The Washington times., 1938-11-21
CONGRESS FIGHT
ON EMERGENCY
LAWS PROBABLE.
Important Measures Ex-
pire in s Months
By GEORGE R. HOLMES

By GEORGE X. HOLMES
G.N.S.D Democratic lea d ers
who are to confer with President
Roosevelt at Warm Springs, Ca.
this week on a program for the
new session of Congress see break
ers ahead and squally, if not
stormy, weather.
Not only are the Republicans
greatly augmented in numbers
and enormously stimulated as to
morale, but they can count on con-
siderable support from the con-
servative. or anti-New Deal, Demo
Gratis.
This assumes particular impoE-
lance in view of the fact that
early in the new session decisions
must be reached as to the continu
ance Of a great many emergency"
laws. which were whipped through
In the New Deals more hectic
days.
MANY MEASURES EXPIRE
There are more than a score of
such measures that are due to ex-
pire before July, unless extended,
among them, Importantly enough,
the Presidents power to devalue
the dollar and operate the $4,000
100000 exchange stablization fund.
AS far as is known, the Admin
stration is going to ask for the
extension of all these laws be-
ycnd the expiration date, and
some of them are going to meet
with determined opposition.
If the Republicans had one
common issue in the last two
campaigns it was that of centrali-
cation of power in the executive
and in Washington. From a
thousand stumps. their candi-
dates rallied against the concen-
tration of authority in the Presi-
dent, and demanded that Congress
stop the business of RELOCATING its
authority.
REGISTER OPPOSITION
Now they are going to have the
opportunity to register direct op-
position to the continuance of
Mr.. Roosevelt's powers, and that
OF various New Deal agencies.
Among the more Important
measures that will expire in the
first six months of next year are:
l. The Presidents power to de-
valuate the dollar and operate the
sterilization fund. Congress has
long been curious about how this
two billion dollar fund is operated.
Members have never found out.
It is Treasury secret.
g. The authority of the RFC to
make loans to States, counties
and cities expires on March 20,
and the whole RFC itself expires
on June 30, unless further ex-
tended. This is one agency which
Congress in general approves.
THE HOUSING ACT
8. The national housing act
expires on July l, together with
amendments which permit it to
insure loans for rehabilitation pur-
poses. This agency has come in
for considerable criticism because
of its slow functioning and SEEM
ing inability to start the dirt
actually flying.
4. The Federal surplus commodi-
ties act expires June 80. This gov
ernmental corporation has bought
many millions of dollars worth of
for distribution to those
on relief. Its continuance may be
strongly opposed.
THE NEUTRALITY ACT
5. The neutrality act, which re-
poses in the President wide author
ity to embargo exports other than
arms and ammunition, expires on
May /. A warm battle is expected
over this which, in view of world
conditions, assumes especial sig
nificance.
6. The use of Government bonds |
as security for Federal Reserve
notes extends only to June 80, and
will be discontinued thereafter I'm
less Congress grants an extension.
This is expected to lead to lively
debate over the whole fiscal policy
OF the Administration, which has
been severely criticized by Repub-
lcans as we'll as by some conServa-
tive Democrats,