Evening star., 1937-11-13
Steps to Improve Economic
Conditions Seen Uppermost
in Many Minds.
LEADERS SET TO HEW
TO LEGISLATIVE LINE
Bankhead Says Tax Revision Is
"Too Big a Problem" for
Hasty Action.
BY the Associated Press.

1 Oh<o@N1S WAL AACSe 4sAOAAlidJ w bdNhiC
unfinished farm and labor legislation
in special session already overcast by
concern about the business outlook.
Although pledged to make crop con-
troll the first business, there were indi-
cations from some members that pos
sible steps to improve the economic
situation were uppermost in their
| minds.
Chairman O'Connor of the House
Rules Committee suggested Congress
try to stimulate business by immediate
| tax revision. Many industrial leaders
and legislators have contended the
capital gains and undivided profits
taxes were contributing to business re-
cession and have urged their modifi-
| cation.
Roosevelt Program.
Speaker Bankhead, however, said
tax revision was "too big a problem"
| for hasty action. He and other lead
ers went ahead with plans to stick to
the legislation which President Roose-
velt has asked-crop control, wage
hour, Government reorganization and
regional planning.
Mr.. Roosevelt will send a message
to Congress as soon as it meets at
noon Monday, presumably setting forth
his views on those subjects. Many
members. returning to a refurbished
Capitol after a recess of less than
three months, expressed doubt that
even half his program could be COM
pleted during the special session.
The Senate and House will meet
until the Christmas holidays and then
adjourn until the regular 1888 session
begins on January 8. Tax revision
probably will hold over until that
time, as will revision Of the anti
trust laws.
Farm Bill Delay Indicated.
Although the House may be able
to begin consideration of the farm
bill early next week, it appeared that
differences expected to arise between
it and the Senate might prevent early
enactment.
Chairman Jones reported last night
| the House Agriculture Committee was
virtually agreed on a bill embodying
the principal of voluntary crop con-
troll without processing taxes. Some
Senators are insisting on compulsory
control.
Mr.. Jones said the House bill would
increase expenditures for agriculture
about $l75,o00,0o0 to s20o,0O0.0o0 a
years and that his group was leaving
to the Ways and Means Committee
the problem of how to raise the funds.
Economy Being Discussed.
President Roosevelt has declared
against increased expenditures for
crop control without compensating
taxes. Economy is being discussed
in relation to all new legislation be-
cause of his expressed hope that next
years budget will be balanced.
While awaiting the farm bill both
House and Senate may debate Gov
eminent reorganization. Mr.. Roose-
velt has advocated it for the sake
of efficiency, but opponents have con-
tended the bill would give too much
power to the Chief Executive.
The Senate also has an agreement
to take up anti-lynching legislation
after crop control. The former is
being opposed by many Southern
members on the ground that States
are solving the problem by them
selves.
Wage Hour Bill Fought.
Southerners also are fighting the
wage-hour bill. passed last summer
by the Senate and now held up in the
House Rules Committee. Administra-
tion leaders may decide to modify the
measure, which some opponents have
declared would injure business.
Representative Lamneck, Democrat
of Ohio, one of the foes. had sug-
gested a mass meeting Monday night
to fight the bill, but decided against
it. He said many legislators wanted
to await developments.
Regional planning measures have
not been agreed on by either House
or Senate committees and may not
be reached before January.
Revision of the antitrust laws
originally was the fifth item on the
Presidents special session program,
but Justice Department officials said
it would be some time before they
complete their recommendation. At
| torney General Cummings discussed
the statutes with Mr.. Roosevelt for
an hour yesterday after an unusually
long cabinet meeting.
Attitude of Congress.
As the legislators began reopening
their offices and apartments for the
winter, many observers predicted that
the huge Democratic majorities in
House and Senate might show greater
| independence. Legislators seeking re-
election next year, they pointed out.
will be eager to establish individual
records
There was speculation whether the
split in Senate Democratic ranks
caused by the Roosevelt court bill
would be healed. Some commentators
forecast that the dissenting members
except for a few persistent critics
would be back in the fold on most
issues.
Predictions were made, too, that Mr..
Roosevelt would consult more fire.
quently with congressional leaders.
Some legislators asserted last summer
that he had not taken his lieuteants
at the Capitol sufficiently into his
confidence