Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-08-12
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
BY PAUL JOHN KvALE, M. C.

Housing and sugar leglSlatlOn held
the news spotlight here in the Cap
ital during the past week. Both
measures were passed by a branch
of the Congress Friday, the House act
ing favorably on the sugar bill in
the face of Presidential veto threat,
and the Senate the housing bill,
amended to an extent that caused
Senator Wagner of New York, who
fathered it, and other supporters to
observe bitterly that cit is scarcely
recognizable as the bill originally in
troduced."
The Wagner-Steagall housing bill
as finally passed by the Senate pro-
vides for a $700,000,000 program for
low cost housing and slum clear
ance. 1t was amended to prevent
an expenditure of more than $4,000
for any one family and 81 200 for
a room. It was sent to the House
where its supporters will fight to
eliminate these restrictions. Also it
was amended to provide for contribu-
tons of per cent by communities,
with not more than 20 per cent avail
able to any one state, and to provide
for general supervision by Secretary
of Interior Ickes. A board of three
members at salaries of $4,000 year
each will direct administration of
the law and the loans for the first
year will be limited to 100000, 00O
The proponents of the bill argued
that land values being what they
are in the large eastern cities where
slums are located makes it virtually
impossible to provide dwellings under
the $4,000 limit The fight over the
bill finally simmered down to a bit
ter battle between representatives of
the large congested residential areas
and those who represent states in the
south and west where housing prob
lens exist but slums located on high
priced city land are rare.
Senator Wagner voiced bitter re-
sentiment at criticism which inferred
that his interest in such legislation
was limited to the slum- ridden metro
polls of his own state. Senator Glass
of Virginia for instance could see
no reason why the rest of the coun-
try should be taxed to provide houses
for large cities" And again, Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan insisted that
''you are placing me in a hopelessly
embarrassing position when you ask
me to tell the home-owners of my
state that 1 believe they should be
taxed to build homes for people in
other sections of the country which
are better than their own
The sugar bill, with its restrictions
on sugar imports from the islands,
was sent to the Senate where SEN
ator Pat Harrison announced that the
finance committee will consider it
Immediately. 1t is expected to go
to vote there during the coming
week.
The President fatty refused to
consider demands by members from
the south that funds be provided for
holding the price of cotton at a
twelve cent level until legislation is
PiON WIllCll WOUlu DTOOuc-
ton. He pointed out that it would
be impossible to provide sufficient
funds to protect the cotton price if
unlimited production continued, and
such action would amount to adj
vancing loans without reasonable Sc
curity.
Majority Leader Barley urged
speedy action on important legisla-
ton, including agriculture with a
warning that unless such problems
are disposed of before adjournment,
the President might find it necessary
to convene the Congress again in Oc-
tober. A petition has been circulated
among members calling for such a
session if necessary, to insure passage
of farm legislation.
Recommendations of the Joint COM