The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-12-30
Observations from
Washington
(By Harold Knutson)
Extra Session Ends

The extra session of Congress
came to an inglorious end on Tues
day of last week and aside from
passing an agricultural bill that
1 could not vote for, the Housing
bill for which I voted, and the mile
age grab which I also voted again
st, very little was accomplished.
The cause for the lack of accom-
plshment was primarily due to
the fact that Congress assembled
without any preparation or we'll
defined program. 1t will be recalled
that the session convened on No
vember Is. When we met none Of
ready for consideration and 1t was
late in November before the Com
mittee on Agriculture of the House
was ready to report the agricultural
bill. The measure had been so hast
lily drawn that the House worked
on it for practically two weeks be-
fore it was ready for final vote.
AS I stated in a former letter vot-
ed against the measure as it utterly
neglects dairying and rye. It res
tricts the corn acreage in Meeker
and Wright counties while allowing
the other counties in the district
to plant as much corn as the grow
ers see fit.
The Wage and Hour bill, against
which I also voted, was q hodge
podge originally drafted by BRAIN
trusters. When it finally reached
the Floor the Chairman Of the COM
mittee had 129 amendments that
were offered during it's considera-
ton. The bill contained 1000 words
and many sections were contradic-
tory and ambiguous. The whole bill
could have been written in 100 SIM
pie American words by merely pro-
viding that goods produced under
unfair labor and wage conditions
should be barred from interstate
commerce, But no, it had to create
another vast and expensive bureau,
with thousands of new employees,
most of whom would be engaged in
shopping and spying. The Country
may as we'll give a sigh of relief
that the measure was sent back to
committee, thanks to the efforts Of
the American Federation of Labor
and agricultural organizations.
Japan's Apology Accepted
Thanks to the firm position taxi
en- by the Administration danger
of war with Japan has been avert
ed. at least for the time being. The
apology made by Japan guaran-
tees punishment for those respon-
sible for the Panay sinking; an
assurance that there will be no re-
petition Of the offense, and suitable
indemnities will be paid. How
much better to settle on this basis
than through the medium Of war
which would have cost us possibly
billions in money, not to mention
great loss of life. Slowly but surely
we are becoming more and more
civilized. There are better ways to
settle differences between nations
than by the sword.
A Terrific Tax Burden
According to survey just COM
pleted the tax load Of the American
people for 1888 will amount to thir-
teen and one-half billion dollars, or
approximately $1O3.84 for every
man, women and child. OF course.
it must be understood that this in
cludes local as well as federal taxes
but just the same, are they not
staggering? With new setback on
us cannot see much hope for Inn
proving the situation as the tenden-
cy will be toward lowered income
tax receipts, and greater expendi-
lures due to an increased relief
load.
Bureaucratic Usurpation
The other day 1t came to light
that the Home Owners Loan Cor
poration had expended out Of it's
own fund some $4,000 for group
insurance for its employees. There
is absolutely no provision Of law
authorizing this expenditure and
while the practice has been stopped,
the money already spent Is gone.
This ia an examnla of h,lroaIl-