| Show economic highlights highlight High ligh ta this has bag been a quiet congress Con giesa be far but that mean that the lawmakers lack major issues which to debate congress superficial lethargy can the be laid to two causes birst this Is general election year and the members of both parties naturally are largely occupied with partisan political problems second the war var in europe continues to hold the headlines and the public eye at the expense of domestic affairs most ominous issue facing the congress Is what to use tor for money and what to do about the national debt As aa was expected the solons have bave gone far beyond the proposed budget in expenditures signal example of spending Is found in agricultural ri appropriations the house passes a farm bill calling for some and the senate upped appropriations to scarly the mark the result is that the national debt Is now only about short of its ita statutory limit of the treasury cannot legally sign checks when athen spending passes that limit there are three pus possible sible solutions congress must hold its appropriations down raise the debt limit or increase taxes tases and all three solutions are als at biste ful for congressmen whose this year are primarily occupied with where and how to get votes for themselves and their party after considerable argument the house approved the resolution to extend the reciprocal trade law under tinder which the president is empowered to make trade agreements with other nations and the resolution Is now before the senate it will be fought there primarily by senators from the lumber and farming states but the odds favor its passing passage of the hatch clean bill by the senate by a vely deiy wide margin came as some borne thing of a surprise the hill bill makes it illegal tor for government workers with certain bagh ranking exceptions to take an active part in political campaigns I 1 the measure Is now before the house where it facia faces strong opposition however it seems beems almost ellmost certain to become law the legislators are more or loss less on the spot in this case as the bill has been given the support of newspapers and spokesmen lepre benting both parties so tar far both branches blanches of congress have avoided wrestling with the problems presented by the national labor relations board and the securities and B exchange corn com mission but it Is almost sure that both these bodies will be the center of belligerent controversy this year the NLRB has fallen into disfavor with men influential in the democratic party as well as the republican and there Is a growing gt oft ing belief among congressional conservatives that the SEO SEC as now administered la is going considerably farther than was intended in controlling industry transportation legislation holds a prominent place on the calendar last session both house and senate passed omnibus bills revising the old transportation act and the differences between the two core of minor significance A joint committee has been ironing these differences out and a final bill is ready leady purpose of the bill is to equalize competition between all common carriers the chances favor its passing after some warm debate how much to spend tor for relief and how hom to spend it Is another congressional headache expectation is that both direct and andt relief expenditures while laig will be somewhat smaller than in the near past 1 up visitors to edd con gress gressional lonal galleries gall eiles I 1 I 1 burea bored during the next few mont moats 9 there is plenty for the lahui k eis to argue about it if it at t for for t the he war ar abroad this cong ess egg would receive many banner heads in the newspapers lU L matthews of the ew v york ork timis thues recently lecent ly mote that he had learned of an 11 point program under which hitler would make peace the points include general and immediate di disarmament sarina return to the four power pact under which germany Gei many england france and italy would divide jide europe into four spheres bp heres of 0 influence freedom ot of trade toi for all including close economic co operation with the U B S restito uon of prewar pre pie war germau german colonies reconstruction of an independent with about in habitants reconstruction of a small czech state dominated by germany Gerni any a customs union to equalize eq ualle the interests 0 of f all states in the great danube basla basis that program has a moderate sound but it has its catches it would give ghe hitler about till all lie he has gained and leave leaie him in undisputed power in central and nd north ern europe and it certainly does not jibe with the announced allied war alms whose primary goal is the complete destruction of na lional socialism at the present time it would seem impossible that the miles allies would agree 0 so o the chance tor for peace Is re mote as the president announced after undersecretary of state welles recent return from a tour of belligerent europe both sides still seem convinced that they will win a decisive military victory the belief that this will be a long war is growing in neutral quarters |
