The Program

The items on the Congressional program are numerous, and as in former sessions, it is likely that some of them will be passed without action. The major item;

Tax Reduction will be enacted in some form. The House has before it the $325,000,000 tax reduction bill drafted by the Ways and Means Committee. Doubtless there will be many amendments to it before final passage. With good fortune a tax reduction bill should be a law by March.

World Court. In this last session the Senate agreed to take up the World Court a few days after convening this winter. The Administration is evidently planning a final attempt to secure U. S. adherence to the World Court at this session, with the chances slightly in its favor.

Appropriations. The regular supply bills for the several departments of the Government must be passed and as usual there is to be discussion of appropriations for aviation. There will also be some argument over a public buildings bill-- an item which has been lacking for several years from appropriations.

Foreign Debts. The Senate will have to consider the debt funding agreements recently made. It is expected to approve them, but there is certain to be criticism of those cases in which large concessions have been made to the debtors-- the cases of Italy and Belgium.

Agriculture. The agricultural situation is once more destined to be "improved" by legislation. An effort will be made to pass a modified price fixing bill -- with Administration opposition. Co-operative marketing aid will have the Administration's support.

Coal. Means of dealing with coal strikes will call for attention if not action, especially if the anthracite strike continues through the winter.

Railroads. The question of forced and voluntary consolidation for railways will be dealt with, as well as the question of abolishing the Railroad Labor Board.

Shipping. Congress will be called upon to settle the fight between the Administration and the Shipping Board, in which the Administration wishes to separate the Board from control of the merchant fleet, making the President of the Emergency Fleet Corporation solely responsible for operation of the vessels.

Enemy Property. Shall the enemy property taken over by the Alien Property Custodian during the War be returned to its original owners? Or used to satisfy claims of U. S. citizens against Germany?

Federal Subsidies to States will probably draw considerable fire in Congress, with the West, which receives most of the subsidies (for road building, etc.), lined up against the East, which pays most of the subsidies.

Reclamation. Western senators are eager to get more irrigation projects under way. The Administration is holding: back, and the grievances will be aired in Congress.

Air Policy. The Mitchell charges will have a vigorous echo in Con- gress. The Administration will probably stand by the Morrow report, but how many Republicans it can hold in line is matter of doubt.

Muscle Shoals. This endless theme on which Congressmen have argued remains yet to be disposed of. A commission which the President appointed to consider it disagreed, leaving the question in air.

Reorganization of the executive branch of the Government remains before Congress as a leftover from previous years. Something should be done about it soon.

Postal Rates. The Postal rates adopted by the last Congress when postal salaries were raised, were admittedly temporary. During the summer, committees of Congress have been busy preparing for revising the system of rates.

Banking. The McFadden bill for permitting national banks to establish branches under certain restrictions is still before Congress, with the national banks favoring its passage and certain groups of farmers and others opposing it.

Other Topics. The tariff, reapportionment of districts from which representatives are elected, and Vice President Dawes' proposal for a cloture rule in the Senate, all may receive consideration but probably nothing serious in the way of action.

Preparing to handle these issues, Congressmen and Senators presented many bills. The public printer was swamped with 2,565 bills to print.