Evening star., 1936-01-05

United states senator from MISSISSIPPI.
THIS will be a short session of
Congress. Nobody wants a
long one, not even the critics
n Of the administration. More
over, due to the intensive work which
was done under the leadership of the
Roosevelt administration in the ses-
sions beginning in those terrible days
Of emergency, back IN the Spring OF
1888, the remainder of the program
to be carried out is not such as to
require any great stretch of time.
No one can anticipate precisely, OF
course, for things have way of turn
ing up. and sometimes Senators want
to discuss at length things which, in
advance, no one would have suspected
would require much debate. AS a
matter of fact, the work before this
Congress could be done with such in
telligence and dispatch that We could
adjourn easily in April. were it not for
two factors. One is this certainty that
there will be unexpected oratorical
flights, as I have mentioned. The
other is politics.
The point is that this session OF
Congress will take just little longer
than it ought to take because this is
q presidential year. Many Senator'S
one-third of our membership-are up
for reelection, and all the members oi
the House must face their electorates-
unless they decide to retire. So many
of the legislators will find Unnecessary
to make speeches.
Pre-June Date Assured.
Even with these factors given propel
consideration, however, am conflden
that We will adjourn this session prio
to the convening of the national con
ventions in June. Those who are sug
geSting that We will have to recess
over the conventions, and drag Wearil.
on into the Fall, are, am confident
unduly pessimistic.
While there are some very importan
measures coming up, and some which
will require serious consideration
there is actually very little new legis
lation needed.
First in Importance will be the gen
eral appropriation bills, including thu
deficiency appropriation bill that failet
of passage in the closing hours of las
session. 1t will be recalled that thi
measure carried the appropriations fo
financing the organization under which
the security act-old-age pensions ans
unemployment insurance-would func.
ton.
Due to the keen desire for economy
not only Oh the part of Presiden
Roosevelt and Budget Director Bell
but on the part of practically ever,
Democrat in the House and Senate
and, avowedly at least, on the par
Of the Republicans as well, these ap
preparation measures will require ever
more than the usual care. I do no
think much more time will be con
sumed on them than usual on the foo
OF the Senate, but the committee worl
must be more painstaking than usual
National Defense Factor.
1t is easy to slash, but the importan
thing is to pare down so that tn,
efficiency of our great governmental
enterprise will not be impaired. Then
too. while there is desire to reduce the
ordinary expenses of the Government
the administration and Congress be-
lieve that there should be more none,
spent for national defense. Both tn,
Army and Navy appropriations will bt
greater than last year, and more lib
eral treatment will be given Army anc
Navy aviation than ever before, if w
except, of course, the war days.
We will face the necessity, if the
total appropriations for the ordinar!
expenses are to be cut, to pare the
non-military branches of the Govern.