The Washington herald., 1914-07-10
A Less Subservient Congress.

President Wilson probably is not unprepared ts
meet his first defeat at the hands of Congress. H,
has invited it by his insistence that the Senate shall
confirm his appointment of Mr.. Warburg and Mr.
Jones members of the Federal Reserve Board, and
he has now little reason to hope that his wishes will
be obeyed. No President controlled Congress:
more completely than President Wilson in the first
third of his administration 1t has been subseent tc
the verge of servility and the President has beer
enabled to quickly put most of his policies into the
form of legislation.
Very recently, however, there have been intima-
tions at the Capitol that the Presidents word is
mand.
There has been nothing resembling open revolt
but the rejection of his urgent request for financial
aid for the Salem fire victims by the House Commit
tee on Appropriations, the light references to his
praise of legislative patriots in his independence Day
speech, Mr. Underwoods declaration in the House on
Wednesday, and finally the attitude, frankly defiant
of the Sepate Banking Committee with reference, to
the confirmation Of Mr.. Warburg and Mr.. Jones
appear significant of changing relations between White
House and Capitol.
Mr.. Underwood, party leader in the House, uttered
his declaration of independence in unfriendly
spirit but could scarcely be interpreted otherwise
than hint to the President He said:
Il notice in a captous press it is very often being
stated that the legislative department of the gov
ernment is being absorbed by the executive part of
the government. believe in that old school of phil
osophy that the three departments of the government
the legislative the executive and the judcial-should
be separate and apart do not think this House
has any more right to direct the Executive than the
Executive has to direst the legislative department
what TO do"
In the Senate II looks like locking of horns with
the Banking Committee over the Federal ap-
pointees with the President insisting on confirmation
and the committee stubbornly baking.
There are several reasons for the loosening of the
Presidents grip the legislative organization. He
has distributed most of his patronage, he has been
given generous of legislation embracing his
policies and now is keeping the members here in pro-
tracted session while their opponents home are work
ing their seats from them and while the bust
ness interests of the country are pleading for re-
spite from law-makng, plea with which Mr.. I'm
derwood and not few others are in sympathy.
Congress is anxious and impatient TO adjourn.
President Wilson knows in spite of his praise of the
patriotism which he says is keeping the members
here that there would be hurried end to the pro-
ceedings if he would but say the word. A quorum is
maintained in the Senate with increasing difficulty.
As the result OF the change in the Presidents own
attitude toward big business, it will take longer
enact the remaining trust bills In fact the stu
alton now is, it is by means certain they can be
enacted at this session, and the question suggests
itself, whether conference between the President
and the party leaders might not convince him of the
wisdom of adjournment as Congress can dis
pose of its routine business. Certainly the country
would profit by it. and the administration would gain
the end by letting the clouds roll away and taking
a fresh and vigorous start next winter.