Evening star., 1932-07-16
CONGRESS SWEPT
BY |ND|V|DUAL|SM
Party Responsibility Thrust
Aside in Efforts to
Build Campaign.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Last minute wrangling between the
White House and Congress over the
finishing touches that must be given
to important legislation before there
can be adjournment, have served only
to emphasize the complete absence OF
party responsibility in the legislative
branch of the Government.
Individualism runs rampant in both
Houses. Party leaders are thrust aside
It's everybody for himself and let the
other fellow bear the consequences. Eff
forts to make campaign capital, to put
the President "in a hole" to show the
great constructive achievements" OF
the Republican party and its chieftain
all are intermingled in an atmosphere
of irritation and discomfort, not the
least incident of which is the presence
of a hungry, unshaven horde of bonus
crusaders who camp on the doorstep
of the Capitol in vague. indefinable
hope that pressure implied or actual
is the way to reach the congressional
heart if not the congressional mind.
President Busy on Phone.
President Hoover, candidate for re-
election. sits at one end Of Pennsylva-
MIA avenue busy on the telephone talk
ing to congressional leaders of his
party. summoning occasionally his op-
ponents, arguing, pleading, and often
holding the threat Of his veto power
over the heads of Congress anxious
to get away for its own election cam
paigns.
But all this is as yet unavailing as
both houses meander along, one OF
them presided over by Speaker Garner
himself a candidate for Vice President
on the ticket opposite from the Presi-
dent and hence looked upon as the gen.
eralis5imo of campaign strategy.
Over in the Senate they privately Cri-
ticize the Garner strategy, but the Sen.
ate always has its own opinion Of the
House, anyway, so the members of tht
latter group go on unconcerned. II
would be amusing at time. if it were not
tragic, If the whole country were moi
waiting for adjournment as a sort Of
blessing and steadying influence ir
the marts of trade.
Investigating Power Used.
If it isn't legislation that threaten:
the Treasury or the economic soundncS;
Of the credit system, it is the use ol
the investigating power to haraSs the
establishments.
This is a year of majcr suspicious
Emergency powers never were anc
doubtless never will be exercised il
minute detail as they should be. Red tape
was cut during the war and liberal in
depreciation of law prevailed then a;
now in saving institutions from collapse
or destruction.
The net result is to make administra.
tive officials timid. cautious. indecisive
So long as Congress remains in session
the executive sioe of things is some
what at a standstill. A last-minutt
rioer, phrase here or a paragraph
there cen upset departmental policy
an established system or practice.
Public Interest" Hollow.
So Washington waits as the country
waits. And Congress goes serenely On
many Of its members conscious of tbs
great responsibility vested in them K
give an example in crisis of mature
thought and deliberateness. but help.
less in the face of an irresponsible mi
nority that would rather get headlines
than submit to compromise propose
and expedite legislation, that woult
rather make political capital for the
war Vi Tile ptllleS Wiicll ID W oc ue'
cided by the innocent voter and victim
than to drop partisansnip and legislat;
in the public interest the phras;
that has become a hollow mockery ir
the halls that once heard rIincipit
placed above party or Individual gain
When the gavel finally falls. 1t vii
conclude one of the most disgracefu
chapters in the history of party gov
ernment-a modern Rome that hearc
only hdoling while political incen'
diarism burned the edifice of hopes anc
aspirations on which 100000 unem'
ployed have been locking with desperate
faith. if not conviction, that the Gov.
ernment knew how to mitigate theil
suffering and aid in restoring the con-
fdence needed for economic recovery
Copyright. 1897