The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-12-30
Bruckarf's Washington Digest
Three Important Problems
For Congress to Consider
National Defense Relief and the Railroads Are Pressing
Questions; This Congress Will Not Vote Money
Just to Please the President.
BY WILLIAM BRUCKART
WNU Service National Press Bldg. Washington d. G.

WASHINGTON.-If it were posi-
BILE to close ones eyes to the tragedy
of the scene and forget all about
the sadness of the world, one might
produce a masterpiece of humor
concerning the situation in the ma
TONS capital this week. After the
manner of the circus hawker, one
might shout that the greatest show
on earth is about to open; one might
call attention to the fact that this
show is unlike most others because
it has two 'big tops" and one
might, without stretching the imagi-
nation, suggest that if you want to
understand what is happening, or is
about to happen, you had best keep
your eyes trained on both tents.
Yes, in all seriousness, there are
two shows this winter. One of them
has many actors, many voices. 1t
is to be found in the halls of con-
gress on Capitol Hill. The man on
the flying trapeze never excelled by
comparison with members of the
house and senate. Never were there
better clownish acts than are staged
annually in those chambers. Instead
of vocal applause and much clap
ping of hands, however, the actors
in the Capitol Hill circus want ap-
plause in the shape of votes; they
want to have the home folks ap-
prove.
Now, concerning the other tent,
there is only one actor. But he
controls many Charlie McCarthys.
He used to operate puppet show.
He made his actors perform so well
that they became known as rubber
stamps. But an election has inter-
vened. Some of the strings that
controlled puppets have been bro
ken, others have become knotted,
and the master actor probably has
somewhat more critics in his audi
ence than he formerly had.
National Defense and the
Railroads Serious Problems
And so we get down to cases.
President Roosevelt will offer to
congress in a few days his program
for building up the national defense.
He will tell congress, as well, what
the needs of the destitute are and,
how he conceives that they must be
met.
AS third great problem, and
probably the most difficult as well
as of concern to every one of us,
there is the question of what to do
to save the railroads of the country.
No official seems to have found a
proper or sane solution, but to me
it appears that the time has come
when national action is called for
in a much more concrete form than
the intellectual liberals" surround
ing the White House are accustomed
to advance in bringing about the
more abundant life. Trains run on
money, as well as steel, and if the
owners do not get some money very
soon there won't be more than half
dozen rail lines in the country
that have escaped bankruptcy.
In addition to these problems, we
are likely to see competition be-
tween the two shows for some very
juicy jobs. Of course, these con-
Germ largely the north ring of the
Capitol Hill circus, namely, the SEN
ate, which must confirm presiden-
tial appointments before the act is
completed. It is not too much to
expect that there will be considera-
BILE difference of opinion between
the White House and the senate over
a good many of these selections.
There is always the annual mess
of appropriation bills. Work has
been started on many of them by
committees which have charge. But
it should be remarked that the work
has been only started. 1t is by no
means finished. For in these money
bills this year there are tons and
tons of hot air. There are not
enough rubber stamps to bring a
majority vote if, as and when want
ed, like it has been for the last sew
eral sessions. In other words, in
the forthcoming session, unless all
signs fail, there will be close scruti-
ny Of appropriation bills.
Congress Won't Vote Money
Just to Please the President
From present indications, I be-
lava n NAV he said that Mr. Roose.