relished by some business men as
something to be put on until next De-
cember, especially If the country in the
Summer months and early Autumn Is
beginning to recover from the depres-
sion. But irrespective of what the
politicians think or want, the situation
Is rapidly drifting to point where an
extra session will be compelled by the
very fact Of delays on important
1eCiaIafion
Copyright. 1o3l)