The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-26
NEA Service Writer

Washington.-Congress, recessed after an unusually hard season of
 razzing from editorial paragraphers
 and it's ears still ringing with voci-
 ferrous assurance that the country's
 safety depended on it's adjournment
 was dissected and analysed at the
 Progressive conference by folks who
 believe that in it's proper function
 ing lies the nations hope.
 Blame for the sins of congress-
 omissive and commissive-were att tributed to methods of procedure, to the voters who elect congressman, to opponents of progress in both houses. lameduck sessions, the ad-
 ministration, failure to keep up with the age and other causes.
 One point most of the progres sives agreed upon: Backing com mon program, with Progressive in one house working in collaboration
 with those of the other, they might expect to make the 72nd congress
 much more valuable to its constitu-
 ents than the Fist.
 Press Opposed Extra Session Senator Bronson Cutting of New Mexico said the press had almost unanimously urged against an early extra session of the new congress. He pointed out that if the theory that the country was better off with congress out of session had any foundation at all, the country ob- viously would be more prosperous if congress never did meet. But as long as the people had hardly any, thing to say about nominating presi- dential candidates, congress would be the only branch of government directly selected by the voters. Congressman Fiorello H. La-, Guardia of New York, writing from his hospital bed, declared that major party leaders had tendency to leg islate on funda mentals 'laid down
 in the age of the stage coach, the spinning wheel and tallow candles" Hence, LaGuardia said, wealth had become concentrated and the large masses of workers were at the mercy of few for their very existence. Failure of legislation to keep abreast of the age resulted in a condition which found the country
 with unprecedented wealth, ware- houses full, millions of willing work
 CTS out of employment and many close to starvation.
 with the exception of additional appropriations for public improve ments, nothing constructive was done to meet the economic depres-
 sion," he said. There was no CO., operation between executive and legislative branches of government. Threats of vetoes, pronouncement of platitudes, states rights, slogans, met every constructive program of fered or even suggested by congress. Plays Relief Plan
 "The one so-called relief measure gave the farmers in drought-strick-
 en areas opportunity to borrow when they are so destitute as to be unable to borrow. The mere suggestion of
 constructive help to industrial work
 CTS was met with howls and groans." Working days and working weeks
 must be shortened, La Guardia said. As for congressional action, he pointed out that opponents of liberal
 measures had sought to create fric- ton between the two houses and de- lay or deadlock legislation. He rec
 commended occasional conferences
 and exchanges of views between Progressives in the two legislative chambers.
 Dr Charles A. Beard of Colum- bia university. the noted liberal his- torian. complained that congress frittered away thousands of precious hours on such legislation as bills to give away an ancient 12.pounder to a relief corps in HillsboSb, Ill.,, and to reimburse a Florida farmer for watermelons destroyed by soldiers. It passed on hundreds and thou sands of petty, trifling bills. he said. which never should occupy the att tention of statesmen. He recom- mended that these thousands of bills be disposed of by executive depart ments or special agencies, congress
 keeping a supervisory power over the disposition.
 Board also urged that congress empower itself to call cabinet fficers to the floor of the houses for ques- tioning.
 Urges More Explicit Statutes To check executive usurpation of power, he suggested that con gress make it's statutes more ex- plicit where necessary. to leave less room for executive discretion, that |it create . grand joint committee to sit during and between sessions to scrutinize federal commissions and other establishments engaged in |lawmaI<ing. It 10 necessity. accord Ing toA Beard. for congress always to