Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-03-12

umn last week the IVA decision OF
the Supreme Court was an extremely
narrow victory for the New Deal and
leaves no indication of the Courts at
titude toward the social and power
yardstick' program. The decision.
however, tended 10 check widespread
criticism Of the Supreme Court and
lessened the prospect of a determined
effort to restrict its power.
While many critics Of the New Deal
have declared that this was its aim and
that adverse decisions, by close votes
were courted IN a effort to affect pop
ular sentiment, the fact is that the
President, since his famous horse and
buggy" speech discussing the NRA de-
cision, has apparently been inclined TO
accept the present situation, take what
he can get in the way of decisions
while waiting the opportunity to re-
place members of the Court.
Other important tests await New
Deal legislation, which now has two
favorable decisions to its credit and six
adverse decisions scored against it.
The next case to come before the Su-
preme Court will be heard during the
week Of March End, when the Court
will consider the right of the Govern
ment to condemn land for PWA slum
clearance in a case arising in Louis
vile, KY. One week later the Court
win take up the Guffey Coal Conser-
walton Act passed by Congress after
the President asked members to fore
90 all questions as to its constitution
atty. Further down the line but COM
ing UP for determination, is the fight
of the Duke Power Company to re-
strain construction with PWA funds OF
a publicly owned and operated hydro
electric plant at Buzzard Roost, S. c.
An Injunction was granted by the dis
trict court but reversed by a circuit
court of appeal, from where the case
will move to the supreme tribunal.
Congressional leaders retain their
confidence that the 18th Congress will
adjourn sometime around May lst
When the session opened Congress ex-
pected that neutrality legislation and
provision for work relief through the
fiscal year 1869, plus the regular
appropriation bills, would constitute
its task. The end of the AAA COM
PEELED the passage Of a farm bill ano
the necessity of finding new sources o.
revenue for the payments being made
to farmers.
Passage Of the bonus was considered
certain when Congress convened with
the general idea that new taxes foi
this purpose would be avoided. While
no one can tell how long it will take
Congress to pass relief legislation Oh
complete action on a tax bill, thest
questions of themselves will not bt
sufficient to prolong the session pas
the tentative date of adjournment. I'M
less members can be kept steadily a
work on these measures, however, the
likelihood arises that jealous advocate:
of pet measures will bring them up
particularly in the Senate. Among the
probabilities: Senator Wagner's low
cost housing and slum clearance prof
ects in the large cities; Senator Robin
sons bin to support Independent mer-
chants against competition from chair
stores, and possible legislation to con-
troll munitions that may be fostered by
the peace at any price group which
failed to ecure a permanent neutral
ity law.
For fifteen years equality for agri-
culture" has been a battle-cry
throughout the land. The newly en-
phasized soil-conservation measure i!
the fifth major legislative attempt tC
settle the issue. First, there was the
McNary-Haugen bill to subsidize ex-
ports through the collection of al
Equalization" fee. Twice Presiden'
Coolidge vetoed the principle in legis-
lation. Then came the agriculture
marketing act, with its $500, 900, OOt
Farm Board revolving fund. which
passed away amid tumbling wheat anc
cotton prices after sustaining severe
losses. The AAA, of recent memory
went further and attempted to adjus
production to effective demand bu
ended by a decision of the Supreme
Court.
Internal revenue, collected by thu
Treasury, during the first sever
months Of tn fiscal year which begar
last July, was almost $4,000, 900 aheac
of the same period of the previous
year, although there was a decrease o
S250,0OO 900 in processing tax collec-
tons. For the seven months S1,781,
OBS, 139 were collected. Income and ex.
cess profits taxes increased $150,375,
1888 to 1886, 265, $40, liquor taxes $751;
989,752 to $296, 1892, manufacturers
excise taxes $28,670,387 to S222,0 09, 25'
cigarette taxes S22,542,01S to S245, 1899,
l73, documentary stamp taxes S14,245,
120 to S39,318, 096, and the tax on bond
of indebtedness and issues of capita
stock increased S5,70S,871 t. S15,959,
420 and that on capital stock and 9th.
err transfers was up $9,520,205 to a to,
tai of $751; 1877 for seven months. 4
recital of these gains emphasizes tn
business recovery that is taking plac'
and indicates substantial gains in gov.
eminent income in the future, ven j
there are no additional taxes imposed
Congress has voted huge lending
authorizations during the past tire,
years to credit agencies of the govern
ment. Some are wholly financed b,
the federal treasury, such as the RF(
and the Commodity Credit Corpora
ton. 1t is worth noting that on Jan
uary / these agencies had outstanding
loans of about two billion dollars
owned through RFC nearly a billion
dollars worth of preferred bank stool
nul oou;+,1 pofac and had n half hill