Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-03

Pal llS W Ullt NC
lief that huge gains are going to be
made coincidentally in strength in
both houses of Congress
After seven years of destructive
tactics that have retarded business
and industry and made it impossible
to absorb the unemployed, there are
signs that the age of persecution of
men who have been successful man
ayers of business is about over. The
tendency now is to risk money once
more in capital operations and to
make commitments for expansion.
Even inside the New Deal there
are evidences of a belated wiling
ness to revise some Of the legislation
like the Securities and Exchange
Act, which has been carried by the
reformers far beyond the original
purpose of protecting investors into
the area of Government control of
capital funds.
Pressed by Folks at Home.
Already, too, the politicians in
Congress are beginning to hear from
home that there should be no side
stepping of other issues now pending.
Those who would evade some of
these issues are pressing for ad-
journment whereas there is con-
siderable reason for keeping Con-
gress in session to deal now with
neglected revision of major laws.
1t may be that the Democrats will
decline to recognize the signs of
the times and will refuse to pass any
of the pending bills, preferring to
await the outcome of the autumn
elections. Already the House Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce has
indicated its desire to postpone
revision of the Securities and Fk-
change Act till next January, alleg-
eddy so as to have time for further
study. But the truth is the objec-
lions to certain features of the law
are as well known inside of the
S. E. c. as outside and, strictly
speaking, it should not take more
than a month to draft amendments.
Congress is not going to adjourn
while the war situation is acute and
hence there is ample time to make
the necessary changes in existing
laws.
Then there is the Walter-Logan
bill and the Smith labor bill, each
of which passed the House by an
overwhelming vote. The Senate,
which is predominantly Democratic,
has been urged by the New Dealers
to sidetrack these measures. The
country wants major issues disposed
of when they bear direct relation
ship to the efficiency of economic
production. If the bills are to be
delayed, then record vote showing
who is responsible for delay and
obstruction would make an inter-
esting thing to exhibit in the coming
congressional campaign.
Defense Policy Needed.
Perhaps the most important task
before Congress is the formulation
of a national defense policy which
can be agreed upon by all parties.
The mere appropriation of sums
In the billions does not in itself
meet the requirements because as
yet it has not been made clear
what it is the Army and Navy needs
and when the weapons should be
ready. There has been much val
liable time lost in getting under
way and one of the principal reasons
for keeping Congress in session is
the need for the appointment of
an investigating committee of both
Houses to meet one month hence
and begin to examine the mistakes
that have been made thus far in
failing to allocate contracts and get
things going for defense.
No one man or group Of men in
the Government is responsible, but
the whole thing lacks coordination,
due largely to the unwillingness of
the Government to step out of its
red-tape systems of the past and
select at once the plants able to
make the machines of war. To
overcome difficulties about COMPETE
tive bidding or excess profits, a
system of cost-plus contracts which
worked so well in the last war might
we'll be revived.
Congress is as yet unaware of the
precious time that is being lost by
the methods now pursued by Gov
eminent agencies and one of the
most important pieces of legislation
that could be passed would be bill