Evening star., 1932-07-17
Congress Makes History
Seven Months Session Sets Unparalleled Record OF
Peacetime legislative Achievement Times
Dictate Policies in Effort to Establish Security.

legislators took the liquor issue home
with them, expecting 1t to be fought
out largely in Novcmber's elections.
The cooperative spirit which bound
a Democratic House and Republican
Senate in remarkable unity began with
the fSreign debt moratorium, approved
soon after John N Garner Of Texas
was elected first Democratic Speaker
of the House in a dozen years. II
swept through the gigantic Reconstruc-
tion Finance Corporation and $l,-
ll8 100000 tax bill.
Relief Develops Split.
Looming huge in the sessions output
was the S2,122,000, 900 relief bill COM
pleted Just before the final gavel rap
Over this new law developed an open
break between Garner, Democratic vice
presidential nominee, and Hoover. Re-
publican presidential nominee, hinging
on loans to individuals by the Recon-
struction Corporation. The President
vetoed individual loans, but agreed to
accept full publicity for all the corpora
tons advances, placing responsibility on
Congress and upon the Democratic
leaders.
The break framed an issue for the
political campaign.
Little time was wasted IN sending TO
President Hoover the debt moratorium
announced by the Chief Executive six
months previously. 1t cut of s267 ,000,-
900 of foreign payments for year, and
Congress coupled with it an announce
ment there should be no further mora
toriun1S or reviSions.
R.F. C. Scope Widened.
Next was set up the huge Recon-
struction Corporation. With S2000,-
000, 900 at its command. this Govern
ment agency was directed to fill. within
limits, the credit needs of banks, rail-
roads and agriculture.
In the final relief bill this agency was
given an increase in funds to $780,
100000, including a provision for ad-
vances to States needing aid to stem
human distress.
The Government also gave help by
releasing 85,000,0o0 bushels of wheat
and 100000 bales of cotton from Farm
Board stores to the Red Cross for dis
tribution to the unemployed.
Early in the session, Congress voted
s100, 100000 to strengthen the Federal
farm loan banks. Somewhat later it
came to the aid of Federal reserve
system burdened by foreign gold de-
mandS, and in the GlaSs-Steagall emer-
gency act it released new reserves.
The budget-balancing program
brought from the Ways and Means Com
mittee billion-doller revenue bill 1t
was rewritten on the House floor after
a bitter struggle which eliminated a
general manufacturers sales tax.
Federal Salaries Cut.
In the Senate too, the sales tax was
rejected Income taxes were boosted
higher and additional revenue was
sought in other directions as the Treas
ury deficit mounted toward the $3,00O,-
o00C00 mark.
Following the tax law to the White
House was national economy measure
that reduced Government salaries and
other OUTLAWS, cutting over S150,000, 900
from Federal expenses. Appropriations.
too, felt the economy pressure, and the
regular annual supply bills were slashed
far below the current years allowance.
Outside the emergency program Con-
gresS disposed of two legislative gray
boards. A constitutional amendment to
abolish the lame-duck session of Con-
gresS was submitted to the States. Leg
islation to prohibit Federal injunctions
in labor disputes became law.
Both Houses passed a Democratic
tariff bill to restore the flexible adjusting
powers to Congress, but it died on an
Executive veto. This measure was tao
lily admitted to have been designed as
a ballot box ISSUE The House voted
overwhelmingly for Philippine inde-
pendence, but the Senate failed to act.
Mortality Rate High.
Likewise Muscle Shoals legislation,
another familiar standby, failed to get
through. The House also adopted a
bank guaranty bill which the Sen
ate did not reach.
Some members of Congress felt a
result of changing voters sentiment on
questions Of public interest. About