Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-04-21
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
BY PAUL JOHN KvALE, M. C.

The grist turned out by the Wash
ington executive and legislative mills
during the week is calculated at least
to provide a substantial measure OF
sustenance for the vast multitude of
farmers, working men and small bust
nessmen who first are hit and must
longest Withstand any serious bust
ness recession.
Obviously the outstanding news of
the week in the National Capital was
the announcement by the President
that he favors an appropriation of
S., ZOO, 100000 to check the recession
that is now harassing the country.
Opinion regarding the action of Con-
gress on this proposed legislation is
sharply divided, but this writer be-
lieves that the Presidential program
will be sustained.
Under the $5,OOO,O 100000 general
heading of the big war chest to stem
the tide of recession, probably the
first item is the financing to be pro-
vided by "desterilization" of some
ST 400 100000 of gold, now idle in the
vaults. This means issuance of money
against this gold.
The House has passed the agricul-
ture appropriation bill, which not only
will finance the new crop insurance
program, but also provides the reg
ular Federal allotments under the
Hayden-Cartwright good roads act
a development which was forecast in
this column some time ago. This
means that Minnesota's road con-
struction program can 60 forward
substantially as planned.
Other major items in the Presi-
dents spending program are appro-
priations for the Public Works Ad-
ministration, tentatively fixed at ST.
500, 00O,0 900, and for the Works Pro-
gress Administration, to carry ap-
proximately $1,250,0O0,O00 for the
next seven months for relief. The
PWA money is expected to provide
funds for many public projects al
ready applied for, including number
of schools in the Seventh district
The allotment of approximately $751;
600 for a school addition at Morton
was granted as this is being written
AS my former colleagues, the sports
writers, would say, the "score" of the
Administration program before the
18th Congress is substantially as fol-
lows:
The crop control bill has been en-
acted into law.
The Housing bill also is law.
Tax revision has been passed by
both Houses, but now is deadlocked
in the House-Senate conference, with
neither side showing any evidence
of giving in. The Senate, under the
leadership of Senator Pat Harrison
struck out the controversial capital
gains tax and modified the House
version of the undistributed profits
tax
Regional planning has been ap-
proved by House committee, with
authority limited to recommendations
but without executive power to sci
up the so-called "seven little Twas
Naval expansion has been passed
by the House, but the Senate naval
affairs committee has agreed to in
crease appropriations to provide two
uper-battleships of $4,000 tons-at
the same time scrapping the House
provision for a new dirigible.
A new wages and hours bill has
been reported by the House labor
committee, but enactment at this ses-
sion is doubtful.
Government reorganization was
passed by the Senate but rejected by
the House, with an 8-vote margin.
Presidential messages are expected
soon on antitrust legislation, as well
as on the general recovery program
and his recommendations that tax
exemption be removed from future
issues of government bonds.
The RFC expansion bill has been
enacted and signed by the President
and soon should be making itself felt
in loans to business and industry.
This office has received Geographic
notification from the Farmers Union
Central Exchange that this organiza-