Evening star., 1932-11-24
Beer, Economy and Farm Aid
to Receive First Action
by MLame Ducks"
SPECIAL SESSION CALL
AVOIDED BY ROOSEVELT
Foreign Debt Problem Is Consid,
cred Closed for Present as Re-
suit of Conferences.
Rr the Associated Pres.

BY the Associated Press.
A clearly defined legislative program,
calling for beer and economy to help
balance the budget, and for relief ia
farmers, has been adopted by Demo.
cratic leaders for the brief December
session Of Congress.
Plans for quick action on beer and
farm relief were announced following
conferences with President-elect Roose.
velt, in which it became known that h,
desires to avoid an extra session aftei
he takes Office March 4.
AS represented by those who con-
ferred with him, Mr. Roosevelt holds
as most important the balancing of thu
budget. He hopes, they said, thai
revenue from legalized beer and re-
duction in Government expenditure
will make additional taxes unnecessary
But should the Treasury deficit con:
tinue to mount, Mr.. Roosevelt was said
to be ready to meet whatever new tax
situation arises.
He was represented also as especially
anxious for farm legislation.
The Democratic plan is TO put
through as much legislation in line
with the President elects ideas and the
party's platform as possible to avoid q
special session. Extra sessions gen.
orally have been viewed as unsatisfac-
tory.
Debt Problem Closed.
Meanwhile. Democratic leaders viewed
the foreign debt problem closed for the
present as result of their conferences
with President Hoover and President
elect Roosevelt. Their stand against
review of the debts cleared the way,
they said, for devotion of the brief three
months session to domestic problems.
Meeting informally yesterday the
House Ways and Means Committee de-
cided to open hearings December on
the revenue phase Of the beer bill. Rep
resentative Rainey Of Illinois, the DEM
ocratic leader. and Chairman Collier Of
the committee, who had conferred with
the President-elect. brought the CON-
mittee together.
The i've Democrats and four Repub-
hcans were together nearly an hour.
during which time they discarded sug-
| gestions for pre-seSsion hearings.
| Collier estimated possible revenue
| from beer at $300, ,000, 900 to $400, ,000,- >
| 600 annually. and said he would favor
| the bill by Representative O'Connor,
Democrat. OF New York, Tor o tax OF
| $3.50 a barrel He expressed doubt
that the beer tax would balance the
budget, but that when "the sale Of beer
has been legalized, / want to get as
much revenue as possible"
Collier said the committee on Decem-
Der would consider "such revenue
plans as come before it," however.
Rainey stressed beer as the prime OBJ
ject Of the forthcoming meeting and
said that all beer tax bills would re-
ceive consideration.
"Some Of those present thought lit
tie was to be gained by starting before
the session begins" Collier said. There
was also question Of having the neces-
sary funds. and jurisdiction before the
| House meets"
Quorum Not Present.
Collier explained that while quorum
Of the committees Is members were
not present, he, as chairman, had au-
thority to fix the meeting date.
Representative Hawley Of Oregon,
ranking Republican on the committee,
said after the meeting that while a
beer tax had been made the chief sub
ject for consideration, "I don't think
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