The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-04

Washington - Downtown the
boys were all asking each other
whether they had been measured
for uniforms. But 1t was Consent
Day up In the House of Represen-
tatives and II II hadn't been for
Congressman Tom Blanton Of
Texas you'd never have known that
anyone was worrying about the
Chinese situation. The Consent
Calendar comes before the House
every two weeks and the bills on
It are minor measures, favorably
reported by committees, which no
one cares about very much except
the sponsor and some of his con-
stituents.
Such bills are declared passed
by unanimous consent II no sin
gle member objects. On the
floor only q fourth of the seats are
filled. From the galleries the pro-
ceedings are, most of the time 10
much hubbub. The buzzing of con-
yersation between congressman
often browns out the member who
has the floor. The clerk yammers
monatonously the titles Of bills and
and hardly anyone can understand
word Of II. Only by closest at
tention to the calendar and It's
many bills can you tell which bill
Is up.
About score members are fol-
lowing the calendar. The rest read
newspapers, talk or pay a vague
sort of attention. Someone oc-
casionally shouts for order. Speak
err Jack Garner, In a brown suit
and an old-fashioned choke collar,
gets, 1t sometimes merely by rap
ping with his gavels handle. rs
there objection?" he chants-and
There Is not" Which means a
bill has passed.
What kind of bill? Nine out of
10 on this calendar had to do with
bridges--to permit railroads, coun-
ties, persons, states and towns to
build spans over navigable streams.
And one to declare the Mud
river in Kentucky a non-navigable
stream. Another to authorize sale
of part of a cemetery reserve on an
Indian reservation. Bills dealing
with improvements on national
parks or minor Indian affairs. :.
Mr. LaGuardia of New York, squat
little man with his glasses pushed
back on his head almost to the
collar, makes most of the noise in
a high, squeaky voice. Mr. Blanton
of Texas rivals him in accents
reminiscent of country stores, full
Of feeling.
They study all bills to see that
no one puts anything over. !.
The first bill, sponsored by Hill OF
Alabama, would extend veterans
hospital and home facilities to
Confederate veterans. 1t Is adj
mitted that practically no confed-
crate vets could or would avail
themselves of the right. that II was
just Every gracious gesture"
Underhiil of Massachusetts wants
to study the bill closely, so 1t II
held up. Bianton demands
unanimous consent for fiye-min-
ute speech ana gets 1t along with
q warning from LaGuardia that
1--WE will have 70 tighten up on
these requests" He protests send
Ing battleships and soldiers 10
China. expressing the fear that we
will get involved In war ITO save
a few Chinese merchants"
80
Then there's q bill 10 extend pro-
visions OF the desert land law. >.
Suddenly YOU ind Laduardia yell
Ing ~ Knufson Of Minnesota
whose BILL weul6 provide an inter-
national toll bridge up At Baudetfe,
but n objected 20 because u inc
volYss private property ut the end
Of d federal AID road project, Lee
GuaFaia. In abFill faRe. screams;
I'm selng 20 objecti Don't tell me
1 can't object"
They ~ down 20 feet from each
other, giowefing ana frowling. You
hear knuieon bee1ng Vt t.aunhrdia
fer 'sfIIna on The handle" But