WASHINGTON ^ ' .. j..- .. , {.-c 3' 'J> J <*r "iP^ ~\P ■ At precisely noon today, Vice-President Garner rapped with his gavel in the^Senate. It wasone minute past twelve when the gavel rapped for order in the House of Representatives, /f* K«y. And so the Seventy-Fourth Congress got^gwingy The new lawmaking session is distinguished by one predominant fact. Never has any other President been so strongly in control as President Roosevelt is in this Congress. He was strongly in control when the session began. And still more strongly when the day ended. He started in with a Democratic majority of two hundred and ten. He still has the same overwhelming majority -- plus a shut-off rule, which was swiftly adopted. This rule provides that two hundred and eighteen Congressmen must sign a petitiori before a vote can be forced on any ‘ anti-administration bill. And that does boost the ante. The previous rule required the petition to be signed by a hundred and forty-five members. The Republican minority aption came when Republican Reader Snell offered a new program fop recovery* It is a twenty point plan for legislation^which Representative Snell would like to put into effect as against the recovery program of the Administration. '. ^SHIHGTON -E A good deal more important than this new plan will be the event tomorrow, when President Roosevelt, at twelve-thirty, will deliver his message to Congress, Which will be heard on this network. It is said the President's message will run to more than four thousand words, and will cover the main points at issue in the new Congress­ ional session INTRO No cunning play-producer ever paced a stage play with a more overwhelming wsiftness than the breathless rush of drama in the Hauptmann trial. Yet swiftness is a word so alien to our concepts of the law that we are accustomed to think of slowness and of deadly dragging in connection with legal proceedings. Yet here we have, ali in two days, two ordinary court seesione -- the opening of the case, the selection of the jury, the testimony of Mrs. Lindbergh and this, the second day ending with Colonel Lindbergh on the witness stand. Why? Why the speed? How does it come that the law in this case, this most sensational of trials, is taking such a rapid course? I've heard that discussed. And the idea suggested has a chilly ring -« expense, money. This overwhelmingly important trial here at Flernington is costing the little New Jersey community large expenditures. It is not a rich community not a wealthy county, with fat surpluses of taxation. The heavy arwMwk cost of the trial is a real drain, and the longer it lasts the more expensive it will be. Belay means outlay X^TRC - 2 Certainly, the saving of taxpayers money is a laudable thing, I’ve never before known that principle to have anything but an Inspiring sound. Yet there does seem to be something cold about the notion that the incredible and emotional swiftness of the drama at Flemington owes its pace to the consideration of expense and economy. Yet it is well that there are no delays, A long dragging out of legal quibbles would be an intolerable prolongation of suspense for the young couple that were on the witness stand today, Mrs, Lindbergh’s testimony was sheer pity. She merely established what was publicly known, save for pathetic little details of her life as mother of the ill-fated babe. Prosecuting attorney Wilentz questioned her about her child’s appearance and Infant ways. She was in tears as she identified the Bleeping garment found with the body, and there was an epitome of pity when emotion choked her and she could not speak in answer to a jqy question about the toys of Baby Lindbergh, When Colonel Lindbergh came to the stand a point of j logic in the prosecution’s case promptly made its appearance. I j IflTRQ - 3 The world's most famous aviator told of the events of that illomened night preceding the discovery of the ‘baby's d isappearance. The prosecutor asked ±f him if he had heard any unusual sound, Lindbergh replied, "Yes", a noise as of something falling outside. And he declared that it was a sound such as might have been made by a falling ladder. And this came flashing in support of the prosecution's theory of the crime — that there was a fall from the ladder, and that the child was killed by that The testimony of the Lone Eagle of the Atlantic then ended on another high point. Telling of how they found the crib empty, he identified the ransom note left on the window sill. And much of the fate of Bruno Hauptmann will depend upon that ransom note -- that same Bruno Hauptmann who, hearing the sobbing testimony of the bereaved mother, and the self restraint of the father, preserved the same pale impassiveness of face. SHIP The latest check-up on the ship disaster in the Bast River at BJew York reveals all passengers safe, but five of the crew missing. This follows all sorts of reports of casualties, from none, to a j great many; reports that began to flash when the tramp steamer TJane Christenson' hit the coast-wise passenger steamer TLexingtonf. The accident happened in the East River, between Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, in the shadow of the renowned Mew York skyline. The Lexing­ ton had iust left her pier with an ample passenger list, when the < freighter crashed into her and cut her in two, literally in two. Within two minutes, she was a water-logged wreck. Tonight her shattered hulk is still floating on the murky waters of the river. There are reasons for all the confusion about casualties. The Lexington was bound from Mew York for Providence, Rhode Island. And on a short voyage like that passengers are not so carefully checked as they are on a trans-oceanic liner. Moreover, as the boat was just pulling out of dock when she was hit, the purser had only begun to check up the passenger list, and the list was lost with the ship. However, itjsppears now that five of the crew are missing, while a hundred and seventy-five passengers and crew were saved, if that had happened at sea, with the cutting in two of a crowded passenger ship, it would have been another major maritime disaster. VATIC AIM The reason why the Vatican now has a dictator is found in the immense scope of public works in that small bit of territory known as "Vatican City". It is a mere fraction of the City of Rome, but, is one huge bulk of historic edifices — beginning with Ct# Peter's. In fact Vatican City is an incalculable treasurehouse, crammed with many of the greatest works of art on this planet. The present R miek Pope Pius is doing a huge task of keeping the historic buildings in sound structural condition and in preserving and arranging the wealth of art works, manuscripts, and relics of the past. So, he has appointed the Marquis Camillo Serafini, given him full power for the reorganization work in the Vatican. He will control the budget and the civil administration — everything but the religious side. That's why they call him — dictator. BORIS Another report of the possible dethronement of a king comes along. And this time it concerns King Boris of Bulgaria* Last May there was a sort of coup df etat at Sofia, and Kimon Georgleff became Premier and virtual ruler. King Boris has been a figurehead ever since. And now itfs rumored that a revolt is being stirred up by one of the Georgiefffs right-hand men. They say another coup d* etat is probable. This time they wonTt take any power away from Boris. He hasn*t any left. All he has left is his crown, and they'll take that —* so the story goes, the rumor* GERMAN I Officials in Berlin are refusing to admit that there is any such terrific importance to that sudden mass-gathering of Nasi leaders. But these denials are not dissipating the cloud of mystery and nervous wonderment. Why should Hitler call such a swift and un­ expected congress of all the big shots among the Nazis? He summoned them from all parts of Germany to come with the utmost haste, by airplane, if necessary, and gather in the Berlin Opera House. And the circumstances of the meeting only added to the tensenes of mystery. Ordinarily, Hitler and Goerlng are open in their movements, Nazi gatherings are commonly staged with theatrical ceremonies. Not this time! The utmost secrecy surrounds the Nazi proceedings in the Opera House, Hitler and Goering, instead of making triumphant tours through the streets, with Nazi pomp and circumstance, arrived at the meeting secretly, with their movements hidden. So let the Nazi officials make scoffing denial of the rumors, the Berliners don’t believe that Hitler called this hurried congress merely to celebrate the early days of the New year. They are con­ vinced that something serious is brewing. Perhaps some crisis or GKRi.iAfl 1 - 2 some sudden !4azi stroke. Has it anything to do with the Saar Valley and those disturbances reported as the election on the thirteenth ap­ proaches? Or is it concerned with what we have been hearing about the possible suppression of monarchist activities? There is no hint to the answer, only the inescapable recollection that the last time Hitler called any sudden and unexpected meeting was on the thirtieth day of last June. Yes, there were unexpected gatherings and the most unexpected events, the execution of the storm troop leaders. The latest story of an American girl in jail in Germany ends with a shade of difference. In the previous similar case, the American girl, Isobel Bteele, was taken out of jail and put right on a boat and deported back to fes the United States. But the Mazis are not quite so summary with Miss Elsa Sittel, who has been in jail ever since the day before Christmas on a charge of insulting Hitler. She was released this afternoon, but they say she will be allowed to visit her parents, who live in Germany, She was on her way to spend Christmas with them when she seems to have had something to say about the Reichsfuehrer. After the visit is completed, however, she will be on her way hank to the land of the Free, no doubt with considerable relief. MINEBB TH© outcome of that Polish minersf strike we heard about last night is peculiar# The wailing wives are breaking the suifcide strike# The miners1 women did so much pleading and begging and sobbing down the mine shaft that the death strikers began to give in. One after another they've been emerging from the black pit which they had vowed never to emerge from unless their wage demand was met# At iat last reports ikairy thirty had come to the surface and gone home. That left fifty more as the seeping water was rising high and they were having trouble keeping above it* And their wives 4fcre wailing down the shaft, persuading the men to give up the death strike The news tells us about an amazing party out on the Phoifio Joastj which reminds me of another party in Hew York—the two are § so different. The New York affair la.the grand social event of the year-—the Peacock Ball, tomorrow night. This is not only pre- I eminent for the blue blood elite, but it is one of the biggest charities in this country. For the Peacock Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria, with the youngsociety leader, Miss Ruth Vanderbilt Twombly as Chairman, donates the large sum of money it raiaes to the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. And teartSU one of the oldest charities in the United States. It has* raised millions upon millions of dollars for the needy in the more than ninety years of its existence. The Peacock Ball at the Waldorf is- one thing. The Lieutenant- governors party in the State of Washington is something entirely different. Lieutenant-governor Victor iTloysius Meyers is holding the festivity in his own Seattle night club. Yep, he owns a night club in addition to helping run the state. There'll be just one hundred guests, the kind of guests that mean much in a man's life. The place cards will be certified checks, each made out to the person who occupies the plri.ce. For the guests are the 1 ieu^e nant -go v e r no rig PARTIES—3 creditors, and its a paying off party tonight. This come© as a climax to a diverting aeries of political events. Lieutenant-Governor Mayers is sometimes called '’your Honor”, hut more often he's just "Tic”. He was famous as a jazz hand leader long 'before he achieved high office. And hearken unto the story of how ^ic"’ first entered politics and became the Mayor of Beattie. He presided over Club Victor and was the pal of Seattle news­ paper men. Three years ago when the time came to elect a mayor, one of the city editors had a bright idea. It was a dead newd day. So why not let "Vic" provide a (little news, which would give him some welcome publicity. The city editor said: "Vic1, run down and file for mayor and I'll give you a banner-line in the last edition,* "Vic- saw it was about a thousand dollars worth of publicity for him. and his night club. Being broke he went out and borrowed the fifty dollar filing fee and registered as a candidate for mayor. He got the banner headline. The humorist on. the paper wrote PARTI33—3 the story: "Vicj^ for jaa-yoHe oromlses Jolonde hostesses on_ a.11 ! 3 1reet^cars^, beer at public drinking fountains and brand new raagazines ip. doctor1^ offices .11 The readers laughed themselves sick. "Vic* for mayor was a comic hit. 3o the newspaper humor department had a steady campaign job. Pictures were taken of "Vic’1, in oandiii's loin cloth costume, complete with the goat.- He was a baby-kissing candidate—shown kissing year old bablesft That was the best idea of all. And "Vic" lost the election, overwhelmingly defeated. The only thing it did was to give him the political bug. As the election of last November approached "Vic" ran foi’ Lieutenant-Governor on the Democratic ticket. Presumably he was just running for the funny papers, because the Democrats couldn't* expect to win. But you remember the elation. It was Roosevelt year and Roosevelt year swept "Vic", the night club jaas leader, into office as Lieutenant- Go •/ e rn< i r 7 3. o t o r AT .> y s 3 us Me ye r s. And did "Vic's” creditors prick up their ears? He Lad a neat PART IBS - 4 flock of them, an even hundred, Vic said : "Okay hoys," And as no Lieu tenant-Gov emor is ever broke, tonight,s the pay-off party. Certified checks at each guest's plate. What a grand way that would be to say, SO LONG UNTIL TOMORROW;