The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-05
CONGRESS- HAS
EARMARKS OF
TOUGH FIGHT
Bonus, Relief, MIRA and
Security Are Some of
Pending Issues.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times Special Writer

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Congress
meets in one month.
Administration leaders hopefully
predict short and harmonious SEES
sion. But since it Is the last chance
for House members and a third OF
the Senators to make a record or
which to go before the voters, a
long and imprisoned session seems
more probable.
The legislative program is long
too, although President Roosevelt
has announced substantial compile
ton OF his major reforms. And de-
Velopments overseas or adverse rul-
ingS by the Supreme Court might
prolong the session.
According to present indications
the President will ask a much small
er sum for relief than the four
billion-do request which precipi-
tated such a controversy last ses-
sion, and he will carefully budget
the amount he does ask, to avoid
charges Of extravaganza or uSurpa
ton of power On the other hand
Congress, which is likely TO talk
more than the President about
economy, is likely also to pass a
cash bonus bill and repass it over
q veto
Neutrality Fight Impends
Legislation on neutrality will
probably be brought up early. Sena-
tors and Representative who fought
last summer for a broader measure
are pledged to take up the cudgels
again. The President is apparently
just as anxious for a broader acJ,
but the fight over making its pro-
visions mandatory on him may be
revived. In any case legislation must
be adopted before February, when
the present neutrality resolution ex-
pires.
The controversial McSwain bill on
war profits is still awaiting action
in the Senate.
When the gavel fell last August,
the Administration bill for regu-
latory commodity exchanges was en-
the Senate calendar. The food and
drug bill was awaiting action by the
house committee on interstate and
foreign commerce. With the League
OF Women Voters organizing a fight
for this measure it may be a real
issue this winter.
Congress must make some dispo-
Sition, Also of the bill broadening
the governments power to regulate
packers and stockyards. The Presi-
dent is anxious for action on the
merchant marine bill, at present
tied up in the Senate in what seems
to be hopeless controversy. He also
wants a measure to regulate water
transportation, and the existing air.
mail contracts expire April |. The
office of Federal co-ordinator of
transportation exists only until June
II, and fight is brewing over a
further extension.
NRA Substitute Awaited
In some form or other, Congress
will have to deal with the question
OF a successor for NRA. BY the
first of the year the Administration
may have worked out new ap-
proach to the subject. If not, the
measure requiring firms holding
government contracts or receiving
government loans to comply with
wage and hour standards is pend
ing before the House Judiciary
Committee.
Labor will press at the same time
for its 30-hour week bill and its
new measure for Federal incorpo-
ration and licensing of business.
On the program, also, are the
Labor Department bill for strength
ening deportation laws in some
respects and liberalizing them in
others, the Bankhead farm tenant
bill, the Black lobby registration
bill, the antilynching measure. and
two Frazier-Lemke bills for re-
financing farm mortgages and eX-
tending relief to home owners.
Townsend pl0n organizers are
talking about gathering $4,000 old
folk in Washington this winter to
fight for immediate adoption of
their pension bill, and are said to
be seeking a log-rolling agreement
with bonus lobbyists
If the Supreme Court invalidates
more of the New Deals foundation
measures, Congress will be asked to
enact substitutes. Neither the Presi-
dent nor Congress would care to go
before the voters with AAA set
aside and nothing put in its place,
and If the processing tax is thrown
out the whole tax problem may be
reopened. Overthrow of the Guffey-
Snyder Coal Act or the Holding
Company Act would also bring sub
Stitute proposals.