AMERICAN CONGRESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 7, 6 December 1932, Page 7

AMERICAN CONGRESS

PROHIBITION QUESTION. REJECTED BY THE HOUSE. MAJORITY NOT SUFFICIENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 6, 10.45 a.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. Tho House of Representatives today rejected the resolution by Mr Garner for fhe repeal of Prohibition. The vote was 272 for repeal and 144 against. A two-thirds majority was necessary for approval of the resolution. A change of six votes would have brought about its adoption. Inasmuch as Mr Garner has said he would not permit another vote on repeal this session, the vote is believed to have killed the question, at least until tho new Congress meets. The resolution had support from the Republican leadership. Senator Joseph Robinson, the Democratic leader, stated on Monday that tho Senate Democratic programme for prompt consideration of the Prohibition proposals would not bo affected by tho vote of the House.

A previous message stated that at tire very, oponing of Congress tho highly controversial subject of Prohibition will be injected, when Democratic leaders will offer a motion to repeal tho Eighteenth Amendment and request that the rules be suspended to allow of an immediate vote. A two-thirds majority or about 275 votes will be needed for its adoption. As Prohibition repeal was one of the cardinal features of the Democratic campaign platform, it is believed that success in to-morrow’s vote is necessary to maintain the party’s successful leadership.

BILL FOR SALE OF BEER. Received December 6, 11.40 a.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. Representative John O’Connor, a Democrat, of New York ( introduced a Bill on Monday to legalise the sale of beer containing 3.2 per cent, of alcohol by weight. IMPORTANT LEGISLATION. WASHINGTON, Dec. 4. The final or so-called short session of tho seventy-second Congress will be convened at noon to-morrow, and will continue until March 4 with the most important legislative calendar for many years. The proposed legislation will include provisions for farm relief, Philippine independence, beer, general unemployment and depression relief, and, most important of all, fiscal legislation and war debts. Efforts will bo made to revive the sales tax defeated last session in order to balance the Budget in face of the tremendous and continually growing deficit.

It is expected that some inflation legislation, including a great expansion of currency to pay soldiers’ compensation, will be offered, but its defeat is expected. A Presidential message, which may include recommendations on the war debts, is also expected,' although this may be included in a special foreign relations message, and is anxiously awaited. The nature of the debts communication is being carefully guarded. It is thought possible that it might give a detailed answer to the British Note with a recommendation that the War Debts Commission be reorganised. The seriousness of the national economic situation is intensified by the presence in Washington of some 3000 so-called “Hunger Marchers,” a movement inspired by Communists among tire unemployed, who journeyed to Washington to petition Congress for relief. The police, who are taking every precaution to prevent riots similar to those in connection with the “Bonus Army” eviction last summer, have forbidden public parading, an order which the leaders say they will ignore. During the past few days there has been considerable disorder in neighbouring States between the police and several contingents en route to the capital. The marchers aro short of provisions and are in a sullen mood.