Nogales international., 1933-02-18
T1H;E;1RE''fE|K
WASHINGTON

weeks left before the present Lame
Duck" Congress comes to an end
on March 4th, the outlook for the
passage of any important legisla-
tion intended to relieve the econom-
ic Oppression becomes more and
more remote. It is now thought ike
ly that the program Of balancing
the budget, Glass banking bill. the
strengthening of tariff protection
against nations operating on de-
preciated currency, the modification
OF the bankruptcy laws, the DO
lncstic allotment farm relief bill,
the proposals for direct relief Tor
the unemployed, and all so-called
initiation measures, will be passed
over to the new Congress.
This seems to make, a special Ses-
sion of the new Congress, irlmedl-
ately after the Presidential 1naug-
uration, absolutely necessary. Pre-
sident-elect Roosevelt had urged
several of these measures upon the
Democratic members of the present
Congress, saying that if they would
pass satisfactory laws balancing the
budget, providing aid for farmers
and revising the Volstead Act, he
would not call a special session.
The Roosevelt Program
Out of the conferences between
Mr. Roosevelt and party leaders in
Congress just before he started on
his fishing trip have come some
rather definite forecasts of the leg
islative policy which the new Pre-
sident will advocate in his inaugur-
al address. OF course. Mr.. RooSe-
velt may propose something entire
" different, but those closest to
him believe that he will recon-
mend higher income and inherit
ance taxes, balancing the budget by
reducing Federal expenditures, leg
islation to restore the purchasing
power of farmers, to increase the
return from agricultural production,
to scale down the principal and in
terest of farm mortgages and extend
cheaper credit for new farm opera
items. A
Mr.. Roosevelt will also probably
recommend negotiations with other
countries for tariff revision and the
removal Of foreign exchange OBJ
st.uction to our export trade. 1t is
regarded as definite that he will
advocate the repeal of the Eight
eenth Amendment and the iulme-
diate legalization of beer with a
view Of making it possible by July
1st to levy tax on beer which is
estimated to yield $150,00O,0 900 year
Of revenue.
There seems also to be little
doubt that he will recommend vast
projects of reforestation and con-
servation of floor waters, to pro-
vide employment, decentralize in
duStry, readjust the use of land
and redistribute the population.
Whatever MIR. Roosevelt proposes
VIII, at least for year or so, be
put into effect as fast as the new
Congress can act That is always
the case when a new party comes
into power with control of both
houses Of Congress. So long as
there are any Federal jobs left un-
distributed, Senators and Repre-
sentatives are eager to do the Pre-
Sidents bidding. After there is no
more patronage to be handed out,
they often lose their enthusiasm
fer the Prt Sidential program.
Shoals And Pensions
Mr. Rocsevelt's statement, after
his visit to Muscle Shoals, that he
would advocate an extensive plan
of development for the entire Ten
II 1ssee Valley which, he said, would
give employment to 100000 men,
has started a great revival Of in
terest in that football of politics,
the Wilson Dam and the Govern
mcnt Nitrate Fixation Plant at
Muscle Shoals.
just how far Congress will go in
the direction of putting the Gov
C-nment directly into the electric
power business as a commercial yen-
turo remains to be seen. A bitter
fiqht is expected to be waged over
this proposal.
1t seems reasonably certain now
that the new Congress will give to
President Roosevelt the power
which the present Congress denied
to President Hoover, of reorganizing
and consolidating the Government
bureaus, There are all sorts OF es-
Inmates Of how much could be saw
cd in this way, running up to as
high as $750,0OOOOO.
Bonus And Taxation