Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-04
Congress Closes,

The Seventy-first Congress passed
into history at noon today 1t will 60
down In the records as a fighting Con-
gress and as the Congress Of period
Of national depression. Almost from
the drop Of the hat when it assembled,
April Is, 1929, the row started. with
the Senate aligned against the House
and the President. AS it began, it
ended. The only instances in which the
House left the President were in the
consideration of the soldiers bonus
loan bill and bill increasing the pen
sions for Spanish-War veterans.
Called by President Hoover into spe-
cial session within six weeks after he
had taken Office, the Seventy first Con-
gress tackled farm relief and tariff re-
vision. Mr.. Hoover won out in his eff
fort to halt the Senate coalitions plan
for the farm debenture" with the
strong backing of the House. The CO.
alitton Of Senate Progressive Republic
ans and Democrats cemented an alli-
ance, however, which continued to
out the life of the Congress. 1t crum-
bled somewhat when it came to the
consideration of the tariff bill. Too
many local issues" cropped up in that
measure to keep the regulars" entirely
in line.
In the session now closing the Sen
ate coalition attacked vigorously the
Presidents plan for the relief Of the
drought stricken and tie unemployed.
It demanded a Federal appropriation
to provide free food and other neces-
sites for people in distress in all parts
Of the country. In the end, however,
It had to yield, net only to the Presi-
dent and to the House, but to the
force of public opinion. The measure
that finally passed and received the
loan to those in distress in the drought
stricken area and left the voluntary
charitable organizations and local gov
ernments to provide food to those who
were absolutely destitute.
The soldiers bonus loan measure,
now q law Notwithstanding the disap-
proval of the President, was put
through as q relief measure, too,
although no effort was made to con-
fne the provisions Of the bill to those
veterans In distress, but the doors we're
thrown wide open TO the entire list
Of veterans, able-bodied and employed,
rs well as those who are in need.
The concluding contest between the
President and the Senate ended last
night when the Senate, though by
minority vote, sustained the veto Of the
Muscle Shoals bill to place the Govern
ment in the business of producing and
distributing power and in the business
Of manufacturing and selling fertilizers.
On the whole, the President and the
House have been successful in their op-
position TO the nostrums advanced by
the Senate coalition for the cure Of the
country's ills. The uneconomical deben-
ture plan went down to defeat. The
proposed Federal dole" was beaten, and
also the proposal to put the Government
into the business Of power and fertilizer.
The country owes much to the de-
termination Of the President not to per-
NIT the breakdown of American prin-
ciples Of Government and to the House
which sustained him. One victory the
President won with the a:d of the SEN
ate, the ratification of the Lond n Naval
Treaty for the further linitelica o.
naval ornaments, a measure Of great
significance in the advancement Of
world peace.