Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-04
HOOVER HAS BIC ADVANTAGE IN SUPPORT FROM HIS FIJI
RESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER
will have q more strongly Re
publican Congress to deal with


publican Congress to deal with
i than any Congress since that
which came in with the late
President Harding. The Chief Execu-
tive of the United States, under the
most favorable circumstances, Is likely
to have difficulty with the National
Legislature, which is jealous of its
prerogatives. But when President Is
faced by a hostile Congress, with his
own political party in the minority or
holding control by q narrow margin.
his legislative program faces almost
sure defeat. ..
The Senate which will respond to Mr..
Hoover'S call for special session OF
Congress this Spring will be composed
of IS Republicans, 80 Democrats and l
Farmer-Labor members. There still
exists one vacancy from Pennsylvania.
Senator ELECT william S. Ware of the
keystone State has never been permit
ted to take his seat. 1t Is foregone
conclusion, however, that whenever
Pennsylvania fills this vacancy it will
be with a Republican. Counting the
full Republican strength, therefore. as
56, and the total opposition. combining
the Democrats and Farmer-Labor Sem
ator,. at 40, the Republicans have a
margin of 16 votes In the Senate. Nine
Republican Senators would have to de-
sert the administration and 60 over to
the Democrats to defeat an ad1ninistra-
ton measure.
Mr.. Hoover has the advantage also
of facing a more friendly Senate than
his predecessor. For example, only two
Of the Republican Progressives, Norris
Of Nebraska and Blaine Of Wisconsin,
came out openly against Mr.. Hoover
during the national campaign. Senator
La Toilette Of Wisconsin, another Of the
Progressive group, has not been friendly
with Mr.. Hoover. although he did not
announce himself for Mr.. Hoover's OPP
ponent, Alfred z. Smith. during the
presidential campaign. On the other
hand, strong Progressives like Brook
hart of Iowa, Nye and Frazier of North
Dakota, Howell of Nebraska. Norbeck
and McMaster Of South Dakota, all sup
ported Mr.. Hoover during the cam
paign actively and are inclined to sup
port him as President. Senator Borafl
Of Idaho. chairman of the foreign rela-
tons committee and one of the most
influential figures in public life. played
a prominent part in winning the cleo
ton for Mr.. Hoover. and he. too, will
be a tower OF strength in the Senate.
Watson Becomes Leader.
The Senate leadership on the Repub-
lican side shifts from Curtis Of Kansas,
who Is now Vice President and the
Senate presiding oficer. to Senator
James e. Watson Of Indiana. During
the, pre-convention campaign Senator
Watson was an opponent of Mr.. Hoover.
He was himself candidate for presi-
DENTAL nomination, regarded as a men,
Der OF the Senate combination to
prevent the nomination of Mr.. Hoover.
But Senator Watson is a regular Re-
pubi1can--as regular as the clock. In
his new position as Senate leader he Is
not likely to forego lifetime Of regl-
Nor IS 1t likely that the Republican
majority in the Senate would. agree to
, his doing so. Senator Jones Of wash.
ington will be assistant leader Of the
Republicans. He has always been a
strong Hoover supporter.
The Republican party has an even
stronger grip upon the House. The
membership Of that body Is divided as
follows: 268 Republicans, 166 Demo-
Gratis and Farmer-Labor. This means
q Republican lead OF 101 over the com-
bined opposition. Here Is working
majority upon which the Republican
President will be able to count strongly
ut all times.
In the House the Republican leader
ship Will remain the same as 1t has
Longworth Is to serve his third term as
presiding officer of the House. Repre-
sentative John @. Nilsson OF Connecti-
cut viii be the Republican floor leader
With a Speaker from the Midwest
and q floor leader from the East. honors
are pretty evenly divided in the House.
Special Session Expected.
Within q few weeks Mr.. Hoover will
face this Congress. He Is expected to
call it into special session not later than
April IS to consider two major subjects
Of legislation-farm relief and tariff
revision. Both are subjects in which
the country Is vitality interested The
Congress Is inclined to give Mr.. Hoover
his head in the matter of farm legis-
lation. Many of the Senators and
Representatives from the farm States
are convinced that he has the interest
Of the farmer at heart and that he
will do his best for agriculture. Doubt
less the extremist will demand more in
the way of farm legislation than Mr.
Hoover Is prepared to grant. There
may even be an effort to revive the
equalization fees, the heart of the old
McNary- Haugen bill. But such an
effort will be unsuccessful In view Of
the recent national. election, Mr..
Hoover stood out strongly against this
principle In this campaign.
The, farm bill, which Mr.. Hoover Is
expected to support, will In large meas
ure follow the lines OF the McNary
bill introduced in the last Congress.
Senator McNary, chairman of the COM
mittee on agriculture. already has con-
ferred with Mr. Hoover and obtained his
views in regard to the proposed legis-
lation. 1t Is expected that the Senator
from Oregon will have q bill ready for
introduction as soon as the special ses-
sion meets. The farm bill will be taken
up for consideration in the Senate while
the House Is dealing with the, tariff.
Under the provisions of the Consti-
tuition, the House has the task, Of In
itiating revenue and appropriation bills.
The House ways and means committee
began hearings on the tariff as long
ago as January Z. In order to be In a
position to draft the tariff bill and sub
NIT 1t to the House at q special session.
Whether Chairman Hawley Of the
House ways and means committee Will