Evening star., 1934-01-03
OPEN ATTACK
' ON ECONOMY ACT
congressman Promise Legion
Members to Work for
Repeal.

A procession salvo of oratorical gum
fire was leveled last night against the
economy act by members of Congress
who opposed the legislation originally
Speaking at a mass meeting at Cen
tral High School, arranged by Victory
Post OF the American Legion to pre-
sent citations to II Senators and Is
Representatives vino lined up against
the measure, the group OF speakers
including nine of this number, bitterly
aSsailed the act, with principal refer
ence to the retrenchment it effected
in veteran benefits, all promised to work
1or repeal
These were Senators Wheeler Demo-
Crat, OF Montana, Long, Democrat. Oh
Louisiana. AIcCarran,' Democrat, OF
Nevada; Dickinson, Republican, OF Iowa;
Ne. Republican OF North Dakota
Robinson. Republican. OF Indiana, and
Representatives Lundeen and Shoe
/ al,er. Farmer-Labor. OF Minnesota,
ana Hoeppe-, Democrat, OF CaInornla;
AT the same time at thomson
ScaOol, the opening session OF two
Al-nt conference was held by the civil
Service Reinstatement League TO for
mulate program directed against the
economy act which is 10 be pressed at
the session Of Congress opening To-Day.
"Kingfish" Applauded.
Several hundred persons attended
The Victory Post meeting and accOroed
a tumultous welcome TO the speakers,
2 particularly warm reception being
accorded Senator Long, who philoSo-
pllzed Oh war, taxes ana patronage,
ana left the platform only over the pro-
tUalo OI ms audience.
Ine "Knghsn' was III rare form.
lie declared he did my dad-gummed
bs-U 10 tell the President what a
CANNED 1ooI ne Wds making OF the
party in passing the economy act,
,gaed al his own failure TO get Jobs
10r constituents, which he described
=, Cne point as a few damned post
ClfIreS," and told his hosts:
You watch the newspapers this No
NemOer ard see what happens to them
bullieS in Louisiana who dld get pa
LIOnage.'
lie nonchaIantly averred that he was
zone OF the ones OF draft age who
didn't go to war in 1911 ran for
pubic ONCE and naiVely added that
tine bands playing looked pretty good,
Long, as cid some of the others. in
sisted that despite the announced IN
teution of Democratic leaders to speed
Up this session, we will take our time. y
Senator Wheeler. who was paired
against the economy act, said he
thought it was wrong when passed and
still thinks so.
Bankers Are Blamed.
Il stand ready at any time to try to
correct the wrong that was perpetrated
upon the veterans of this country in the
name of economy" Wheeler emphasized
declaring the legislation was prompted
by the banking lnterests-"th MltchelIS,
WigglnseS and Samuel insults
Senator Dickinson said he believes
that unless practically all the prON-
sionS OF the economy act are undone,
Congress will be here until mid-August,
Brother Rainey Cthe Speaker to the
contrary notwithstanding"
When they save dollar on the Gov
ernment employe and spend thousand
another way it Is not JustItled, said the
IOWan, who has been particularly crltl-
cal of the Administrations program.
Senator Robinson described the act as
"the most cruel brutal and indefenSlble
law ever passed by a CoWardly Con-
gress." Apparently referring to Presl-
dent Roosevelt ) speech before the
Legion convention in Chicago last Sum-
nler. Robinson asserted that If any
public official says no man is entitled to
consideration because he wore the uni
form of his country, that official is false
to his trust"
Robinson said he had a repeal DILL
ready to introduce at crack of dawn
tomorrow
More support Seen.
Senator McCarran predicted the Few
members of CONGRESS who voted against
the economy act would be reinforced
heavily at this session Of Congress, and
the same idea was echoed by Senator
Nve, who said the law was passed under
conditions resembling a Stampede"
Representatives Lundeen, Hoeppel and
Shoemaker also promised to work for
repeal of the act, and Lundeen declared
also his intention of seeking to force
a vote on the bonus bill. Hoppel said
he would introduce a pay-restoration
bill today.
Rice w. Means. former Republican
Senator from Colorado, who now Is
department commander of the Legion
presided at the meeting, after being
introduced by Oscar G. Jones, Victory
Post commander.
Due to an error in the printed
scrolls the citations we're not presented
to the members of Congress last night
but Will be handed them later.
In addition to the speakers, others
present who we're introduced to the
audience were Representatives Areni
and Johnson. Farmer-LabOr, OF Min
nesota; Dunn, Democrat, of PennSyl-
vania: Lemke, Republican. North Da-
kota. and Scrugham. Democrat, Nevada
The Reinstatement League confer
ence Will be resumed at o'clock to-
night Last night was given over prln-
Cipally to preliminaries, which included
preparation of resolutions. Nlneteer
organizations. including labor groups
and the National Woman's Party, hao
delegates in attendance.
A blanket resolution calling for re-
peal of the economy act is to be pre-
sented at tonights meeting.