Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-07
Coalition.

Coautlon government Tor the United
States, so far as the legislative branch
Is concerned. seems assured in the
SeveHty-second Congress. Neither the
Republican nor the Democratic party
viii dominate the House or the Senate
on legislative matters If the latest re-
turns from Tuesdays elections are not
knocked down by official counts and re-
counts.
The country has already been given
b taste of coalition effort in Congress.
During the present Congress coalition
Of Democrats and insurgent Repub-
deans in the Senate fought the Hoover
administration at nearly every turn.
Only the fact that the House was over
whelmingly Republican prevented
deadlock between the administration
and Congress on farm relief legislation
and the tariff. AS it happened, these
measures were delayed for months by
the efforts of the Senate coalitionists.
II the operation of the coalition in the
Senate is any criterion of what may
be expected in the next Congress, little,
II anything, will be accomplished in the
way OF legislation beyond the annual
appropriation bills for carrying on the
Government.
In view of the results Of the cleo
ton, 1t may be expected that the
coalitionists in Senate and House-the
Republican insurgents and the Demo-
crats-wiIl Immediately offer new bills
revising the tariff, or at least repeating
the existing tariff law, and calling for
the "debenture" plan Of farm relief or
the old McNary- Haugen brand with
its equalization fee" system. A presi-
dental veto, If such measures were
sent to Mr.. Hoover, might well be ex-
pected. But the coalitionists, who have
no love for Mr.. Hoover. probably win
delight in dishing up to him unpalatable
legislative morsels, hoping, indeed, that
the President viii feel compelled to re-
fuse them. Thus are issues made, In
the opinion Of many Of the politicians.
The country has upset regular Re-
publican control Of the House with a
vengeance. Even II the Democrats lack
actual majority control Of the House in
the next Congress, It Is clear that the
Republicans are not to have It. The
sole Farmer-Labor member Of that
body may hold the balance Of power,
with 217 Republicans on enc side of
him and ait Democrats on the other
A slim Republican majority Of one or
two votes, however would avail the
Republican leadership little. Insurgent
Republicans, siding with the Democrats,
would be found easily to defeat admin
astration plans. II the Senate, with an
apparent lead Of II votes for the Re-
publicans over the Democrats In the
present Congress, has been given over
to coalition control IN the present Con-
gress, it is quite clear that the regular
Republicans cannot hope TO dominate
the situation when they have only 40, or
m even half Of the Senate membership.
Coalition government in Congress is
not to wait until the first regular ses-
sion Of the Seventy-second Congress In
December q year hence. It win mani
fest itself again as soon Is the present
Congress meets. The Republican insur-
gents In the Senate and their Demo-
cratic colleagues win again be In posi-
ton to attack administration measures.
The country has upset Republican
control Of the Congress for the next two
years to come. Doubtless the Demo-
Gratis viii consider this o mandate.
What they do in Congress will be
watched with considerable interest by
the people. There is always the dam
ger that antagonists Of the executive
branch Of the government may over
reach themselves under such circum-
stances. There Is the chance that the
pendulum, which has swung so far one
way this year, viii in the interval be-
tween the next presidential and con-
gressional election swing in the other
direction. The coalitionists will have
to watch their step.