Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-04-12
TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY

Just when Congress will adjourn is
a matter of some doubt but most OF
the pet measures of the Administers
ton seem to be safe. With the excep-
ton of the action Of both houses in
overriding the Presidents veto on the
Independent offices Bill. majority
leaders consider that the legislative
program is well advanced.
|
The tariff measure. having passed
the House will PROBABLY go through
the Senate, giving the President the
powers he desires to adjust tariffs.
The revenue bill passed by the House
is estimated to increase receipts from
taxes by s25S,00 900 over last year
| and while the Senate amendments
provided a larger income, the differ
ences will probably be ironed out
easily. The embarrassing veterans
bonus and the troublesome silver re
monetization question remain to wor-
ry the Administration but the gener-
al idea is that there are enough votes
available to adjourn Congress at any
time that the President feels that his
program is being blocked.
There are some other measures on
which action is desired but it is not
felt that they are important enough
to keep Congress in session and ad-
iournment is generally expected IN
the first part of May. Regulatory leg
i~slation for the stock market and
commodity exchange the Wagner La
Dor bill. the 30-hour week bill and a
decision as to policy on airmail and
the control of communications remain
pending.
The real clash of the near future
will be over the bonus and silver
bills and there may be a serious ef-
fort to pass n or both over q veto
if the measures reach the President
in an unacceptable form.
President Roosevelt apparently sa
tisfied with the situation in Washing
ton extended his southern fishing
cruise and is expected to get back to
the capitol some time this week. Con-
gress. it was noted passed no impor-
tant legislation the week the Presi'
dent was away from Washington
This left him ample time to reac
Washington before the constitutional
ten-day limit during which he may
exercise no veto privileges over leg
islation in the unexpected event that
some u~nfavorable bill receive favor
able action.
The Supreme Court upheld the
right of the State of Washington 70
impose an excise tax OF fifteen cents
A pound on butter substitutes solo
within the state. This establishes the
power of a State to use its taxing
power to aid certain industries even
to the detriment OF others. Interest In
the decision was increased by lne
fact that the opinion was written Dy
Justice Sutherland OF he so-cailed
Conservative group
The new work relief program Will
cost the Federal government around
$40, 0O0, 900 during the month OF Aprii
or approximately one-fourth OF the
expense under the CWA set up. The
CWA is closed but certain projects
and specialized activities will contln-
ue for some weeks. At its peak ABOUT
the middle of January, more than SIX
million men and women were on CIV
IL works and relief rolls The new
1t is said, took over about
two million employees OF the CWA
left approximately n million work
ers out OF Jobs, although the belief is
that a large proportion had been aD-
sorbed by farm and Industrial actiy-
tiles.
Revealing that representatives We're
sent into certain municipalities by
public utility companies for the pur-
pose OF combating municipal owner
ship of utilities, the Federal Trade
Commission recently made public
some correspondence OF officials and
employees of the Associated Gas ana
Electric Company and its subsidiar
les. The correspondence nclude q
letter referring to a State senator 10
INV York and caused the legislation
of that state to initiate a sweeping IN
curry into public utility activities
there. Senator Norris in the Senate,
insisted that the revelations were In
dicative OF similar letters and actiyi
ties OF power companies throughout
the nation.
Jesse III. Jones, chairman OF the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation,
finds conditions better, with business
improving and more money available
at the banks. He believes b a bank
ers are getting over their fears and
that liberal credit will begin Q
He pointed out that business Inn.
provement has caused $250, 100000
In loans to be repaid to the RFC since
January | and that the Corporation
has more than a billion dollars In POI
tential credit remaining.
The RFc will soon take up with
congressional committees the pro
| posed plan to buy municipal and c0un-
ty bonds In order to stimulate public
works. He explains that 1t would not
require a large amount OF money as
the bonds acquired could be sold
when the investment market opens
up. No purchase OF state bonds Is an
iticipated because the securities
stand on their own feet" Mr. Jones
points out that more than a billion
| dollars in stock has been taken In
g 4Eo anfivo hanka and that loans au-