Evening star., 1938-06-18
RAIL AID MAPPED
|NNEXT CONGRESS
Financial Problem of Lines
Is Foremost Issue Left by
Retiring Lawmakers.
- the Associated Press.

Retiring Lawmakers.
~ the Associated Press.
A big program already is laid out
for the new Congress to be elected this
fall.
What the Seventy fifth Congress
left undone the Seventy-sixth is likely
to find on its docket when it conyenes
next January-unless there is spe-
eial session in the meantime.
No. l on almost everybodys list Of
problems for the next Congress is
what to do about the railroads. Some
Congressmen, including Chairman
O'Connor of the House Rules Com
inittee, have predicted a special ses-
sion may be necessary to rescue the
railroads from their desperate finan-
cial plight "a. ,----
But Chairman Wheeler of the Sem
ate Interstate Commerce Committee
does not agree. Legislation, Senator
Wheeler said In effect, can't save the
railroads-only business upturn can
do that. Mindful Of the $3,753 ,000, 900
appropriated in the administration
lending-spending bill, the Montana
Senator predicted such business up
turn by fall
Relief Problem Again.
Among other legislation that con-
sressional leaders said they believed
Congress necessarily would have TO
hn
/. Relief and unemployment-The
eeventy-fifth Congress put this prob
lem up to the next session by appro-
priating relief funds to last only TO
March /.
2. Amendments to the Crop Con-
troll Act-Farmer complaints about
the rigid controls over planting and
marketing already have forced up
ward revisions in cotton, wheat and
tobacco quotas. Other changes may
be necessary.
3. Revision Of the tax laws-Presi-
dent Roosevelt let the tax bill passed
this year become law without his sig
nature because, he said. Congress had
surrendered the American principle
Of taxation in modifying the un-
divided surplus and capital gains
taxes. He made it plain the next
Congress would be called on to re-
wise the tax structure.
Antitrust Revision.
4. Revision of antitrust laws
President Roosevelt asked an investi-
cation. about to be started by a H.
member committee, looking toward
tightening up these laws. The COM
nittee will report to the new Con-
gress
S. Governmental reorganiza ton
Congressional leaders indicated there
would be consideration next year of
. bill similar to that pigeon -holed by
the House in the last session.
8. Regional planning-The Presi-
dent sent a message to the Seventy
nth Congress urging creation Of water
conservation areas, but little progress
was made on legislation to that end.
Indications were he would renew the
request.
Congressional leaders agreed there
were other questions that seemed sure
to claim attention, although they
might not have the impetus Of a
White House Recommendation.
One Of theseis neutrality. Renewed
attempts may be made to require a
popular vote before a declaration of
war. There also is the probability
suggestions will be made for revision
OF the neutrality act.
War Debt Question.
Then. too, the plaguing question of
war debts may be brought up. In the
last session, the State Departments
effort to settle the Hungarian relief"
debt was ignored by the Senate For
eien Relations Committee.
Legislation to restrict bank holding
companies has the approval of the
President, but it was lost in the shuttle
Of the closing rush.
A half-dozen investigating commit
tees may bring forth suggestions for
other legislation. One committee began
An inquiry today into the prospective
uses of phosphate resources: another
shortly will investigate forestry con-
ditions. Some legislative proposals
may arise from the Tennessee Valley
Authority investigation.
Republicans have their legislative
program, too Outlined by Senator
McNary Of Oregon and Representa-
tive Smell Of New York, the minority
leaders, it may be summed up briefly
thus:
Balance the budget, revise the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act, take poll
tics out of relief, alter the social Sc
curity law, restrict the President's s
monetary powers, take Government
out Of business and reduce Govern