Evening star., 1933-01-26
The Political Mill
By C. Could L:ncoln.

OF the present session, the Senate to-
day tackles the first Of the regular
annual supply bills for the Govern
ment, the Treasury and Post Once
bill. Previously, 1t had passed . de-
ficiency bill carrying approximately
s3l, 100000. This, however, was vetoed
by President Hoover because of the
Senate amendment providing supervi-
sion by Congress Of tax refunds. Not
only does the Senate have to con-
slider originally the many big appro-
pr.ation bills. but after the Senate
shall have amended these measures
they must be sent to conference with
the House, and both bodies must agree
to the conference reports before they
are finally sent to the President for
his approval. There has been in evi-
tence a growing indifference on the
part Of both Democratic and Republic
an members OF the House and Senate
to the fate Of the appropriation bills
in the present session OF the old Con-
gress. With the full knowledge that a
special session Of the new Congress
must be called soon after the Roose-
members of Congress have come to look
en- the situat:on with a shrug OF the
shoulders and the remark: "Oh. we'll
these appropriation bills can be put
through In the special session."
II some Of the appropriation bills
finally fail of acticn at the prest nj
Congress. they will merely add to the
bu.oe-l CT the incoming Congress and
the ncw President. Already a legisia-
tive program almost staggering in ex-
tent looms up for the consideration and
action Of the new Congress in the spe-
cial session. Why make a hard ses-
sion harder? The Democratic Congress
VII have before it the recommendations
Of the Democratic President undertak-
ing to carry out the platform pledges Of
the Democratic party It is quite clear
now that this program will include
repeal OF the eighteenth amendment.
Plus enactment OF bill TO modify the
Volstead act SO As to permit the manu-
facture and sale Of notwithstanding"
beer and possibly wine. In addition
there will be farm relief legislation.
Muscle Shoals legislation, other meas
ures Of relief, possible debt settlements.
tariff legislation, and last but not least
revenue legislation designed to balance
the budget To superimpose on this
program the supply bills of the Gev-
ernment would be to assume q continu-
Gus session of the Congress up until
next Winter despite the heavy Demo-
cratic majorities in both Senate and
House. Perhaps ths time required fer
the appropriation bills would be SO
great that much Of the rest Of the
program could nc. be taken care of, GER
tainly not With the speed which has
been promised.
The annoUnccI 6nci ION of Senator
Smoot Of Utfh. Chi man cf the Senate
Finance Cornl- g. rot to t Ike up the
beer bill ur'H Mcnday, sn1 then TO
hold hearings not only on the revenue
feature OF the measure, which authorizes
the nlanufa cture and sale of beer and
wine with an alcoholic content not in
excess Of 3o5 per cent by weight. but
also on the problem whether it violates
the eighteenth amendment. end whether
1t Is not violative OF the whole prohi-
bition idea, Is a check for the supporters
Of the beer bill. Senator Harrison CT
Mississippi ranking Democratic member
OF the Finance Committee, one of those
who demand prompt action on the beer
bill as a revenue measure and also as
a measure complying with the pledce
OF the Democratic national platform,
challenges the right Of the chairman 10
decide how lcng the hearings shall run
and who shall be heard. He makes the
point that the Senate Judic' 'ary Ccm-
mittee has already passed on the
legality of the measure; that the bill Is
before the Finance Committee merely
for consideration Of the revenue fea-
lures. Mr.. Smoot. however says th:t
he has received requests from dry lead
ers and wet leaders asking to be heard
on the bill and he proposes to hea-
them Whether Senator Smoot. tie
chairman, or Mr. Harrison. will prevail
in this matter OF the hearings remains
to be seen.
The chances for a vote on the beer
bill in the Senate before the conclusion
Of the present session seem remote
enough to please any dry. The beer bill
will have to take its chance with the ap-
preparation bills II and when it Is re-
ported favorably to the Senate from the
Finance Committee. The hearings may
last week. A relief bill, calling for
direct Government appropriations for
the destitute, IS about to emerge from
the Manufactures Committee, headed
by Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin.
Is this relief measure to be sidetracked
to give the right Of way to mere beer
bill? And the relief bill itself is likely
to lead to a lot of debate. If the beer
bill is put through the Senate. how
ever, 1t must enter the conference stage
with the House, be agreed upon In
both houses after it leaves conference
and then 60 to the President for his
approval. President Hoover 1t has been
reported, will veto such a measure. be-
lieving 1t violative of the Constitution.
or at least a mere effort at nullifica-
ton. But from the present outlook, he
probably will not be called upon to say
yes or no to the measure.
The House stood out for 80 per cent
beer and no wine. The Senate mas
agreed to reduce the alcoholic content
to sos per cent, on the ground appar-
emily that the House bill Is not within
ths meaning of the constitutional
amendment prohibiting Intoxicating
beverages. The Senate has also in
cluded wine Of sos per cent alcohol in
its bill. These are real differences, al
though quite capable OF adjustment.
The supporters Of beer legislation. how
ever, may wish to wait for the next
Congress, however. in the hope that .
beer of at least 80 per cent alcoholic
content can then be put through. The
Senate Judiciary Committee amend
ment, prohibiting the sale OF this non
intoxicating" beer and wine to minors
has been almost enough to laugh the
measure out of court. Whether the
Senate Finance Committee will under
take to deal with this amendment re-
mains to be seen. It Is rather ridicu-
lous that the measure should have been
handled by two Of the standing COM
mittees of the Senate, anyway. In the
House the Ways and Means Committee
alone framed the beer bill and reported.
There was no conflict there Of jurisdic-
tiou over the measure at least.
\ +
Next week Senator Harry B. Halves
of Missouri, Democrat, will step out Of
the Senate, resisning his seat 50 as to
permit the new Democratic Governor