The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-09-14
Observations
New Congress
Begins to Show
independence

There's talk around that the sew
enty.ninth Congress which conven-
ed the other day IS feeling its oats.
There's talk that the seventy
ninth Congress began feeling its
oats before It was a-borning. That
back yonder when II was ending its
other lncarnation-its seventy
eighth era Of mellinuous oratory
and appropriate-some more-money
moods and we-gottopass-another
bill-Congress had made up its
mind TO he itself in the postwar
world. And not a White House
stooge.
White House programs TO the
contrary. presidential message not
withstanding. Congress is promis-
ing to show the stuff II has prom
ised its constituents It is made Of.
And to get TO work promptly be-
. ing "the greatest legislative body
in the world"
Not that Congress is working up
a war with Mr.. Truman. On the
contrary. But most Of its members
feel they are on trial now as in
dividuals and representative OF
the pee-pul. And they can't swash-
buckle through this new session on
the wave Of war hysteria.
In other words, the gentleman OF
Congress have got TO make the
voters lin the district" (their own
districtsl think they are the best
in the state. Or there Will be sew
eral hundred new faces in the Cap
itol come the next congressional
election next year.
Among the voters In the district
are many veterans. Veterans on
a kind OF rampage, demanding:
What are you going to do about
US? What are you going TO do
about everything"
II will take more than good In
tentions to hold a seat in either
the Senate or House next polling
day.
The halls OF Congress are more
crowded with hurrying figures now
than they were during the short
recess. However, there have been
few days even during the recess
when there wasn't activity under
the dome. Congressional hearings
brought out the committee men,
bers and the crowds. And there
were always sightseers. trailing a
guide or clustering in little uncer-
tain groups.
Painters and cleaners and all
kinds OF reconditioners worked at
polishing up the Capitol building
until the very minute Of the pend
ing session. Indeed I'm positive
there are still men down on all
fours rubbing away at the old brass
tenders and (hush, cuspidorsD In
the offices, standing on steplad-
ders sticking up the big Victorian
mirrors and reaching high to shine
the crystal on the ancient chande-
Hers in the more elegant suites.
Cool autumn days and plenty OF
unrationed gas will bring thousands
of tourists to Washington. Before
the war, three million year was
a conservative national capital call
ing list. Now the crowds will once
again tear across the District line.
And we'd better watch the traffic
lights and dodge the old ialopies in
which some OF our visitors will
wobble across our paths.
Regardless Of what else goes on
IN Washington, it is Congress that
gives Washington its particular per
sonality. Washington isn't really
itself when Congress isn't In ses-
sion.
Some people call Congress the
greatest show on earth. 1t does
indeed have its Barnum and Bailey
qualities. its clowns, its tight rope
walkers, it's lion tanners and peanut
vendors. From the deserts OF the
Southwest. the shores of the Great
Lakes, the cotton belt, the effete
East and the industrial and farm
ing centers OF the Middle West the
performers have come. Add all the
people together, divide by 531
Cos senators and 435 representa-
tives) and you have the composite
figure-the American lawmaker.
kinda like the fellow. Don't you?
Now and then you hear a little
Washington story that cheers you
for days. Like that one about
Fleet Admiral Leahy and the
French kiss. You remember the
French kiss The one lately ad.
ministered in international amity
on his latest visit TO the United
States by General de Gaulle to
General Marshall, Admiral King
and other military heads.
Admiral Leahy observed the ex-
pressions on the faces OF those
kissed by the French provisional
president. Observed them in the
fact and in the photographs. So
he asked the photographers not to
take a picture OF him when he was
being saluted on both. cheeks. The
photographers kept their word Ad-
miral Leahy proudly emerged al
most the great unkigepd "