The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-25


The next four months may prove
to be one of the most eventful peri
DDS in the Seventy-fifth Congress
The legislation passed and the issues
raised will certainly have a sweep
ing effect on the whole functions OF
the Federal government. Few car
predict anywhere near accurately
what that effect will be.
Will the Presidents Supreme
Court plan pass through opposition
which, to say the least, is formid-
able? Will reorganization of the
executive branch of the government
as recommended by the President
withstand objections raised, or will
it survive? Will the new farm pro-
poSalS solve agricultural ills in the
way proponents claim? Will the
Presidents ideas for relief funds
prevail or will the bloc seeking larg-
er amounts win out?
Let me hasten to say that I cannot
answer those questions. Weeks of
committee studies, hearings, public
sentiment and many other factors
enter into the situation and must be
considered before the answers are
found. However, it may be said that
the individual members of Congress,
perhaps as never before, appreciate
the grave significance of the ques-
lions and behind the scenes
the quiet of offices and committee
rooms-are giving all facts studied
attention.
At the moment the Supreme Court
proposal is far and away ahead Of
all other issues from the standpoint
OF Importance and public interest.
Throughout our whole history any
suggestion affecting the nations
highest tribunal has brought bar
rage Of public statements. Fortu-
nately, the radio offers a new form
of discussion and, with the press,
gives our people ample means Of
hearing and reading both sides of
the question.
Whatever may be said, for or
against the Presidents court plan,
there should be kept in mind the
fact that the Chief Executive was
given a tremendous vote of conf
dence last November. The majority
of our people rendered this vote of
confidence. Therefore, any recon-
mendation made by the President
deserves to be weighed on it's merits
and given the acid test of "value to
the public good" rather than be af-
fected by snap judgment. The peo-
pie, their view reflected in Con-
gress, will be the final arbiter. It is
an axiom in political economy that
the masses will, in the final analysis,
find the correct answer to any Ques-
ton.
For the moment, the proposal for
reorganization of the executive
branches of the government is in the
background. Directly, it may carry
as much significance to our people
as the Supreme Court plan, although
it does not stand out near so high in
public interest.
With regard to the agricultural
problem, messages already sent to
Congress by the President and re-
ports of those yet to come indicate,
that from the standpoint of agricul-
ture generally the "ever-normal
granary" idea-a plan for storage of
SURPRISES in normal times to meet
times of distress-and an effort to
solve the far tenantry conditions
will be the highlights. The latter
plan my 60 so far as to include all
rural citizens now suffering low
standards of living.
In connection with these situations
and problems. it seems unusually
significant that the Congress should
be considering grave constitutional
questions in the same year we begin
observance of the 150th anniversary
of the constitution. It may be that
the Seventy-fifth Congress may
leave its footprints on the sands of
time from the standpoint of consti-
tutional action.
Therefore, these problems should
be considered without hysteria, with
out swayed public opinion, and
without political bias. What is best
for our people? How can. that best
be attained? Those are the real ques-
tons as Congress comes from around
the curves of organization and pre-
liminaries and enters the gruelling
speedway stretch of the next four
months