This is the last session of the Seventy-first Congress. During its previous
sittings it has completed a very large amount of important legislation,
notably: The establishment of the Federal Farm Board; fixing congressional
reapportionment; revision of the tariff, including the flexible provisions
and a reorganization of the Tariff Commission; reorganization of the Radio
Commission; reorganization of the Federal Power Commission; expansion of
Federal prisons; reorganization of parole and probation system in Federal
prisons; expansion of veterans' hospitals; establishment of disability
allowances to veterans; consolidation of veteran activities; consolidation
and strengthening of prohibition enforcement activities in the Department
of Justice; organization of a Narcotics Bureau; large expansion of rivers
and harbors improvements; substantial increase in Federal highways;
enlargement of public buildings construction program; and the ratification
of the London naval treaty.
The Congress has before it legislation partially completed in the last
sitting in respect to Muscle Shoals, bus regulation, relief of congestion
in the courts, reorganization of border patrol in prevention of smuggling,
law enforcement in the District of Columbia, and other subjects.
It is desirable that these measures should be completed.
The short session does not permit of extensive legislative programs, but
there are a number of questions which, if time does not permit action, I
recommend should be placed in consideration by the Congress, perhaps
through committees cooperating in some instances with the Federal
departments, with view to preparation for subsequent action. Among them are
the following subjects: