The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-06-27

SEEN and HEARD
around the
National Capital
by CARTER FIELD

- by CARIEK FIELD u1so
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 overpowering
sense Of futility. developed sharply
since the Supreme court decision on
MIRA. Laws are being passed, which
half the members believe will be held
unconstitutional by the high court
later on. 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 II 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 or 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 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
VII Lie Jtj III fdSHiLElou iHdI w Eo
home. The publicity In their home
town papers Is better. The folks back
home think Of the congressman as
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 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 n real yen on
the part of the legislators to go home
Which may bring about adjournment
earlier than most observers had fig
ured--especially right after the NRA
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 on the theory that something al
ways turns up to consume time In the
nd a fh(
house, which determines time.
Joint Selling
A wave of "jolnt selling companies
Is in the ofIing as a result Of the ex
piratlon.of the codes, and the deter
mination of the administration Il
prosecute antitrust suits.
The original bargain of NRA, It vii
be recalled. was that industry was t
agree to pay better wages, work 1t.
labor shorter hours, eliminate chilt
labor, and stop chseling, and In re
turn the government would 60 light,
on antitrust prosecutions, permit
ting all sorts of agreements as Il
prices, distributions of territory, etc
Naturally industry liked the latter
whatever 1t thought about the price /
had to pay, and right now 1t wants t,
continue the benefits, II any, iron
what have been regarded as combina
tons In restraint of trade.
Whereupon many eyes have beer
turned on the famous Appalachian
Goals, Inc, case This Is case II
which large nnmber.of-eoalp rodue
ers Joined In having one corporation
sell their product. The avowed obJec
was to cut selling costs--to abandon
the runous cost Of leach coal operate
maintaining an office and selling fore
In every important market
The government did not like thi
setup at the time. The Department o
Justice pointed out forcefully that &C
tually the selling company In question
maintained in many cases. separat
offices and selling organizations 70
every coal producer 1t represented
But the Supreme court, after length
arguments and due consideration, he'll
that this practice did not violate TIL
antitrust laws.
Now there are some who think tina
the high court took due cognizance o
the fact that coal Ia q more or lpc