The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-16
Seven Major Accomplish
ments Affected i9 Weary
ing Session.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times stan Writer

In spite Of the sharp conflicts Of
the last few weeks over relief legis-
lation this congress has not quar-
relied with the President as much as
is usual
It has enacted nearly all of the
measures proposed by President
Hoover TO combat the depression,
and has RETAINED from taking &C
ton on numerous matters distaste-
full to him. This is true although
the house Of representatives was
controlled by Democrats throughout
the session, and the Republican ma
lority in the senate was a slim one.
In spite of this fact, congress has
been repeatedly csstigated by the
President.
Credit BOlstered
Fiscal legislation has held the
center of the stage from beginning
to the end. This was divided into
three main classes-legislation to
balance the budget, legislation TO
bolster credit and strengthen banks
and finally, legislation throwing
federal funds into the battle against
want and unemployment. Drastic
attempts to economic held the
business of the session strictly with
in these lines.
Tabulated briefly. these are the
major accomplishments Of this ses-
sion:
1t passed the most drastic tax
bill since the war, estimated to yield
revenues totaling $1,118,500,00 after
successfully resisting ~sttempts to
impose a general sales tax.
II reduced federal expenditures
about $3.50, 100000 under those for
1882. by cutting regular appropria-
ton bills and providing in a general
economy bill for reorganization OF
government bureaus and furlough-
Ing federal employees without pay
Ratified Moratorium
1t ratified the Hoover foreign debt
moratorium for one year only, and
went on record in opposition to cam
collation. or reduction Of foreign
debts.
1t created the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation with authority
to loan government funds to banks
and railroads, later extending these
provisions in the relief bill.
1t broadened federal reserve dis
count limitations and also the gold
reserve provisions of the federal re-
serve act.
1t increased the capital Of fed
eral land banks by $125,000,000.
It increased rediscounting priv
leees of the intermediate credit
banks
The last two measures comprise
the major part of legislation for re-
lief of agriculture. In addition, a
S10,000000 revolving fund was estab-
lished to set up agricultural credit
corporations, S200000,000 Of Recon
struction Finance Corporation funds
were set aside for crop production
loans, and in the relief bill, author
ity was given for loans to finance
the carrying and orderly marketing
of staple commodities produced in
this country. Payments due the
government from settlers on recla-
nation projects were postponed for
one year.
Fix Congress Dates
The relief bill which so long has
delayed adjournment, calls for ex-
penditures of $2100.000,000 for self
iquidating construction projects. a
small program of federal public
works, and loans for relief of dis
tresS.
Outside the realm of fiscal legis-
lation two important measures were
enacted at this session.
The lame duck amendment to tAe
Constitution, already ratified by
twelve of the necessary thirty-SiX
states, fixes new dates for assem-
bling of congress and inauguration
of Presidents, providing that newly
elected national legislators and Off
Gals shall take Office two months
after election instead of eighteen
months after
The anti-injunction law limits
the power of federal courts to is
sue injunctions in labor disputes,
outlaws the yellow dog" contract,
and assures jury trial for those ac-
cused of contempt in violating in
functions.
Veterans received no new bene-
fits. The house voted for immedi-
ate payment in full of adjusted
service bonus certificates. and for
payment of pnsions to widows and
children of World war veterans, but
neither bill passed the senate. A
measure to curtail the number of
beneflcisries under the emergency
officers retirement act also failed in
the senate.
Pass kidnapping Bills
Two kidnapping bills were passed,
one making it a federal offense,
punishable by imprisonment, the
other prohibiting use of the mails
for threatening letters or extortion
largely as a result of the Lind
bergh case.
At the head of the list of unfin-
ished business is prohibition
Though more wet strength was dis
played in the session Just ending
than at any time during the prohi-
bition area. early attempts to legal
ize beer and to propose repeal of
the eighteenth amendment to the
states were unsuccessful. AS wet
sentiment continued to manifest
itself more and more strongly. party
leaders preferred in the closing
weeks to defer action until after the
November elections.
Three major farm relief bills hold
over for new consideration in De-
cember. The first would give the
farm board authority to use the de-
henture, the equalization fee or the
allotment plan to control crop mort
cages.
The third would have placed a tax
on professors of wheat, cotton and