Evening star., 1936-12-26
LEADERS PREPARE
POLICY ON ISSUES
IN NEW CONGRESS
Relief and Neutrality legiS-
Iation in Forefront as
Opening Nears.
OPPOSING CAMPS FORM
ON CONTROL OF BUDGET
Roosevelt's Initial Message to Be
Followed Soon After by Finance
Views and Inaugural.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt and his con-
gressional chiefs set about in serious
fashion today to plan for the opening
Of Congress 10 days hence. with many
vital decisions facing them.
Some Of the Democratic leaders in
Congress were already here. Others.
who stayed home for Christmas, were
heading to the Capital for the I'M
portant conferences that always mark
a new session.
The Chief Executive had to sand.
wich in between his conferences some
concentrated work on his opening
message, which may chart the course
Of his second term In the White
House. He was looking ahead also to
his inaugural address on January 40.
Developments already have OUT
lined two major issues for the coming
session-both loaded with argument.
They are neutrality and relief. Back
Of them are scores of other problems
and proposals that made the usual
forecasts of a short session sound
hollow.
Neutrality Leading Issue.
With war clouds over Europe dark
ening, neutrality legislation was on
the lips of most of the assembling
legislators. President Roosevelt, Just
back from his peace mission 70 South
America, already has turned his mind
to the problem, but has not an.
nounced what he would propose to re-
place the law expiring May !.
Evidence was accumulating that q
bitter fight was brewing over relief
and the interwined problem of ball
ancing the budget. Even within the
administration there were signs of
conflict, and in Congress opposing
camps were forming in favor of con-
tinued spending or curtailed spending.
The issue will come to q head all
most as soon as Congress meets. Cur.
rent funds are running short, and O
new appropriation will be sought dur.
ing January.
President Roosevelt's budget message,
to be submitted during the first week,
probably will contain his recommen-
dation for relief spending for the
remainder of the fiscal year, but Is
not expected to contain estimates for
next years program.
The Chief Executive has indicated
several times that he would propose
about $500, 10000 to carry the work
relief program until June 80. Harry
L. Hopkins. his relief chieftain, has
been seeking more.
Budget Message Pivotal.
With revenue increasing amid talk
of curtailed spending, the Presidents
budget message is awaited with more
than usual interest. There have been
some forecasts it would point to
virtually balanced budget.
Aside from relief, Congress will be
called on during its first month TO
face one other major problem-ex-
tension of the Presidents monetary
powers. The administration has an
nounced it will ask for extension OF
the $4,000 100000 stabilization fund
and of the Chief Executives authority
TO devalue the dollar.
Some opposition to these proposals
was gathering on Capitol Hill. but
with huge Democratic majorfties in
both houses, leaders do not expect
much trouble getting them approved.
Back Of all these things, the most
far-reaching decision facing the Presi-
dent was whether to ask legislation to
achieve the objectives Of N. r. A.
Most of his advisors at the Capitol
believed he might make no recon-
mendation on industrial proposals
until later in the session.