Evening star., 1936-02-20


a strong David to DR.. ToWnsend's po-
litical Goliath. Trembling Representa-
tives generally. are cheering him on
from a safe distance IN the back
ground. Elimination of the Townsend
influence would cause them all to
breathe easier.
Note-Bell is a capable lawyer, a
former circuit judge and thoroughly
competent Representative. He will do
a good job.
O'Connor Explanation Different.
The comparable courage of Rules
Chairman O'Connor in almost taking
on the politically powerful Father
Coughlin has a slightly different ex-
PLANTATION.
revealing slant on that is rir-
tually every Representative, Repub-
lican and Democratic, arose to Gp-
plaud O'Connor'S official anSwer to
the politico-churchman. They all
stood By him, although, only fe1D
days earlier, only four OF them
voted in tapor of his uetoed claims
bill, and many of them haze signed
the Frdsier-Lemke petition.
One inside answer to such transcend
ing non-partisan loyalty is that both
the House and the Senate have much
of the family spirit They have often
been called exclusive clubs, but they
are more than that. The legislators
will call each other everything they
can think of, but If any outsider tries
to call any Of them anything they
will rally to the personal defense o1
the oppressed member.
That is where Coughlin made his
mistake and hurt the Frazier -Lemke
bill he was sponsoring.
Coughlin Strategists Pleased.
Some of Father Coughlin's strate-
gists appear to be well pleased by
the result. He has not been getting
his name in the papers much recently.
Expenses of his promotional cam
paigns have increased, while receipts
have diminished. If he can keep on
the front page regularly hereafter
the Royal Oak budget may be brought
closer TO balance.
Cummings Steps Aside.
A certain Senator figured out q
neat way of promoting his consti-
tutional amendment giving Con-
gress sole jurisdiction over commerce,
despite the Supreme Court. He de-
cided to put Attorney General Cum
mings on the constitutional spot.
He wrote a letter to the Attorney
General requesting an opinion about
his bill.
No cabinet officer dares to re-
trnin from answering q Senator's
letter. Nor did Mr.. Cummings. He
10rote Uery, uery polite note &C.
knowledging the receipt of the Sem
dtor's letter and saying he ,uould
look into the matter.
1t Is understood Mr.. Cummings
will continue looking until next No
vember 4. The election is Novem-
ber 3.
3 Billions Voted Quickly.
It sounds incredible, but it is true
that the Senate appropriated nearly
$1,000, 600, 900 in 20 minutes the other
day. Only one Senator objected, the
sincere Treasury watchdog, Senator
King. Only two others comment
ed, approvingly. They did not even
go to the trouble of having a formal
vote.
But that lDas not the most inpor-
tdnt phase of it. The appropriation
did not carry the slightest suggestion
as to ,Uhere the Treasury is going
to get the three billion dollars flor
the bonus, new farm subsidy, etc.,.
The idea behind this sensational
streamlining of legislation is to duck
taxes. Its hackers are getting the big
appropriation passed first, so they can
consider the smallest possible tax
boost later. They would like to dis
sociate the two steps in the public
mind, as well as in their own.