Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-10-23
Friday October %. 1881.
Has No Legislative Program.

Republican spokesman. notably Colonel
Bob Lucas. Executive Director of his party's
National Committee. have been assailine
Democratic criticisms Of the administra-
ton on the ground that the Democrats
have no program of their own to remedy
the ills Of which they complain.
This brings up the obvious question of
what is the Republican legislative program,
or is there any Republican legislative
proeramf
The whole country. and most vehemently
Of all the farming sections OF the country.
are incensed at the failure Of the Federal
Farm Board to fulfill the administrators
promises to rescue agriculture from the
depths. Upto date no Republican orator. in
or out of office. has indicated even vaguely
what they propose to do to correct or make
amends for the 100000. 900 or $40O,-
100000 blunders of the farm relief pro-
gram enacted in the last Congress.
Almost as universal is the detestation OF
the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill. the presence
of which on the statute books has been
accompanied by decreases of some billions
Of dollars in our import and export trade
and which. in addition. has driven more
billions Of American capital out Of the
country to establish industries abroad in
order to escape the retaliatory and reprisal
duties levied by the foreign governments
as an answer to the Repubrcani tariff bill.
Up to date none Of the apoloeists for the
party has indicated that the administra-
ton purposes doing anything toward the
revision of that monstrosity, unless Senator
Shoots erotesque suggestion that the rates
would be raised still higher may be taken
as committing the President to that course
The other day the President called an
impressive conference Of conspicuous Con-
gressional leaders of both parties and laid
before them series Of legislative enact
ments that he thought would better the
financial situation. In brief, these were
liberalization OF the rediscount privilege,
in order that the Federal Reserve Banks
could deal with issues Of undoubted worth.
but which under the present regulations
they cannot accept as collateral: second
that the capital stock of the Farm Land
Banks be increased in order to mitigate
the distress in connection with farm mort
CAGES; and third, tentative proposal for
the restoration OF the War Finance Corpora
tion II such measure is found necessary
to complete the thawing of the frozen assets
that are menacing so many banks.
This can hardly be accepted as a new
program. insomuch as bills were introduced
in the previous Congress. practically pro-
viding for all Of these things and could
have been enacted had the Republican
committees been willing to report them 10
the House and Senate.
The Republicans have majority in both
Houses. They also have the Presidency,
and it would seem that the obligation for
a program were on their doorstep rather
than that of the Democrats. Ii is new
thought in legislative procedure that the
minority party should devise the agenda
for a Congressional session. In the first
place, there is no body in authority to
speak for the minority. The Republicans
have their official spokesman in the Prtsi-
deaf. one Of whose duties is to recommend
to Congress such legislation as he deems
requisite for the nations welfare. There
is no such authority anywhere among the
minority. Indeed. even If the latter eau
cused ahead Of the converting Congress.
It would be impossible to arrange lesis-
lative program menu without knowing
what the administration had to suggest.