Evening star., 1933-06-27
BYRNS SAYS SMELL
SPEECH EXPECTED
Democratic Leader Hold S
Partisans Willing to Destroy
Confidence of People.
BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH w.
BYRNS,
OF Tennessee. Democratic Flor Leader of
the House -

vi tennessee, DeIIlOCIaIlC FlUT LtdOeI VI
the House.
The statement of Representative
Smell. the Republican leader of the
House. was, I suppose, to be expected
from him and other partisan Republi-
cans who in their eagerneSs to secure
Republican control of the next House
are even willing to destroy the conf
dence of the people in the present DEM
ocratic administration and Congress
and the ability Of the emergency mea-
sures enacted at the special session to
bring about an early recovery OF our
country from the disastrous results Of
the Hoover panic of 1929. This criticism,
however, will not meet with the ap-
proval Of the American people who re-
call the economic situation which con-
fronted the country when Mr.. Roosevelt
was inaugurated President and which
was inherited from the Hoover and pre-
ceding Republican administrations
Certainly the people of this Nation
never looked upon a darker picture than
that which was presented during the
closing days of the last administration.
Our Nation never faced a situation SO
grave; nor were our institutions ever
more seriously threatened, even in war
emergencies Industry was paralyZed;
credit was destroyed agriculture was at
the very brink of bankruptcy and mil
lions of citizens throughout the country
were faced with the loss of everything
they had saved through lifetime of
toll and struggle These conditions
were a hangover from the Hoover ad-
ministration and Republican Congresses
which had wholly failed to take the
steps which were necessary to avoid
an impending crisis.
If the situation had been permitted
IN Irif dny1n f1IIriI1U thn Hoover
administration think it very clear that
our country might now be in the midst
of economic disaster. Mr.. Smell might
have spent his time to much better ad-
vantage if he had attempted to tell the
people what Mr.. Hoover and the Re-
publican Congress did to avert such a
catastrophe.
The reaching effect Of the major
measures enacted at the special session
cannot be realized for many months,
but even now there is evidence every
where Of improvement in business and
industry indicated by increasing en-
ployment and increasing pay rolls. 1t
il likewise true of agriculture. Since
March the price of wheat has in
creased some sc per cent and cotton
has shown an increase of SO per cent.
Mr.. Smell COMPLAINS of the approprla-
tons made at the special session. He
ignores the fact that since the Demo-
cratic party organized the House at the
beginning of the Seventy-second Con-
gress, including that Congress and the
recent special session there has been
total reduction of appropriations Tor the
ordinary operation Of the Government
amounting to 0,470,45291. He
further ignores the fact that the Demo-
cratic administration and Congress has
redeemed the promise made in the plat
form of 1882 to reduce governmental
expenditures in the sum Of 25 per cent.
This has been accomplished through
the operation of the economy act; the
ton of bureaus and a sharp reorganlZa-
tions of bureaus and sharp reduction
in all expenditures of the various de-
partments which will amount to ST.
100000, thus insuring substantially
balanced budget for the fiscal year 1884,
the first time in more than three years.
This record speaks for itself and will
withstand any partisan criticism which
may be offered.
He criticizes the passage of the public
works bill; the farm relief bill and the
home owners bill, on account OF the
funds required for their administration.
Again he ignores the fact that the
funds so required are to be raised by
the issuance of bonds and the amounts
necessary for interest, amounting to
something over s20o.0oo,o00 has been
provided foI by additional sources OF
revenue. Those whose farms will be
saved from foreclosures; those whose
homes in the cities and the towns VIII
be saved and the millions Of people
who will be put back to work will not
Join in his criticism of this legislation
Statements such as this are an evi-
dence that the leaders Of the Repub-
ican party, like the old Bourbon Kings,
have learned nothing from past expe-
rience and they are still disposed to
the policy of letting things rock along,
as was so clearly shown during the en-
tire term Of Mr.. Hoover, who did moth
ing constructive to relieve the country
from the resultant effects Of his panic
of 1929. What the country needed was
an administration of courage ard de-
cision. one which was willing to do
something in the interest of the people
at large rather than for the benefit of
a few special interests. This need was
met when Mr. Roosevelt was inaugu-
rated on March 4, and as result the
country is now undergoing a return to
prosperity which no critic can prevent.
(Copyright 1898, by North American News
paper Alliance, Inc.)