Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-03-03
Our
Washington
Letter
BY THE NATIONAL EDITORIAL
ASSOCIATION
Especial to The Western News)

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Determin-
alton of certain Republican Spokesman
to stick feathers in their caps may
bring about a legislative tangle oil
dangerous proportions Waving the
party banner appeals to a few as
splendid campaign strategy but i'm
partial observers believe the G. o. p
orators have shouted and crowed from
the house-tops too early in the game
The immediate effect has been an ap-
preciable slowing down of the cooper
alive spirit by the Democrats. The
whisperings in their party councils that
they have played the Hoover game toe
long for party safety has lately found
receptive ears. The alar1nists in the
Democratic camp have pointed Out
changes in sentiment which obviously
favor Republican prospects. Hence, the
legislative program which has been
more or less non-partisan, due to a
mutual desire to keep the country on
even keel has already struck snap
in the House of Representatives.
An effort has been made Of late tc
jazz up the staid Congressional Rec
ord. The editor has been placing cap
tons over portions of speeches in order
to attract reader-interest. This week !
speech on the current partisan credit
grabbing issue was labed quite appro-
priately "brickbats. Missiles are hurled
back and forth between the two rival
camps at the Capitol and between the
legislative branch and the Administra-
ton. Secretary of War Hurley has been
at odds with the Senate on the Philip
pine question The controversy reached
point where the Cabinet officer re-
ceived silent treatment when he in
sisted on explaining his opinions to
Senators. Secretary Of Agriculture Hyde
is also a storm center.
1t remained for Chairman Humphrey
of the Federal Trade Commission to
"brickbats" with members of
the House Smarting under public criti-
cism of the Commission and its policies,
Humphreys blast OF return fire de-
handed something more substantial
than blatant vocabulary Meanwhile,
the high command has kept Robert
Lucas, executive director of the Re-
publican National Committee, chained
to his desk and muzzled Whatever
statements are prepared have been
signed by stalwart Republican Sena-
tors. 1t is in the cards that shake-up
n the campaign management will fol-
low the Republican convention in June.
The Democratic tax bill will prob
ably be ready within few days. The
House ways and means committee has
orced the Treasury Department to re-
wise its recommendations SO that
workable bill may be brought before
he Congress. Belief prevails that one
If the high-lights will be manu-
lecturers tax of two per cent levied
at point of origin and not pyramided.
Food and farm products will undoubt-
adly be exempted and possibly another
exemption for the smaller producers
where the cost Of collecting the tax
would be excessive. Many weeks will
be required to whip the tax measure
into final shape as the Senate has a
few ideas to incorporate in the House
proposal
No housewife forced into smaller
living qaurters as an economy step ever
.aced greater problem than Congress.
They realize that many Of the numer-
BUS government commissions and
bureaus that have sprung up like
must be weeded out. They
are frankly puzzled as to what furni-
.ure to discard in pruning the appro-
oriations. The Democrats are cognizanr
hat they may lop off jobs at this time
which might be extremely valuable as
political plums next year-provldea
heir hopes Of conquest are realized
It the polls. About sixty millions was
ut by the House appropriations COM
nittee from budget estimates for five
federal departments. There are five
more supply bills awaiting attention
n the House.
The ordinary citizen is never inclined
d consider government officials in the
ght Of lobbyists. Yet it has been
openly charged recently that the great
everything. 1t is because of
host of taxeaters that the b
ton has become almost too