The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-04-04
Congressional
Neus Letter
(By Harold Knutson,

Washington Is madhouse these
days and no one can blame the
President for going fishing in the
warm, sun-kisSed waters off the
coast of Florida. I wouldn't mind
getting away for a few days, but
with the great mass of legislation
pending it looks like a steady
grind ahead of us for the next hum
dred or more days.
At last the huge relief appropria-
ton bill has been sent to confer
ence. Ut will be recalled that this
measure passed the House on jan
uary % last. Since that time it has
been almost constantly before the
Senate where it was finally acted
upon last Tuesday, after several
important changes had been made
by that body It will take a few
days to iron out the differences be-
tween the two Houses.
The measure carries 4 billion
800 million dollars which Is ap-
proximateIy $3.50 for every minute
since the dawn of the Christian
era. or that immense sum, which
is beyond the grasp of human
mind, 300 millions will be expended
for direct relief. It yet remains to
be determined how the billions
are to be spent and its ALLEGATION
awaits the return of the President.
IT Is not going to be an easy job to
place this money for it will re-
quire the expenditure OF 7,272.72
for every minute during the next
fiscal year.
In addition to the relief measure,
the House has passed eight appro-
priation measures, further credit
for the Home Owners Loan Cor
poration and the $60,O00OO0 Seed
Loan bill, and several smaller APP
preparation bills; the grand total TO
all will reach billion $40 millions.
Our national debt will be 80 billion
by July LIST, which marks the be-
ginning of the new fiscal year.
I often speculate on what future
generations will think and say OF
this one. We blindly got into for
eign war that was none of our
concern, the consequences of which
nearly resulted in our own destruc-
ton; we advanced billions Of dol
lars in monies and credits to allied
countries without so much as get
ting scratch of the pen to SHOW
for it. After the war we RENTED
most of the debt and then turned
around and sold the debtor ma
lions billions worth of surplus mat
erial, which is what they now owe
for and refuse to pay.
| Then to show our munificence
like an expiring Goal Oil Johnny
we kill 6 million pigs and plow un.
der every third row of cotton while
millions of our people are walking
the streets, hungry and ragged
looking for work. ask, has there
ever been q comparable example Of
stupidity and recklessness thar
exemplified by this generation? II
so, when and where? No wonder
that there be those who say that
the capitalistic system has failed
My friends, the fault is not sc
much with the system, which has
been in operation for thousands OF
years, but rather with those
charged with it's conduct. Oul
leadership has oft-times beer
wanting in understanding, in cour
age and in vision.
On Saturday next we will com
memorate Americas entrance in.
to a war that was fought to end
all wars, at least we were so told
and yet, today, IT years after the
conclusion of that war we find the
world in a more disturbed condi.
ton that at any time since those
tragic days back in 1914 when rea,
son became dethroned and man.
kind sent 33 millions of it's young
men into the shambles of a fear.
crazed continent. Unfortunately
Uncle Sam Is suffering from a sew
ere attack of filters, along with
England, France and Russia. This
Congress is voting enormous in
crease!s for its war establishment;
money that should be devoted to
the alienation of hunger and suf.
fering among the % million now
on relief. Our Navy is being ex.
panded and the Army enlarged fan
beyond the demand Of national Sc
curity. ask, against whom are we
arming? Let our leaders take us
into their confidence that the PEG
pie may know the true situation
Is our national security menaced
If SO, by what power or powers!
Congress cannot escape its share Of
the responsibility for this reckless
expenditure for war preparation.
MY friends, If this mad race In
ornaments Is not checked now IL
will inevitably lead to another
World War which will destroy civ.
ilization just as urely as the rising
of tomorrow's sun.