The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-06-28
and HEARD
around the
National Capital
.By CARTER FIELD

EH@EET"3 o%E%E~E $3.50 - @F+
Washington.-old human nature is
working for an early adjournment Of
congress. 1t Is not so much the heat.
although despite the local boosters,
washington is no summer resort. But
the senate and house chambers are
both air-cooled, and so. for that mat
ter, Is, the White House.. As a matter
Of fact, the national lawmakers are
probably more comfortable here than
they would be at home. Not all Of
them, Of course, but most Of them.
The answer to the. desire for early
adjournment has nothing to do with
temperature. 1t is the overpowerlng
sense of futility, developed sharply
since the Supreme court decision on
NRA. Laws are being passed, which
half the members believe will be held
unconstitutional by the high court
later or. Everything that is being
done Is frankly and openly admitted
by the administration leaders to be Of
the stop-gap variety.
Hence there Is no feeling that what
they are doing is really constructive
that it is the kind of thing to which
they can point with pride later on
telling their admiring constituents
that they helped frame this or that.
Senators have told the writer in the
last few days that they feel they are
on Ickes' "work relief" Just going
through motions on more OF less fruit
less errands. In short-time serving.
But-senators and members Of the
house are not, paid by the day. They
are paid by the year. Staying in
Washington a month or two longer
than Is absolutely necessary does not
put q penny into their pockets.
Like Home Publicity
All of which might not be important
II there was really important work to
be done here. Oftimes senators and
members Of the house figure that 1t is
much better politics for them to stay
on the job in Washington than to 60
home. The publicity in their home
town papers Is better. The folks back
AAOuaC SuluA vi IAC congressman az
sweating in the sultry heat Of Wash
ington, working for their interests.
Especially II his secretary Is a good
letter writer.
But there Is very little percentage
for that sort Of thing in the present
situation. The country isn't much in
terested in this stop-gap legislation.
Huey Long managed to get headlines
by talking all night to stop q, bill,
which passed early next morning any
how. But the average senator doesn't
want to do that. and the average rep
~resentative would be prevented by the
rules.
So there has developed a real yen on
the part of the legislators to 60 home.
Which may bring about adjournment
earlier than most observers had fig
ured-especially right after the MIRA
decision.
Prior to that the prospect never was
for an early adjournment. These dis
patches consistently held to the idea
Of an August adjournment, not on any
detailed calculations as to, how long
the White House must" list would take.
but OF the theory that something al
ways turns up to consume time In the
senate. And 1t Is the senate. not the
house. which determines time.
Joint Selling
A wave Of "joint selling companies"
Is In the offing as a result Of the ex-
pfration Of the codes. and the deter
mination Of the administration to
prosecute antitrust suits.
The original bargain Of MIRA, It will
be recalled. was that industry was to
agree to pay better wages, work its
labor shorter hours, eliminate child
Labor. and stop %chiseling. and In re-
turn the government would 60 lightly
on antitrust prosecutions. permit
ting all sorts Of agreements as to
prices. distributions Of territory. etc.
Naturally industry liked the latter.
whatever 1t thought about the price 1t
had to pay. and right now It wants to
continue the benefits, II any, from
Wnat nave Deen regarded as combtna-
tiOns In restraint of trade.
Whereupon many eyes have been
turned on the famous Appalachian
Goals, Inc, case. This Is a case In
which a large number Of coal produc-
ers Joined in having one corporation
sell their product. The avowed object
was, to cut selling costs-to abandon
uthe rulnous cost Of each coal operator
maintaining an office and selling force
din every important market.
The government did. not like. this
setup at the time. The Department of
Justice pointed out forcefully that &C.
tually the selling company In question
maintained, in many cases. separate
Offices and selling organizations for
every coal producer 1t represented.
But the Supreme court, after lengthy
arguments and due consideration. held
that this practice did not violate the