Evening star., 1932-12-04

better than the confusion OF not know
ing who was entitled to the Office and
responsibility. The system became in
creaSingly obsolete as means of swift
communication improved. Now most
candidates know how they have Jared
within few hours after the polls close,
and uncertainties rarely last more than
day or two, except in contests so
close that they are likely to be contest
ed anyway. The most remote district
is within 80 hours of Washington by
Despite this rapid evolution, the old
drawback has remained, intensified by
the defeated members certainty that
he has been repudiated. Needlessness
Of such situations was recognized by
the public long before the politicians
would admit 1t. Hence, with no State
Legislature having refused to approve
the new amendment, 1t already has
been ratified by II States and is certain
to win the required additional 19 rati-
fications in the many sessions this Win
ter, thus establishing record for the
ratification of a constitutional amend
ment in less than one year.
Pressing upon Congress for action as
it reconvenes are the questions of pro-
hibition, the war debts, taxation, econ
omy, appropriations. relief of the unem-
ployed, the Philippines, the home loan
bank system, reconstruction, the st.
Lawrence waterway, the World Court.
the Stock Exchange investigation be-
fore the Senate Banking and Currency
Committee. banking and monetary
problems, the railroads and transpor-
tation in general, power holding COM
panies, farm relief, the shorter work
day on the railroads, and naval con-
struction-not to mention any more.
Chief public interest attaches to the
question of what will be done on pro-
hibftion IN the short session. Despite
the assertions of dry leaders to the
contrary, 1t Is. apparent that the recent
election was q severe setback to the
dry cause and great gain for the VETS
The repeal of prohibition enforcement
laws In q series of States alone has
had profound effect On the temper
Of Congress. and caused many former
drys to shift their position: 1t Is too
early to tell whether the final session
Of the old Congress will act on the two
leading phases OF the prohibition issue,
namely, modification of the Volstead
act, so as to permit manufacture and
sale of beer and submission to the
States Of new proposed amendment
to the Constitution.
The demand that beer be legali9ed
has gained ground even In face Of a
nominally dry holdover Congress, by
reason Of its possibilities as a producer
of revenue at a time when a huge
Treasury deficit yawns.
Debt Payment Demanded.
Much will depend on the attitude OF
Gov. Roosevelt in his conference with
Democratic leaders. Much will depend,
too, on the strong possibility of veto
by President Hoover. 1t Is conceded
that there will be legalization of beer
and submission of new amendment
under the new administration If not in
the short session, and the question of
why delay three months or longer Is
being asked more and more tnSistently.
The war debts will give rise to much
debate in both houses, but the temper
of Congress on that subject Is not to
be mistaken 1t is against postpone
ment, against revival of the World
War Debt Funding Commission, against
anything savoring Of cancellation or
revision or in the slightest degree sug-
gesting congressional willingness to re-
consider.
With heavy deficit, whose size by
the end of this fiscal year is conjec-
tural, Congress will be forced either to
cut expenditures sensatfonally, or give
thought to new revenues, which means
new taxes or more taxes. The propo-
nents Of the sales tax will urge it but
will encounter bitter opposition. 1t
may be found necessary to let taxation
go over to the new Congress under the
circumstances
Senator Peter Norbeck, chairman of
the Senate Banking Committee, has
given assurances that the Stock Ex-
change investigation will be pressed and
the insult companies probed. The
railroads and other influences are war
ring on the ST. Lawrence waterway
treaty and 1t will not be ratified this
Winter. The World Court will be
brought up in the Senate. but seems
likely to be forced over to the new
Congress. A Philippines independence
Congress dies. Railroad and trans
portation legislation will be agitated,
but seemingly will have to await the
new Congress. as will nearly all con-
troversial subjects. Nothing will be
done apparently for relief of the farm
er, or to dispose of monetary and gen.
eral banking questions. Members of
both houses are keenly disappointed
over the sloWnesS of the home loan
bank system to function and the law
may be revised. No new Reconstruc-
ton Finance Corporation legislation Is
in sight, though some revisions of the
law are possible. Pressure for unem-
ployment relief legislation will be strong
and more appropriation for that pur-
pose are not unlikely.
Over the whole Of the short session
will hang heavily the shadows that
portend the changes decreed by the
balloting Of November 8. Political feel
ing will run high. 1t will be Winter
Of conferences and more conferences
President-elect Roosevelt will be In fire.
quent touch with the Democratic heads
Of both houses. Attempts will be made
to organize the Democratic forces into
unity or something like it. Meantime,
the Republicans viii be counseling
among themselves as how to rebuild
their party about the recent Nation.
wide wreckage. The Democrats In the
House will be torn by herce fight over
the Speakership with other offices tn
volved.
The Democrats in the Senate like
wise will have their factional troubles,
with cleavage between conservatives
and the liberals or progressives Of the
Democratic party While 1t looks now
Continued on Third Page)
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