The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-01-13
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POSTS
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On the third of January, the
Senate and the House convened
for its seventy-fifth regular ses-
sion, two weeks after it's special
session closed. Senators and Re-
representatives. exchang ii greetings
as usual, the weather was fine, and
good sized crowd assembled out
side the Capitol to get look at the
President, who was on hand to de-
liver his message, which was spok-
en- to full floor and packed gal
leries. The opening of Congress
never will cease to be an event Of
Importance, not only to the legisla-
tors but as well to those who, like
the people in the Bible, are interes-
ted in the --latest new thing"
AS to the Presidents message, 1t
began with reference to the Japa-
nese incident, though not mention
ed by name, when the Chief Exc
cutive stated that he was thankful
that the nation YVES at peace, de-
, spite provocations which in other
days, because of their seriousness,
could well have brought about war.
Allegiance to treaty obligations on
the part of the United States was
promised, coupled with the slightly
gloomy but obviously correct that
we could not be sure of reciprocity
on the part of others.
Respecting taxes, it was pointed
out that the Treasury income must
not be decreased, that tax dodgers
should be crowded to the wall and
that small business men must be
favored, it being carried in mind,
however, that earned income would
be looked after rather than specu-
lative income. The President look
ed forward to such action by both
branches of Congress as would Sc
cure for the farmer balanced
output and an increased purchas-
ing power. Wages ard hours were
referred to generally, and were
summed up in the statement that
the present Congress should estao-
lish a floor below which industrial
wages should not fall and ceiling
above which hours Of industrial Ia
Dor shall not rise. A balanced
budget is not to be looked for in
the immediate future, much as it
may be desired. Relief is to go on
if necessary, and the government
must be so financed that it can
function properly. These and other
considerations were declared to be
paramount to balanced budget.
Such, touching lightly upon high
points alone, was the tenor of the
measage The congressional COM
ment thereon ranges from: Every
good" to can agony of alibis. :"
Someone evidently is mistaken.
The message done, Congress set
tied down to work, and conflict
over its suggestions seems certain.
Monopolies and trusts are to come
in for some man-handling. The
antilynching bill, laid aside at
the last session, will come to life
again. Likely the family bills
which have to be paid at the end
of the month, the appropriations
for various departments viii have
to be looked after. A sound piece
of legislative action proposes that
no loan by the government shall be
made TO a foreign country in the
time of war unless the United
States is engaged in the war as an
ally Of the nation asking for the
loan. An amendment to the Con-
stitution is suggested whereby
when the United States is at war,
Congress shall have the power to
take private property without pay
ing for it. To this the Congress
ional answer in all probability will
be: 'Not yet" The T. v. A. pos
sibly may be investigated. In adj
dition to the foregoing, as might
be expected, hot partisan talk is
going back and forth, prompted by
the Presidents message.
The Italian press is quoted as
stating that the United States is
"afraid" to do anything about the
Panay boat sinking incident. Such
taunts may have had force in the
Stone Age days, but they do not
cut much of figure with those
who are able to think. Moreover
this country still preserves the
right to manage its own affairs.
If memory serves correctly, the
Duce has made some such claims
regarding the privileges of Italy. i