Powers of Congress (1947)

[Music] the new Congress still faces a multitude of tasks among the more controversial issues are tax reduction and Appropriations for the Armed Forces Congress also will soon tackle the many problems of Labor and adjust by legislation some of the more problem Congress turn that thing off first things to be taken up by the legis got other things to think about besides Congress came home early to finish this income tax and to write that speech to give it the club where's the stand oh I used the last one yesterday why don't you run down the post office and get some run down to the post office it's only a mile away you see Congress can do everything everything except build us another post office two threes in an air mayor afternoon Bentley hello Williams supp you going down to register register for what why for the Congressional elections this fall don't forget we want Pierce for congress Pierce for Congress yeah I don't care a hang who gets to Congress yes but what's Congress ever given me except a lot of trouble like this income tax has Congress given us the new post office we need well but no you know what I think I think we'd all be better off if there wasn't any Congress hereby declare this Congress to be suspended in definitely St the man who wants to buy St there aren't any more St can't you read Congress is gone so's the postal system the Williams Postal Service will deliver letters for a dollar an ounce but not these dollars United States money is no good see Congress had the power to issue money but no more only New York money is good here go over to the currency exchange Bentley and take your letters but don't bother about mailing this income tax there's nobody to collect federal taxes oh yes lots of things are different without the powers of congress you will see [Music] pretty aren't they you see every state is printing its own money now you remember oh you don't believe it about Congress being suspended well go ahead go to Washington sa for yourself round trip ticket to Washington that'll be 600 New York dollars that's right Bentley you're catching on no Congress no regulation of Commerce no regulation of railroad fairs oh you don't like it you want to take it to court go ahead don't be so surprised Bentley the states have to create their own armies and navies and Air Forces because there's no Congress to provide for National Defense complaining about that high railroad fair is useless Bentley no Congress no federal court the just is no [Applause] justice well back at the old office a Bley just in time for your check oh yes it's more than usual no deduction for savings bonds or income tax or Social Security with Congress suspended the whole social security system has fallen through so you'll have to look out for yourself when you lose your job that's what I said lose your job one of those miscellaneous powers of congress is the regulation of patents we have no protection we're out of business Charles Charles oh Charles we're being put out on the street the state bank for Clos on our house they said the National Housing Act was not in for and our FHA loan was no good in Charles oh I don't know what'll become of us Charles Charles get up huh oh oh come now don't tell me that little walk to the post office tired you off post office what post office I mean was Congress suspended and Oh What A Dream Martha that's it what now I know what to put in my speech for the club and so gentlemen my topic is the powers of congress none of us ever hesitates to criticize Congress at every opportunity but how many ever stop to think about the broad powers of congress and how these powers affect every one of us the importance of Congress can be seen when we note we note that the framers of the Constitution devoted the very first article to that branch of our government all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States which shall consist of a senate and a House of Representatives consider the wide reaching powers of congress laying taxes regulating Commerce Corning money establishing post offices creating federal courts declaring war providing an Army and Navy and making all laws necessary for carrying out those Powers now gentlemen these Powers reach right into our homes into our very life for instance we know that the food we eat is pure why because it's inspected under laws made through the power of congress to regulate interstate commerce this same power includes control of railroad fairs and and Freight rates the Commerce of the air and the traffic of CrossCountry Trucking Congress even limits the number of hours we work in the minimum salaries we're paid this is done under its authority to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foring powers these are commonly called the implied power first use of these implied powers was the establishment operates under Congressional authorization of course everybody knows that Congress has the power to Levy taxes and we're always ready to complain about taxes taxes on perfume and other luxury items and on gasoline and other things that are not luxuries but we're not so ready to appreciate what we get from Congress in return the network of federal highways that span our nation the great Reclamation and power developments our magnificent national parks and forests protection of our health promotion of foreign trade assistance given Farmers through such things as crop insurance and scientific information and assistance given homeowners through agencies like the federal housing Administration and remember gentlemen those are only a few illustrations of how the powers of congress affect each one of us so your personal welfare as well as the welfare of your country depends upon your active interest in electing to Congress men and women of [Music] such hello oh Bentley how are you fine just fine say I'm going down in the morning to register I was wondering if you'd like to ride down with me I want to talk to you about this man Pierce Pier you mean you're interested in getting him elected to congress I'm interested in knowing more about him after all we can't be too careful who we send to Washington to exercise the vast powers of [Music] congress