Evening star., 1939-01-01

TeCO III III II q b.
tions of tn e
President, either
in his annual
message or any
''"A'of A'' special messages
that may be sent to Congress from
time to time during the session, but
there are certain well-knoWn prob
lens which will face Congress at
this session and upon which it is
reasonable to assume some action
will be taken.
Because of its emergency charac-
ter, the first problem will be an ap-
preparation to carry on work relief
for the balance of the fiscal year.
up to July !. 1t has been estimated
that an amount somewhere between
$500, 100000 and $750,000,00 will be
required to finish the fiscal year.
The precise amount will depend
upon the necessities as they are laid
before the Congress by the various
relief agencies. If we may assume
that a reasonable compromise can
be made between the minimum and
maximum figures above quoted, the
amount would be in the neighbor-
hood of s600,OO0,0O0.
There will no doubt be consider
able discussion about the merits OF
the appropriation itself, as well as
certain alleged political activities in
which some of those connected with
the w. P. A. are said to have been
engaged. Whether an effort will be
made on this temporary appropria-
ton to enact legislation prohibiting
political activities of all those draw
ing any Government salaries, or
whether this will be postponed until
the regular appropriation, ! cannot
prophesy, but the subject will un-
doubtedly be discussed during the
first appropriation.
Rail Aid Action Likely.
Railroad legislation has been
under consideration by Congress
from time to time ever since the
Transportation Act was passed in
1920 There is a general feeling that
this session must take some action
with reference to railroad assistance.
Whether this will take the form of
Federal loans for equipment, or fur
ther provisions for reorganization, 1t
would be impossible at the present
to foretell, but the problem is one
that will undoubtedly engage the
serious attention of the coming ses
sion of Congress.
Another subject which will be
dealt with specifically is that OF ma
tional defense. While do not my
self know what the President will
recommend in detail, 1t is expected
that he will submit to Congress a
program for its consideration. There
is not much additional legislation
needed so far as the Navy is con-
cerned. Appropriations may be
speeded up to carry out the program
heretofore authorized. There may
be need for coast defenses, anti-air-
craft guns and larger air force in
the military branch Of our national
defense, and possibly in the naval
branch, but apparently the greatest
need for concentration on immediate
increased authorizations is in the
military rather than the naval
branch of our defenses. l do not
anticipate serious opposition to any
reasonable program that may be
proposed. I think the people OF the
country in the present state of world
affairs are overwhelmingly in favor
of keeping our house in order, and
our lamps trimmed and burning
There will undoubtedly be serious
consideration given to the strength
ening of our National Corrupt Prac-
tices Act, growing out of any devel-
opments that have been brought to
light during the recent campaigns.
Just what can be done by Congress
further to regulate primary elections
is not certain in view of the decision
of the Supreme Court that Congress
has no jurisdiction over primary
elections. I have always felt that
this decision, which think was
rendered by close vote, may some
day be overruled, because, in fact,
the primary election is just as much
a part of the machinery for electing
members of the House and Senate
as the general election itself. but I
feel sure Congress is in mood to go
as far as it can under the Consti-
tuition in protecting the ballot SO
that our elections will be truly rep
resentative of the peoples will.
Farm Act Faces Study.
Other problems, such as neutral
ity, our commercial relations with
other nations, the trade agreements
program of the administration, will
come in for considerable discussion,
but whether there will be any
amendments to these acts no one
now can foresee, and I would not
attempt to prophesy.
The farm legislation enacted by
the last Congress will undoubtedly
be considered and reviewed to as
certain the wisdom of any amend
ments. I do not feel that the result
of recent referenda necessarily
makes amendments inevitable, but
every law is subject to revision, as
experience and its administration
may dictate, and farmers and farm
organizations themselves are sub
mitting some constructive sugges-
tions which am sure Congress will
consider. Efforts will be made like
wise to revise, strengthen and ex-
tend the provisions Of the Social
Security Act in the light of expe-
rience up to date How far Con-
gress is ready to go in extending old
age benefits is a matter of opinion,
but undoubtedly Congress will give
serious consideration to a further
step in providing old-age security
as well as unemployment security
to the extent deemed necessary in
the light of our past experience.
The reorganization bill, in some
form, will be taken up and consid-
cred. AS I have heretofore stated, I
do not think there is any insur-
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