Show economic highlights discusses Eis cusses legislation before the nations lawmakers at washington with tew few exceptions the present congress has neither accepted nor rejected any legislative proposals of 0 importance the exceptions include the passing of bills extending the life of 0 the until july 1 1939 renewing the presidents authority to execute reciprocal trade agreements renewing his bis over dollar devaluation W ar J d providing for the voluntary retirement of 0 supreme court justices on full pay at the age of 70 tills this congressional inertia Is principally due to the judicael judi call reorganization aal al which is command ing inet ta ull tull trine and interest of the bulk of congressmen but sooner or later congress will have to get around to other items on its calendar and weigh proposals touching almost every phase of industry corn coln bierce government and agriculture the status of major proposed legislation was recently summed up by the capitol dally daily it shows that many bills are still in committee though a number have been reported out and have passed one house or another notes on some of these bills follow A white house sponsored bill to make the a permanent instead of an emergency agency has been introduced in the house it will probably become law with little opposition the is one new deal project which has received almost unanimous endorsement COAL CONTROL senator guffey has introduced a bill which would indirectly subject the soft coal industry to a little A federal coal commission would be established and would create a code concerning marketing working hours labor relations etc all companies subscribing to the code would be taxed 1 per cent of the sale price of their coal non members would be taxed 15 per cent thus joining the code would be voluntary in theory but ruinously expensive tor for a company to stay out has good chance to pass LICENSING OP OF businesses IN IN interstate COMMERCE A much debated proposal to force federal licensing of 0 all businesses operating in more than one state has been introduced in the senate by senator OM aboney and in the house by representative mead has i ielati datively vely poor chance to pass CROP INSURANCE this farm relief measure enjoyed the distinction of being supported by both candidates in the last presidential election A bill to create a federal crop insurance corporation with a capital of 0 to insure wheat against losses from rom natural causes lias has passed the house will doubtless become law RETAIL PRICE FIXING senator Tyl lings and representative miller are sponsors cosponsors co ot of a bill which would permit manufacturers to establish minimum retail prices at which thew their products broj can call be sold several states have laws to this eti efi continued to page ire ECONOMIC highlights continued a from first pace feet in operation no and the principle ciple hos has been upheld by the courts cour s however considerable agitation la Is developing against the tydings alil ter ler bill among business men as well as consumers and it may find the going hard WAR senator sheppard Is tather r ol of a bill whose future is 19 doubtful that would authorize the president to fix ix prices in time of war and requisition any and all needed goods good or services transportation most important measure in fit this field is the nill bill which would repeal the long and short haul provision of the transportation act this bill passed the house last year but never came to a vote in the senate chance of ol 01 it becoming law this year Is fairly good though considerable opposition Is developing PURR PURE FOODS A bill introduced in the senate which is very similar to a bill beaten last session would olad prevent adulteration misbranding misbrand irK etc ol of drugs and foods in interstate commerce future doubtful FARM TENANCY practically everyone agrees that the high percentage of farm tenancy in fit all agricultural states is one of the gravest farm problems leader bankhead has a house bill to make loans to tenants so they may purchase farms and equipment the white house is strongly in favor of such stich a plan but recent reports say that the president doubts whether the necessary money can be raised estimates show that the cost of sub slant lally ly reducing tenancy would be vast LABOR the black 30 hour bour week bill Is in committee probably will not pass this by no means exhausts even the more vital items on the calendar but it indicates that congress has a big job ahead on practically all of these matters matter there will be a welter of debate and almost as many divergent opinions as there are congressmen |