Evening star., 1933-03-18
Speeding the Program.

President Roosevelt's determination
to keep Congress on the job until his
legislative program shall have been en-
acted, without the contemplated recess
is encouraging. Not in years has
Congress shown such willing spirit as
the Seventy third Congress, since it be-
gan its first session little more than
week ago. 1t should be possible for the
President to get through his program,
which, though important, may be con-
tanned in few measures. before the
close of the month of May Further
more, prompt action on railroad ana
transportation legislation, banking lesis-
lation and power legislation will be CAL
culated to speed recovery.
Up to the present time the President
has sent to the Congress one measure
at time, and the Congress has con-
fined its efforts to that particular Dill
until it was disposed of. Because OF
the disposition of the members to give
quick consideration to the bills his pro-
gram of emergency legislation has
moved with unprecedented speed. The
President in his messages to the Con-
gress, brief and to the point, has dealt
with single subjects. The effect has
been to center the attention OF the
country first upon the banking emcr-
sency legislation, then upon economy
legislation. next upon the beer revenue
bill and finally upon the farm relief
bill The first of these three measures
is a law, the second awaits only the
signature Of the President, and the
third is in the conference stage and
may become law by Monday night. Had
1t not been for the desire Of the Sen
ate to take a recess from THURSDAY
until Monday, both the economy bill
and the beer bill could have become
law by tonight. The farm bill has
been reported to the House and will
come up for consideration in that body
Monday.
It seems clear there is a disposition
to avoid the delays of interminahle
hearings before the congressional COM
mittees. Those interested in legislation
are entitled to their day in court, but
not to months. The new administra-
ton is not tackling at this session
revision Of the tariff or general re-
vision of the revenue laws. If 1t had
those problems on its list of legislative
recommendations the Summer and Fall
would see the Congress still toiling
away in Washington, in all probability.
The country is particularly waiting for
the bank reform legislation. 1t awaits,
too, legislation designed to strengthen
the railroad systems of the country
These and farm legislation are the
maior subjects which the administra-
ton proposes to deal with now. 1t also
has unemployment relief on the list
Unemployment, however, will be relieved
far more effectively through the estab-
lishment of confidence in the business
world and a recovery of business and
agriculture than in any others way. 1t
has been reported that the President has
turned from a s5OO.O0O.OOO bond issue at
this time for public improvements, de-
signed to give relief to unemployment,
believing that such move would de-
stroy the accomplishments of his ccon-
omy program. Instead, there is to be
a more definite relief system ad10ted,
with an administrator Of relief ap-
pointed, and the President hopes to find
sufficient money from unexpended bal
ances of Government appropriations to
give perhaps 100000, men work with
little delay.