Evening star., 1931-12-28
Business Before Politics.

Representative Henry T. Rainey,
Democratic floor leader of the House,
has wisely decTced that the business Of
the House. the passage OF bills to aid in
the economic recovery Of the country,
shall have the right Of way. and that
politics shall play second fid'e for a
while Mr.. Rainey. in a statement is
sued through the Democratic National
Committee announces that the policy
of the Democratic organization in the
House is to expedite as rapidly as pos
sible the program of the administration
He does not indicate that the program
will be accepted without change. In
deed, he makes it clear that the Demo-
Gratis intend TO modify the adminiStra-
tons tax-revision program in important
particulars But he declares that the
House is to legislate rather than talk at
this present juncture. He says:
So far as I am conccrned personally,
DO not propose to make On the floor
a single speech which might be called
political until the reconstruction bills,
intended to alleviate the present un-
paTa,leled depression in this country
end in the world, have passed the
Lover House of Congress. When that
has been accomplished I expect to
commence making speeches that are
sometimes called political speeches, and
! expect to charge up the necessity for
the unparalleled taxing burdens made
necessary at this session to the policies
in force since the Wilson administra-
ton.
If Mr.. Rainey and his fellow Demo-
Gratis are able to carry through this
program Of action, even Though it in
wolves great self-restraint, they viii
have proved to the country that the
Democratic party is able to assume re-
sDonsibility. No one expects Mr..
Rainey and his fellow Democrats to ac-
complish the impossible and to Danish
politics from the debates of the Con-
gress, or that they Will give approval
TO all the measures which the admins
amendments or substitutions of their
own. But the country does expect the
members Of Congress not to fritter away
valuable time in talk when legislation
is necessary. The House, generally
speaking, has usually been able to put
through legislation with promptness.
A different end unusual situation, how
ever, presents itself in the House now
with political party in control of that
body which is hostile to the admins
tration. Mr.. Rainey's assurance that
the business Of legislation is to be ex-
pedited is timely. He has been able,
already, to refer to quick action on
important measures CT the reconstruc-
ton program in the House. If the
Democrats in the Senate are able to
follow up the program of business laid
down by their Democratic colleagues of
the House, so much the better for their
party. But sometimes in the Senate it
appears that the members have come
to believe that, after all, talk Is the
principal activity and end of all human
existence.
Mr.. Rainey has promised his Demo-
cratic friends in the House, however,
that they shall have full opportunity to
fay the administration and the Re
publican party as soon as the recon
struction bills are all cut of the way.
Indeed, he intends to take lead in
this pastime so pleasing to Democrats.
But that is what the Republicans must
expect. In this country there is never
a political moratorium. Politics is like
the sea, constantly in motion, and like
ly to kick up a storm at any time.