The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-01-29
Hot Time In Congress

The Administration frankly hopes that the current session of Congress will be brief, quiet and harmonious But the chance of that hope being realized seems dark indeed. For the Republicans, along with that influential bloc of the Demo- cratic party which is cool to the New Deal and growing cooler, are apparently determined to make showing. They have plenty of bones to pick, and it looks as if they intend to pick them clean.
 First and foremost issue is the budget. Few believe that Congress in an election year, will reduce appropriations. If Con- greSs finally approves another big spend ing budget it will have to either levy new taxes to raise the money or raise the pres ent legal debt limit of $45 ,OO0,0 ,O00. At the moment the odds seem to favor the latter courSe-new taxes to produce Suf- ficient revenue are politically dangerous.
 Second on the list of unsolved problems is national defense. There is general agreement that our defense facilities must be strengthened. At the same time, opinion on the Administration two- billion-dollar military program is far from unanimous There is a strong group in Congress which feels that the recommendations should be thoroughly investigated, with possibility of making changes and cost cuts. Some critics of the program say that it is primarily de- signed to enable us to again participate in foreign war, and that it goes far beyond our needs for territorial defense. Still another school thinks we should plan on hemispheric defense-that is, mili- tary establishment that could repel in- vaders of the entire continent and north ern South America, and make it possible to put teeth in the Monroe Doctrine if, as and when necessary. To build our fight ing resources to that extent would of cost an incredible sum.
 Third leading issue is the reciprocal trade law, which must be again renewed if Secretary of State Hull is to continue to make trade deals with other countries. It will be proposed that all trade agree ments must be approved individually by Congress before becoming effective. MT. Hull is absolutely against this, on the grounds that it would defeat the purpose of the act and make workable treaties next to impossible to consummate. The farm belt has always disapproved the present law, and it's representatives will be almost solidly against renewing it in it's present form. This promises to be quite a fight-Mr. Hull is a man who is almost universally admired and respected, even by those who disagree most violently with his opinions, and the whole weight of his prestige and influence will be thrown into the fray on behalf of continuance of his trade program. Odds now seem to mar rowly favor MT. Hull coming out on top.
 There will be another hot time on Capi- tol Hill when Secretary Edisons proposal to give the President sweeping emergency powers, unprecedented in our history, comes to the floor. The conservative group will fight this to the last ditch. Both business and organized labor have lined up together in opposition. Busi- ness feels the measure is unnecessary and would be long step toward totalitarian- ism. And labor feels it's independence of action would be endangered if the bill passed.
 This doesn't exhaust the list of big issues by long shot-it just touches the high spots. Most of the lawmakers of both parties will be playing politics to the limit-Congress is simply alive with po- tential Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. And all of them, as conVen- ton time hears, are going to do every thing possible to put themselves in the limelight. So the chance of this being a quiet session seems about as poor as that of the proverbial snoWball in HadeS.