SCENE AT WASHINGTON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 7

SCENE AT WASHINGTON

OPENING OF CONGRESS

MOTLEY HORDE TROUBLESOME

WARNING SHOT BY POLICE

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. 1 Received Dkec. 2, 10.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.

Confusion inside and qptside was the keynote of the opening of Congress -it noon. A motley horde of 500 Communists, white, blacks and yellows and men and women, gathered on the Capitol steps with banners and posters bearing inflammatory notices asking for the release of political prisoners. Tho police fired a shot, which routed the mob with much excitement. This led to many melees within the group, which the police quelled using tear gas bombs and nightsticks. A girl was seriously injured and seven demonstrators were arrested.

Meanwhile Congressmen and spectators within were unaware of the trouble outside, but the harrassed party leaders endeavoured to work out a programme which can be completed by March 4. The main disturbing factor was the refusal of the Republican floor leader, Mr Tilson, to give the right-of-way to a programme favouring the progressive faction. He advocated night sittings i i order to avoid the much dreaded extra session which is looming as possibly unavoidable. Further trouble was caused by the growing move to b”r the Senator elect, Mr Davis. The “ feminine bloc” of the House, which numbers nine, were present, all wearing hothouse orchid bloonTs. Mr Hoover submitted a record peacetime budget of nearly four billion dol lars for tho fiscal year of 1932. He recommended the discontinuing of the one per cent tax cut. The principal Budget items wore an additional 100,000,000 dollars for the Farm Board and a large sum for th” Shipping Board,'war veterans and road building. In the Senate, the minority leader.' Mr Robinson, announced that he would" submit a bill for a 60,000,000 dollars relief loan to the farmers in th.:drought area.