Evening star., 1938-12-25

is not 10 De just ShambleS for New
Deal proposals.
Unless the President changes his mind
his message to Congress will deal en-
phatically with the need for greater ma
tional defense. 1t is possible that he
will give to Congress in some detail the
relative strength of this country and
of foreign nations in the matter of
ornaments, and particularly of air de-
fense. He may discuss, too the need
for defense of the Western Hemisphere
against aggression by foreigners. The
size of the appropriations for the Navy
and the Army, as we'll as the air de-
fense, may largely be determined by
the development of such policy of
American "solidarity.'
1t is expected that the proposed ap-
propriations for the new fiscal year,
1910, will exceed the 1889 appropriations
for the Army and Navy, which totaled
approximately $1,050 100000. The Presi-
dent put through at the last session his
great naval expansion program, calling
for the expenditure ultimately of about
1000 100000. He was able to get the
program adopted on the plea of protect
ing the United States from possible ag-
gressors, but only after severe fight in
the Senate. If he now asks for still
greater defense programs he is likely to
run into sharp fight.
Increased Air Defense.
Congress expects a demand for in
creased air defense, both for additional
planes and for anti-aircraft guns, and
it is more inclined to grant such appro-
priations than it is to add to the Army
and the Navy. In some quarters it has
been suggested that the number of
planes must be increased to 10000, to
equal the supposed strength of Germany
in the air
In connection with the national de-
fense program, it is expected that Con-
gress will tackle legislation designed to
take the profits out of war"-for the
mobilization of industry as we'll as labor
in the event this country goes to war.
The Military Affairs Committees of both
houses have given the subject a great
deal of study.
sources that the bars against immigra-
tion be let down, so as to care for more
of the Jewish refugees from Germany
and the territory in Central Europe that
Germany has seized in recent months.
The President so far has refrained from
suggesting that the immigration laws be
changed-although he expressed great
S1yYr,r t1,E, ho 1of; IS
Germany. There will be strong oppo-
sition, however, from many members of
Congress to lowering the bars-particu-
larly in view of the great unemployment
problem which still continues to exist in
this country.
A whole raft of New Deal and other
emergency" legislation is due to expire
at various dates in the next three years
"a good deal of it in 1899. Congress
may be called upon to extend these laws
Among the laws which expire in 1899
is that authorizing the President to alter
the gold content of the dollar Others
include the cash and carry provisions of
the Neutrality Act, the stabilization fund
provisions, the lending powers of the Re-
construction Finance Corporation, the
Public Works Administration, the So
called nuisance taxes and cents postage
for letters.
Sugar, Coal Acts Expire.
In 1910 the Sugar Quota Act expires
and the Guffey Coal Act, and in 1941 the
act providing Government payments for
compliance in the soil conservation pro-
gram. There are dozen other emer-
gency measures which will be snuffed
out unless they are given new life by
Congress.
Two congressional committees partic-
ularly in the limelight, whose reports are
likely to cause considerable excitement.
are"the Sheppard Senate committee in
vestlgatlng campaign expenditures and
| the Dies House committee investigating
un-Amerlcan activities in the United
States. The Sheppard committee is ex-
pected to recommend drastic changes in
the Corrupt Practices Act. 1t is expected
also to criticize harshly the manner in
which the w. P. A. has been used in po-
| lltlcal campaigns. Indeed, the commit
tees report may reflect strongly upon the
| elections of some of the Senators who
| were chosen in November, although it is
| doubtful the report will recommend that
any of them be not seated. The commit
tee found, through its Investigations, for
example. that there had been gross mis-
use of the w. P. A. in the Kentucky pri-
mary when Senator Barkley, the admin
| iStratiOn leader in the Senate. was re.
nominated over Gov. Happy" Chandler.
There would be pretty kettle of fish if
the committee suggested that Senator
Barkley should not be given his seat.
The committee report, however. is likely
to add fuel to the fire which already is
building under the w. P. A. as the proper
system for granting relief to the unem-
ployed. It may make it exceedingly diff
ficult for Harry L. Hopkins, w. P. A. ad-
ministrator, who has constantly denied
that the w. P. A. was being used in pol
itics.
| Pension Fight Looms.
The prospective fight in Congress over
OLD age pensions may be one Of the most
important. A huge lobby for increased old
age pensions has been established. Many
OF the Republican members of Congress
and some of the Democrats were backed
by the old age pension organizations
particularly the Townsend organization.