The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-24
WRITER Lists
EIGHT MONTHS
H|GHL|GHTS
Weary Members PIod
On Toward EARLY
Adjournment
By GEORGE r. HOLMES
International News Service

BY GEORGE X. HOLMES
International News Service
A Congress that has spent more
than 10000 million dollars Of the
peoples money and enacted more
far-reaching legislation than any
Congress in history plodded to-
ward adjournment today after
eight months of continuous SEES
sion.
Plodded is the word. For this
Seveinty-fourth Congress, with its
unprecedented Democratic major
tiles in both branches, is punch
drunk and weary. All they want
to do is to get away, and to that
end are willing to compromise
controversies which seemed impoS-
sible Of solution a few weeks ago.
That has been proven in the past
few days.
Record Nearly Complete
The record of the session was
almost complete today. and viewed
from any angle, it Is an astonlSh'
ing one.
It has set an all-time peace-time
record for spending.
It has set an all-time record OF
imposing taxes, the full extent OF
which will not be realized for sew
eral years-until the country
starts paying for the social secur-
ity program through payroll levles
to finance old-age pensions and
unemployment insurance.
In all probability, much OF the
legislation enacted since last Jan
uary is headed toward a test in
the United States Supreme Court.
which has already displayed
GOODNESS toward the type of social
legislation which this session has
specialized in.
Sessions Highlights
But, constitutional or otherwise,
here is the record
It has set up a vast Federal
program Of aid to the States in
financing old age pensions ana
unemployment insurance, H.
nanced by a tax on payrolls.
1t appropriated 1880 millions
to provide Federal relief through
public works and outright gifts
to States and municipalities.
1t has authorized 1,750 mil
lions in bonds to provide finance
distressed home owners.
It has strengthened govern
mental control over nearly all
kinds of agricultural produc-
tion.
It has revised completely the
banking structure, putting the
Federal Government more in
control of money and credit,
and guaranteed bank deposits
on a national scale up to $4,000.
Collective Bargaining
It has passed the Wagner
labor relations act guaranteeing
the right of labor to bargain
collectively, and provided ma
chinery to settle industrial dis
putes.
1t has, through the iva and
ensuing amendments, put the
Federal Government in the
power business.
~ LIDO LdhC4A VIC AAA4GAdA OVCP
toward strict Federal regulation
of the great public utility bust
ness, and decreed death for
certain types of holding COM
panieS.
It has brought truck and bus
transportation under Federal
regulation for the first time.
It has increased taxes on
wealth to the highest point in
the history of the country. con-
tinued more than half bill
lion dollars in nuisance" taxes
and imposed for the first time
graduated tax on corporations.
Army and Navy Aided
It has strengthened the Army
and the Navy through the larg-
est peace-time appropriations
for national defense in history
-904 million.
1t has set up control of the
soft coal industry, through the
Guffey-Snyder bill.
It wiped out the last veStiges
of the famous Economy Act Of
1888 by restoring governmental
salaries and wartime pensions
and benefits.
1t has acted to insure neu.
trality of the United States in
the event of another European
war, by making it mandatory
upon the Executive to declare
an embargo on arms, ammuni-
ton and the implements of
war" Immediately the conflict
breaks out.
These are only the high-lights
of the most remarkable peace-time
session of Congress in the ma
tons history. The full effect of
these enactments will not be felt
for years.