Evening star., 1935-12-20
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

With return to Washington of Vice
President Garner, Speaker ByrnS and
other globe trotting congressional lead
erS. arrangements for the session be-
ginning January will be promptly per-
fected. Despite probable lack of fresh
New Deal legislation. House and Senate
are headed toward five strenuous months
Because of election proximity, plenty of
fireworks is in prospect. The Republican
opposition, in accord with time-honored
political tradition, is expected to capital
ize every promising opportunity for par
tisan advantage that presents itself, but
administration forces will be no less
alert to keep the situation well in hand
for their own campaign purposes.
Rooseveltians look for a blistering at
tack on the Presidents relief plans, no
matter to what extent they represent
retrenchment and budget balancing
effort. On both sides of the Capitol
broadsides against waste and extrava-
gance" will sound the keynotes for sub
sequent onslaughtS on the hustings.
Senators and Representatives alike are
keen to make legislative records that will
bolster individual and party prospects at
the polls in November. The G. o. p.
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next House. The Senate is beyond Re-
publican reach until after 1910.
y
Scheduled by arrangement to be in
troduced on January 13, the $4,000 ,00O, 900
bonus bill will provide the early feature
of the session. Veterans leaders radiate
complete confidence that some kind Of
measure will be passed overwhelmingly
and as easily enacted, if necessary, over
veto. Much livelier controversy is in
sight over neutrality legislation. AS the
present law expires on February %, a
substitute measure is certain to reach the
Capitol promptly, so as to permit the
maximum of advance discussion. Spur
red by current international events, iso-
lationiSt-irreconcilable forces will stage a
fierce fight against any administration
proposals that would increase the hazard
Of American involvement. Previous
Roosevelt-Hun activities in connection
with Italo- Ethiopian hostilities are due
to be raked fore and aft by the same
elements that fomented last sessions
fight against the World Court.
~
Along with bonus and neutrality, the
Townsend plan is earmarked as an i'm
pending and possibly protracted bone Of
contention. Party lines are sure to be
broken pro and con when the fantastic
"old-age revolving pension" scheme is on
the calendar. Not q few ladies and
gentlemen on the hill await in embar.
raSsed fear and trembling the day when
they must stand up and be counted on
the $200-a-month bounty scheme. Many
of them know that their vote on 1t may
determine their political future. II
there is an attempt to revive N. r. A.
legislation in any form, vigorous opposi.
ton Is assured. Storm signals win be
hoisted, too, in case Supreme Court de"
cisions make it necessary to repass or
amend the public utility. coal control.
T. v. A. or A. A. A. acts. Hope OF con-
gressional leaders is to clear the decks
by no later than June /, the eve OF the
Republican National Convention, but as
usual, such an outlook at this time is
sheer guesswork. with the wish father
to the thought.
Eastern Republicans are reported to be
moving toward formation Of q bloc OF
Atlantic seaboard States for the purpose
of holding the balance Of power at
Cleveland. Their supposed objective Is
a batch Of. uncommitted delegations
which I'd tha paychnlogickl momsRt