The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1933-02-23
SPECIAL SESSION
Will BRING help,
KVALE BELIEVES
Only Important Step Made by
Lame Duck Congress is
Repeal Legislation


With a record of accomplishment
even more dismal than predicted some
weeks ago, this lame-duck session of
the outgoing congress is due automa-
tically to adjourn in two weeks, on
Inauguration Day. When this letter
appears in print, that day will not be
much more than week distant. The
result is clear; not only will vital
and desperate problems remain un-
solved and unforgivable conditions
continue uncorrected, but an aug
mented load will be pushed over on
to the special session of the new sew
enty-third congress.
These letters, from the very begin
ming of the session, on the basis OF
ten years. study of the working OF
congress and of close contacts with
numbers of the body and of the cor
respondents press gallery-which by
the way contains some of the most
interesting and worthwhile minds in
America, unbiased by political or sell
fish considerations-and others here,
have stressed the fact that little if
anything would be done now in spite
of the optimistic statements of lead
ers after the election last fall.
Today the true picture is, very
briefly, abou as follows regarding
prospects for legislation in this ses-
sion, and about all of it has previ-
ously been given: currency imitation
or revision, hopeless; Frazier or Ship
stead farm refnancing bill, hopeless;
allotment plan (even as modified by
the senate committee), practically
hopeless; bills providing for emer-
gency and temporary relief to farm
ers, merchants and corporations
threatened with bankruptcy or fore
closure, somewhat brighter although
dubious. Even emergency relief legis-
lation is threatened, though that
seems downright impossible in the
face of the terrible need for it all
over the land. That need is no long
er confined to the great industrial re-
gions.
These letters have tried to contain
fact. The writer has admittedly per-
mitted something more than fact to
be included when he has added hopes
and opinions regarding performance
of the next session. But that has
only been because that hope and be-
lief has been what has sustained the
group who have been pressing for
ward the fight they knew to be hope
less in this session. Why? Simply
because when the new congress con-
venes at the call of President Roose-
welt, there will be far less red tape to
cut; hearings will be shorter, COM
mittee procedure will be expediated,
sustaining public opinion will be
greater factor, members will be more
militant, and every day is literally
going to count IN enactment of these
bills. Not all are sure to pass, not
even the majority of them without a
real fight, but the work is not vast
ed.
Sadly, even a good share of the re-
gular appropriations measures seem
doomed, and that will be a serious
retarding factor which the new body
cannot avoid. Those measures must,
under the Constitution, be law by the
end of the fiscal year June 3O), and
at best their reconsideration will take
some time. So perhaps about the
only thing done in this session, now
notable because it is the last lame
duck session in ou: history, will be
the repeal resolution which the senate
passed last week and which the house
passed Monday.
For Minnesotans in Washington,
the dastardly attempt on the life of
President-elect Roosevelt was over
Swallowed by the tragic accident
which removed Congressman Good
win. Colleagues, including those who
often differed with him on political
and economic questions, mourn the
death of kindly, sincere, conscien-
tious and honorable public servant,
and those who served with him on the
Minnesota delegation are particular-