Evening star., 1935-01-08
BYRNS OUTLINES
CONGRESSPLANS
Speaker, in Forum Address,
Says Congress Will Take
Constructive Steps.

Assurances that the Seventy-fo fourth
Congress would not run wild" but
would take definite and constructive
steps to facilitate the recovery pro-
gram were given by Speaker Pyrns
last night during the National Radio
Forum.
The forum, arranged by The Wash
ington Star, was broadcast by WMAL
and a coast-to-coast network of other
National Broadcasting Co. stations.
Byrns sketched the outstanding fea-
lures Of the legislative program Of the
current session, and expressed belief
that the movement for immediate
payment of the bonus would be the
only issue to cause embarrassment. "
The first constructive piece Of legis-
lation to be tackled without delay,
he said, would be designed to extend
the life of the Reconstruction Finance
Corp. Early consideration also will be
given, he declared, to the program
of President Roosevelt to substitute
work for the dole"
Text of Address.
The text of Speaker Byrns' address
follows:
The organization of the House of
Representatives recently accomplished
with the utmost order and the mini
mum of friction Is hopeful sign
that the Seventy-fourth Congress will
prove a helpful force in the rehabili-
tation program so ably launched by
n,4e Do0cnyynlf O
say with assurance that business need
have no fear and that this Congress
will take no steps which will impair
or delay recovery.
Problems of vast importance are
confronting the Nation and Congress
is fully aware of them. We will meet
these as they are presented and, ]
am confident, will leave record
which will make this an outstanding
session in the history of the Nation
More than that, I am hopeful we
will be able to settle controversial
measures amicably and, since the
Democrats Overwhelmingly contro
both House and Senate, there is nc
reason to assume we cannot work
together for the common good of the
Nation and the party as well.
There has been much speculation
In the press and elsewhere over the
character of legislation this Congress
may be expected to enact. The fear
has been voiced that Congress may
run wild" as some have expressed
it. I am confident such fears are
groundless and, while it is not unlikely
some bizarre bills will be offered, they
are reasonably sure to be either killed
or so modified as to leave no just
cause for alarm. This expressed fear
of what Congress may or may not
do is nothing new. It bobS up every
two years with remarkable regularity
and, for the most part, comes from
critics, who, for one reason or another,
are not wholly sympathetic with the
existing form of government in the
United States.
Congress Is Balance Wheel.
On the one hand we have the pred.
atory gentlemen, sometimes called
rugged idualists-resentfu OF
restrictions placed on their acquisj-
tive activities by Congress and on
the other we have the radicals
angry because Congress, as whole
rejects their leadership. My observa-
tions, covering a membership OF
nearly 80 years in this body, con-
vince me that each Congress fairly
represents the combined sentiments
of the Nation for the period in which
1t serves. It is fallible, of course, as
are all human agencies, but no more
so, and In the long run proves to be
the balance wheel of the Nation.
The present Congress, I am sure,
will measure up to its predecessors
and pardonable pride prompts the
belief that, having chosen me for its
presiding officer, it will be Just q
little superior. In this connection,
however, it should be borne in mind
that it is not the function of Con-
gress to initiate executive policies.
That Is properly the duty of the
President, and the Nation is fortunate
in having at its head man with both
courage and vision, who recognizes
his responsibilities and has proven his
capacity. This Congress-any Con-
gress-is and should be proud to ac-
cept his leadership. I think it Is safe
to say it will do so and while the
measures he proposes will have to
run the gauntlet of committee ap-
proval, they will be enacted in pretty
much the form he wants them. That
is as it should be, for in the stupend-
GUS task to which he is devoting his
heart and brain President Roosevelt
should have the wholehearted CO.
operation Of Congress and. in so far as
my influence goes, he will get it.
AS I see it now, there Is but one
issue likely to come before Congress
which will occasion any embarraSs-
ment. This is the demand of the