Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-29
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
By CONG. JOHN PAUL kVALE

Beer has of course been the week S
big newspaper news out of Washing
ton, with the House having consid-
cred and passed the Collier bill to
legaliZe and tax the manufacture and
plished, and the bill sent over to the
Senate, consideration of the routine
appropriations was resumed in the
House.
AS indicated in an earlier news
! letter. the beer tax bill faces an I'M
certain future, both as regards its
| fate in the Senate and also at the
White House. In its final form, eX-
| actly as reported from the Ways and
| Means committee, it has provisions
which are more than likely to be
changed in the Senate. The rate of
taxation of the beverage, the provis-
ion defining the term brewer to in
clude makers of "home BREW" and
the proposal to provide for appropri-
ate regulation on the part of states
will each provoke their share of con-
troversy. Further complications may
be in store if the effort to add sales
tax rider is made in the Senate.
But some of the headlines and
i space devoted to the beer stories
might we'll have been used to tell of
the continuation of the battle for
agricultural legislation which is
spreading out on a wider front. An
informal group was organized earlier
to study four general subdivisions of
the entire farm problem, readers may
! have understood news reports of an
| announcement by the American Farm
| Bureau Of formation of a farm bloc
of hundred and fifty House men,
bers to secure farm relief at this ses-
sion.
The story had a strong bareback
in Washington. Those who had some
thing to do with formation of the
group, while making no open express
sion, resented the statement of the
Bureau president, and as a result will
very likely lay down a drastic rule
limiting attendance and participation
| in the meetings to members of Con-
gress who are willing to discard po-
| litical or sectional considerations and
who have no interest in any particu-
lar organization.
The group is modelled largely after
the Progressive group which func-
toned in the last session, and is still
working during the present session
| independently of the new bloc" Its
leaders desired to study all phases of
the farm problem, unhampered by the
restrictions which hedge most COM
mittee deliberations. They wish to
avoid the lobbyists. propagandists,
hand-picked witnesses, professional
organizers and other influences which
reduce the value and handicap pro-
gress of much committee work in
legislation. They will endeavor to
give the rawest rookie in the House
the same right and voice that is
claimed by the most seasoned legisla-
tor with highest committee rank.
Perhaps it should be made more
clear that no resentment attaches to
the President of the Farm Bureau be-
cause of any association with his or
ganization. He is we'll liked in Wash
ington personally, and his body aims
essentially in legislative way in the
same direction as do the other great
farm groups, as evidenced by the
harmonious efforts of their leaders
this winter That has been outlined
! in former letters. But House men,
bers who are responsible for this ex-
perimental plan of associating them
selves into serious and honest study
groups are starting from scratch with
the stern determination that no indi-
vidual or organization is going to be
permitted to make of them a tail to
any kite, or to designate them as a
bloc, as that term is generally under
stood.
| They are going to continue their
meetings, for the most part evening
sessions, since mornings usually are
| consumed in committee meetings and
with office routine, and the House
meets from noon until late into the
day. Four divisions of the group have
been made. the writer being assigned
to the one making an especial study
of currency reform and the monetary
| and credit structure in relation to
agricultural conditions, and Invest in
terest of participating members is
properly being shown in this phase.
1t represents a departure from the
usual cut-and-dried (pre-arranged too
cften) formal legislative procedure
| which is most refreshing and which
should be closely watched for pro-
ductive results.
When this letter appears in print,
the House will have disposed of dis
Continued on Page 81