Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-04-28
WASHINGTON Letter
On " ODdlev

Washington, April 27-Tempers are
displayed privately and publicly by
our legislators as economic and poll
teal problems increase In numbers
and complexity. A number have re-
turned disgruntled and alarmed from
the primaries in their own states. The
lawmakers have found the home folks
in bad humor and out of patience
with their spokesman in Congress.
The solons are showing the effect of
mental strain and physical fatigue.
There has been no pause in either the
Senate or House. Contrary to popu-
lar impressions there has been little
time for social activity at this SEES
SIGN. The leaders have plugged night
and day for all realize on the record
of this Congress hinges political vic
tory at the polls next November. The
cost of running the national govern
ment this year is in excess of four
and half billion dollars.
Every committee has been occupied
with the consideration of Legislative
problems. The House Appropriations
Committee, which controls the Fed
eral Governments purse-strings, has
worked with a minimum of partisan
feeling. Lately the specific problem
of cutting down government activities
and salaries was taken over by
special group known as the House
Economy Committee. These five men
had an unenviable task for nc matter
what they proposed it was equivalent
to stepping on somebody's toes. The
application of their pruning knife as
a means of saving hundreds of mil
lions made them unpopular with Fed
eral officials and employees. They
are. however, content with an ecOno-
my measure which will reduce the
tax burden.
The Senate Finance Committee
started drafting the revenue bill this
week after extensive hearings. Groups
adversely affected by the House tax
bill petitioned the Senate to change
the plan The Senate may revamp the
bill to its own sweet will. 1t is an
other matter to have the House ac
cept a measure which differs radi
cally from their own proposals. 1t
has been indicated that the Senate
guised as taxes on imports. The states
where oil. copper and lumber are
produced in quantity have formed
powerful nOn-partisan bloc for the
purpose of obtaining protective tar
ifs on these commodities. Another
group will endeavor to substitute the
sales tax, rejected by the House, as
a method of raising revenue.
Senate Investigations, which are
conducted without regard to witness
SEES Constitutional rights at times, are
floundering. The inquiry into the
New York Stock Exchange has been
a flop" As a consequence, the in
vestigators are determined to show
up the spectators" by a sweeping
probe 1t is stated that the after
math may be found in reduced con-
tributions to party campaign funds
which are low at this time.
The platform makers of the two
major political parties are receiving
suggestions for planks or declarations
of policy These committees are al
ways hard pressed at nominating con-
ventions but usually small clique
have their way in the end. 1t is
generally agreed that the phrasing of
the plank dealing with prohibition
will require some masterful word Jug
Cling to appease all factions. 1t is
easy to write the bOastful claims of
party achievements or to catalogue
the shortcomings of the opposition.
With such a delicate and politically
dangerous subject as the wet and
dry" issue every precaution is taken
against bungling.
The Senate is handicapped with the
pressure of domestic business. The
small cOterie specializing in foreign
affairs cannot gain the public eye
with their discussion of International
matters at this time. They must con-
tent themselves with brief discussions
of the attitude of foreign governments
toward the settlement of their debts
to this country. The failure of the
British to include payments of their
war and postwar debts arouse a fur