Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-02-23
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
By CONG. JOHN PAUL KvALE

Washington, Feb. 1S-With a record
Of accomplishment even more dismal
than predicted some weeks ago, this
Iame-duck session of the outgoing
Congress is due automatically to adj
iOurn in two weeks. on Inauguration
day. When this letter appears in
print. that day will not be much more
than a week distant. The result is
clear; not only will vital and despe-
rate problems remain unsolved and
unforgivable conditions continue un-
corrected. but an augmented load will
be pushed over on to the special ses-
sion of the new 73rd Congress.
An editor who has long received
and regularly published these letters
within the last few days addressed
the writer with a sincere and con-
structive criticism. 1t was gladly re-
seived, as would be any others which
might be directed to the contents of
these letters, only in this case moth
ing could be done by way of acting
on his suggestion. He asked if the
letters might not contain less regard
ing the helpful attitude of the Pres
ident-elect and the hopeful spirit of
those, who look to his special session
for results, and might not instead re-
late a bit more of the details of the
progress of legislation in which Min
nesOta and the Northwest has such
great interest just now. He is an un-
questionably good Republican. yet he
made, it clear he spoke from no parti
san viewpoint whatever, but from that
of citizen deeply concerned over the
plight of his community and country.
Why can't anything be done by the
way of following out his suggestion?
Simply because these letters, from the
very beginning of the session, on the
basis of ten years study of the work
ing of Congress and of close contacts
with numbers of the body and of the
correspondents press gallery-which
by the way contains some of the most
interesting and worthwhile minds in
America, unbiased by political or self
iSh conSideratiOnS-an 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, about as follows regarding
prospects for legislation in this ses-
sion, and about all of it has previously
been given: currency initiation or re-
vision, hopeless; Frazier or Shipstead
farm refinancing bill, hopeless: allCr-
ment plan (even as modified by the
Senate committee), practically hope
less; bills providing for emergency
and temporary relief to farmers, mer-
chants and corporations threatened
with bankruptcy or foreclosure, some
what brighter although dubious. Even
emergency relief legislation is threat
ned, though that seems downright i'm
possible in the face of the terrible
need for it all over the land. That
need is no longer confined to the great
Industrial regions.
These letters have tried to contain
fact. The writer has admittedly per-
mitted something more than fact to
be included when he has. as the
friendly editor-critic says, 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 expedited,
sustaining public opinion will be a
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 wasted.
Sadly, even a good share of the reg
alar appropriations measures seem
doomed, and that will be serious re-
tarding 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 our history, will be
the repeal resolution which the Sen
ate passed this week and which the
House is slated to pass Monday.