The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-07-10
a Letter From
BILL. LANTAFF
Dear Neighbor:

DCdL 4NSl@UhDi
The House of Representatives,
not to be outdone in the celebra-
ton Of independence Day, met in
a holiday session and provided
their own fireworks. -"
The fireworks in the House came
about in the form Of parliament
tary-filibustering" on four mea-
sures, ~ Creation Of joint com
mittee to study fiscal requirements
Of governmental agencies: ca APP
pointment of additional circuit and
district judges; 81 Amendment of
the Navy ration statute to permit
the Nays serving oleomargarine
or margarine: and, appropriately,
"a a limitation on the transport
ing of fireworks.
Each of the four measures had
been placed on the calender for
House action but opponents, striv-
ing TO defer this action utilized
every available parliamentary pro-
cedure TO bring about stall or
deferment of a vote. These were
individual efforts on each particu-
lar measure at first; however, OPP
ponents of the four pieces of legis-
lation later joined together for col
iective tactical efforts.
The measure designed to create
a joint committee to study fiscal
requirements Of the executive
agencies of government drew a
wrath Of protests from members
Of the House Appropriation Com
mittee. Supporters of the legisla.
tion argued he measure would re-
turn to Congress control of the
purse strings of the Nation. Those
opposed eountered that the duty
was being fulfilled by the Appro-
priations Committee.
The legislation TO provide for
appointments of additional circuit
and district Judges brought opposi.
ton from Republican members of
the H0use
While there was general agree
ment in the need for these add
tional Judges, al increase in which
South Florida would figure. should
the bill be enacted now the party
in the ma jority the Democrats
would be charged with making the
appointments. The Republicans,
eEeiag a victory in the general
election. favored delaying action
until next year so that they if in
the ma i0rity might make the APP
pointments.
Another Of the measures. that to
amend the Navy ration statute to
permit the Nays serving oleo.
margarine or margarine rather
than only butter met opposition
frorn repre- entatives Of the dairy
states. Proponents of the bill main
tainetianactment Of this measure
would place all three military de.
partneEts Oh the same level At,
present the Army and Air Force
are permitted to use oleomarga-
rine Ur MARGARINE while the Navy
DOES not The sponsor argued the
Navy should not be 'hutiered up
to- while the dairy representatives
! sh0weEed the bill with opposition,
/ The last controversial measure
was designed 10 prohibit the trans
portat1on Of fireworks into any
state or political sub division there
Of in which the sale OF such fire.
works il prohibited. The propon-
ents CT ri in their arguments the
case of the state OF IllinoiS-a state
where the sale of fireworks Is now
prohibited In 1851. fireworks ac~
coansed fer 22e accidents in that
state including nine deaths eight
"a these children. II Was main,
tanned there were IS eye injuries
from fireworks In Illinois. including
is children. whose vision was ser.
loeasty impaired and eight children
who were blinded In one eye or
lose oHa eye entirely Manufactures
and trags poFters supplied the am
muasaa lar Vigorous protest on
enaetnea. of sueh Law.
All lbs I'll. the four measures pro
yled tho House with is own
'ilre#oeks" darius the Fourth Of
3tsJy session, permitting the lower
eaa H1her with a unique celebration
os Independence Day.
Sincerely yours.
Bali f.aafaFf