The Washington times., 1931-03-04
71ST CONGRESS
MARKED. BY
D|SCORl
Legislative Record Reveals
Sessions Were Busy; Many
Clashes With Hoover Noted
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES

The Seventy-first Congress, III
many respects the most remark
able of the postwar Congresses,
died its constitutional death to-
day, after two years of turmoil
and turbulence-and prodigiouS
legislating.
It was called "The Hoover Con.
greSS" when it came into power
simultaneously with the advent OF
the new Administration in 1929.
Republican majOritieS were large
In both houses. For the first time
since Reconstruction days, South
ern States were literally repre-
sented by Republicans in the
House.
But Hoover Congress" was o
miSnomer-for few Congresses in
recent times have clashed more
sharply or spectacularly with the
President.
Mr.. Hoover's honeymoon with
the Congress lasted barely a few
months. He called it into special
session five weeks after his in.
auguration to take up the relief
Of agriculture and to revise the
tariff. Trouble began almost i'm.
mediately and continued inter-
mittently throughout its life, cul-.
minating a few days ago in the
overriding Of his veto on the
Soldiers Loan Bill by literally
overwhelming figures.
Fourteen times has Mr.. Hoover
fOllY16 fN 1o
enacted by Republican-Controlled
Houses.
Twice his vetOes were Over-rid-
den by gOOdly majOrities, and in
other cases only the lash of tn.
party whip enabled him t.
emerge victorious.
On one occasion the Senate n
fused to accept President Hoover
nominee for the United Statt
Supreme Court, rejecting John
Parker. And a Republican co,
trolled Senate cast 26 votr
against the nomination of Charl
Evans Hughes for the chief il
tlceShip after bitter fight.
Criticism in Senate
Recalcitrant throughout, t
insurgency and rebellion becal
almost unmanageable in it's
ter days after the country
witnessed year Of ScSfness
preston. Probably not since
turbulent days of Wilson has
President met with such a.
criticism as this session has S
directed at the White House
It's policy in meeting drought
unemployment situations. M
OF it has been in the Senate.
Legislatively, the record of
list Congress is imposing, ey
though some of its most nota
accomplishments are so disput
as to their efficacy that they "
be carried into the 1882 ca,
pain as keen issues.
Its first action Of any cons
quence was the enactment of tt
so-called Hoover plan of farn
relief, which set up a Federal
Farm Board and provided it with
$5OO,O00,000 to improve the con.
dltion Of agriculture.
Its second outstanding legisIa-
tive enactment was the new
Hawley-SmOOt tariff bill, pres.
crlbing new and higher duties on
thousands of commodities. The
Democrats plan to make it an
issue in 1882.
These were the chief products
Of the special session which ended
in November of 1929.
Other accomplishments of the.
two regulation sessions were:
Enactment Of census and re-.
apport1onment laws, under which
there is generous redistribution
OF congressman among the States
that have gained and lost in
population since 1910.
Approval Of the French debt
settlement.
Enactment of new civil serv-
ice retirement act.
Hoover Veto Disregarded
Increased Civil War, Spanish
War and regular pensions for the
army and Navy. The Spanish
War increase was vetoed and
passed over Mr.. Hoover's veto.
Ratified the London Naval
Treaty.
Enacted legislation to transfer
the enforcement of prohibition
from the Treasury to the De-
partment Of Justice, and in.
creased appropriation and per-
SOnnel for enforcement.
Abolished the old Federal Power
Commission, and set up a new
one, which is the center Of con
troverSy.
Passed three bills sponsored by
Senator Wagner CD of New
York, intended to provide the
Federal Government with means
Of taking regular unemployment
census, and providing Federal
planning of public works to re-
lieve cycles of unemployment.
Created a new tariff commits
sion.
Increased salaries and decreased
hours for postal employees. ="
Passed over veto, bill increas-
ing to so per cent loan value Of
soldiers "bOnuS" certificates.
Enacted the Norris bill provid-
ing for Government operation Of
Muscle Shoals, which met PreSi-
dent Hoover's veto.
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