Evening star., 1939-01-03

SpSoNSts ~ OSOtIs OsNS
CounseIs c Conformity With
True National Opinion
Speaker Bankhead of the House
outlined forthcoming activities of
Congress in an address last night in
the National Radio Forum, arranged
by The Star and broadcast over a
Nation wide network Of the National
Broadcasting Co. The text Of his
address follows:
Under the provisions of the So
called Norris or lame duck" amend
ment to the Constitution, both
branches of Congress will be con-
vened promptly at II o'clock noon
tomorrow, January 3.
It WILL of course, be remembered
that before the adoption Of that
amendment on every other year the
Congress met on the first Monday in
December and adjourned by limita-
ton of law on the fourth day of
March, succeeding, which embraced
the so-called short session of the
Congress. and before adoption of
that amendment, members elected In
November were not sworn into ONCE
and did not take up their duties
until year after they were elected.
In accepting this invitation to
attempt summary of the forthcom-
ing activities Of the Congress in its
18th session, I cannot, Of course,
speak with any degree of certainty
as to the results of a number of
proposed measures of legislation that
will undoubtedly receive the atten-
ton Of the lawmaking bodies, and
I shall have to be content with
surmise and prediction only.
OF course, the first business on the
program, as far as the House of
Representatives is concerned, will be
to perfect its organization and to
proceed thereafter to the making up
OF the various committees of the
House. and especially Of filling many
vacancies on House committees
caused by the loss of a number of
Democratic members in the recent
election. 1t is now practically as
sured that there will be no spirited
contest over the election of Speaker,
majority leader and the other off,
GERS Of the House, inasmuch as under
our party system the Democratic
caucus has already acted in the
selection of its nominees to be pre-
sented when the House meets tomor-
row and the vote will be largely a
matter OF form.
have been informed that Hon.
Joseph w. Martin, jr, of Massachu-
sets has tonight been selected as
the candidate Of the Republican
party for Speaker, which carries with
1t his designation as minority leader
on the floor Of the House.
All Eyes on Committees.
The filling of a number of va
cancies on the committees of the
House is q matter of great impor-
tance and serious concern to the
Democratic organization. All per-
sons who are really familiar with
the procedure of Congress and the
passing of laws now know that the
1aborious and practical framing Of
all laws is largely accomplished in
the committee rooms, although they
are, of course, debated, often
amended. and sometimes defeated
after being recommended by the
various committees when they come
up for actual passage on the floor.
It also may be a matter of some
interest to those who are not familiar
with our parliamentary procedure
that, under the present system, all
Democratic vacancies on commit
tees are recommended by the So
called Committee on Committees,
which is made up exclusively of the
Democratic members of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, but, of
course, after such committee makes
its recommendations. they have to
be acted upon by the House itself.
The Republican vacancies are filled
In similar fashion by the recon-
mendation of the minority leader.
The President of the United States
will address the joint session of the
House and Senate in the hall of the
House on Wednesday at o'clock
pm. and arrangements have been
made for the broadcasting of his ad-
dress over three of our important
radio systems and. no doubt, millions
of our citizens will be interested to
hear the President make his recon-
mendations to the Congress at that
time.
Message May Stress Defense.
I feel that it is reasonable to as
sumo that the President will dis
cuss at some length and will prob
ably make some very definite sug-
gestions with reference to our in
ternational situation and matters
which, in his opinion, may be rea-
sonably necessary for the strength
ening of our armed national defense.
I personally feel that in view of the
very distressing situation In many
parts of the world involving actual
armed conflict among millions of
people at this time, and in view of
the apparent purpose of some die
tator governments to enforce their
Will upon helpless minorities, that
the people of our country will hear
with great interest the views pre-
sented by our President upon these
subjects which so vitally affect the
future safety and security of our
Republic.
There can be no question that the
public mind of America as indicated
by the press and by some specific
surveys of public opinion is thor
oughly IN favor of a very full con-
sideration Of our problems of ma
tional defense and will indorse the
actions Of the Congress in making
adequate and yet reasonable pro-
visions for our safety and security.
1t Is also quite probable that part
OF the Presidents message may be
devoted tn a discussion of oI,r