The Omaha guide., 1937-09-18
Economic Review

thinking and argument. To the con-
trary, in the few months remain
ing between now an the second
session, politics will be as much
in the headlines as ever, and be
rind the scenes political activity
will be rampant. AS Bus ness Week
says, There's no getting away
from Washington" Perhaps never
in our history were the interests Of
industry and individuals so extric-
ably related to the political situa-
ton.
AS this column has pointed out
b7fore, the first session of the 18th
Congress was as important for
what it did not do as for what it
did. Left over for consideration arc
a large number of major bills,
some of which passed one branch
but were deferred in the other, and
some of which are still in House
and Senate committees. And it is
a fact known to everyone in touch
with the situation that the Admin
istration is laying plans for fore
ing through its "must" program, a
large part of which was beaten
last session.
Prime example of this is the Su-
preme Court Bill. The President
has said, almost in so many words,
that he still regards it as essential
to his program. 1t will be introduce
ed in the next session, probably in
about the same form as before. And
in the meantime, administration
leaders will do everything they can
think of to bring recalcitrant sem
ators into line. In spite of the mo
reprisals" talk, practically every
Washington newshawk still thinks
that the speech of Senator Guffey
in which he demanded the feat of
such Democratic senators as Wheel
er and Burke, was delivered at the
request of the President and that
"pro-New Deal' Democrats will be
found opposing "anti-New Deal'
Democrats in future elections.
Biggest battle will take place in
Montana where, it is thought %
year old Representative jerry o.
Cornell, who is 100 per cent for
the New Deal and the CLIO, will
take to the hastings against Sena-
tor Wheeler.
The question of relief will loom
larger next session than it did in
the last, where it was obscured by
other matters. In spite of vastly
increasing industrial activity, relief
rolls are almost as great as in the
depths Of depression. Relief bur-
eau officials, such as Harry Hop
kins, think that relief will be a
permanent part of government no
matter how much business booms;
that millions will be unable to find
jobs. Critics say that the relief
rolls are kept large for political
use. No one knows how many I'M
able to find jobs. No one knows
how many unemployed there arc
Congress has refused all sugges-
tions that a census be taken. 1t
did pass a bill last session whereby
in effect, unemployed ri invited
to join in a census, but this will
obviously give no real check on the
situation.
Laws regulating business will be
another factor. For example, a bill
passed the Senate limiting the len
9Th Of freight trains, is now pend
ing in a House committee. The
railroads say the cost of this bill
would drive them into bankruptcy,
unless provision is made for higher
rail rates. Also still pending IS q
bill to create seven Federal hydro
electric authorities of the IVA or
der, which never came to a vote
last session and was deferred for
future consideration.
Neutrality viii be up again. I'm
der the present law, the responsi-
bility Of deciding whether an actual
state Of war EXISTS between for
eign powers, falls upon the Presi-
dent-and inasmuch as countries
now fight without declaring war
this is a tough assignment. Peace
organizations want a neutrality
bill with teeth in it, that will keep
us as remote as possible from for
eign entanglements.
There will be more discussion
about taxes and the national debt,
which is now at an all-time high
OF about S3S, 900, 900, 900. One con-
gressional group, which has the