Evening star., 1933-01-01
MARCH CONGRESS SESSION
NOW APPEARS INEVITABLE
Political Developments Depend on
Roosevelt's Personality, Which Will Be
Expressed in Cabinet Appointments.

lifetime than during all of 10 centuries
preceding
One wonders If there may be some
thing in the theory Of the "technocrats,"
that a political system and social or
der adequate for 1894 may be less than
perfectly adapted to 1892
On March 4 the important politics
OF the year will begin, and they will be
very important indeed. On that day
will come a Democratic President and
with him a Congress completely Demo-
cratic-the House very heavily Demo-
cratic, the Senate not quite so heavily,
yet adequately Democratic.
1t Is to be remembered, however, that
while the Democratic President will
actually take Office and. begin to func-
ton on March 4. the Democratic Con-
gress does not, or at least may not. The
new Democratic Congress comes into
being on that day in sense, but only
potentially. The first regular sitting
Of the new Congress, as dictated by the
Constitution, will not come until the
first Monday Of next December. But
Mr.. Roosevelt, as soon as he Is Presi-
dent, can call at any time q special
session OF the new Congress.
Upon this question, whether Mr..
Roosevelt should call, or would be
obliged to call. a special session of the
new Congress, there has been much
nfaneuvering. ending now in the GER
tainty that Mr.. Roosevelt must call the
special session.
Mr. Roosevelt did not want to. strong
ly did not want to. Some of his reasons
were personal. He felt new President
has better chance to stamp himself
and his party upon the country favor
ably, II for nine months, from March
until December 4, the new impression
Is made by the President alone, without
being blurred by the presence Of Con-
gress. He felt that for a new President
to call special session of Congress is
to invite misfortune. He recalled that
Mr.. Hoover. soon after he took Office.
March 4. 1929, called special session
OF the new Congress, and that this spe-
clal session did things or started things
Qncluding tariff revision) which later
reacted to the disadvantage of Presi-
dent Hoover and his party.
In addition to reluctance associated
with his personal comfort and his po-
lltical fortunes, Mr.. Roosevelt had pub
lie motives for not wishing to call the
new Congress into special session. He
and some other Democratic leaders
enough not alb felt that business re-
covery might be facilitated by nine
months of immunity from Congress;
Ci1at II a special session were in ex-
lstence there might be gestures and
attempts at eccentric legislation. and
other alarums disturbing to a business
world just in process of timorousIy
getting back on its feet.
Argue Good of Country.
In the wish to avert necessity for a
special session, Democratic leaders ap-
preached Republican leaders in plead
ing entreaty. They asked the Repub-
ilcan leaders to cooperate in avoiding
the need Of a special session. In part
the Democrats put their plea on the
ground Of political good-fellowship.
Frankly they asked the Republicans to
facilitate immunity Of the Democrats
from the pains and perils inherent in
a special session. In part the Demo-
Gratis argued the good of the country.
The new Congress, the Democratic
leaders said, would contain many new
members, many men inexperienced in
public life, many inferior men. A land
slide in favor Of either party always
sweeps into office number of inferior
men, because candidates have been
named who are not expected to win
and who do win only because of the
landslide.
decide whether Mr. Roosevelt, after
March 4, must call a special session.
He had promised in the campaign,
among other things, repeal Of the pro-
hloltion amendment together with i'm
mediate legalizing of beer. and also
farm relief. If these two matters
should be achieved in the present ses-
sion OF the old Congress, Mr.. Roosevelt
would be relieved of his promises and
therefore relieved of the necessity OF
calling special session.
It is now certain that the present
session Will fail to enact at least one,
ana possibly all three of these meas
ures. Even If the Senate should unite
with the House in giving a majority
1or the legaliz1ng of beer-and this is
still doubtful-there would remain the
possibility of veto, and it is certain
tnere Is not in this Congress the two
tnlros necessary to legaliZe beer over
a presidential veto if Il should come.
AS Tor repeal of the prohibition amend
ment, 1t Is apparent that neither the
House nor the Senate has the two
thirds which is necessary to initiate an
amendment to the Constitution. AS to
farm relief If both branches of Con-
greSs snould pass the domestic allot-
ment plan, there would remain the
possibility Of q veto by the President.
and 1t is unlikely this measure would
command the two-thirds necessary to
enact 1t over a veto.
The sum of which is, Mr.. Roosevelt
VIII be obliged to call a special session
VI the new and wholly Democratic
Congress. And IF these reasons were
not enough, it is now apparent that
.nere must be review of war debts be-
lore the next installment falls due. ON
June 10. Finally, many of the Demo-
srats In Congress, unlike Mr.. Roosevelt.
reaIy want special session and are
to bring it about. In
snort, Mr.. Roosevelt will be Obliged to
al tne special session. Presumably he
VIII caIl 1t for late March or early
april. Once called, it is likely to re-
I,ani r,s. IN session steadily throughout the
GUNNER ,s. and Fan. perhaps almost 10
.iiS ~; eiine. IN December, when the spe-
,lai session would merge into the regu-
az ~, session. Consequently we may see
.iIe .in new democratic Congress in prac-
,icaiy CONTINUOUS session from early In
March for as long as IS months Until
June, 1884. ''4'0 uiisii
throughout that period. a most in.
.eresting group Of conditions viii arise
! whole new world of politics WiII
ne Democrats in CONGRESS- achievs
viii Mr.. Roosevelt be ahie
o exert leadership upon them?
But OF these and many other oues-
ions; the only fruitful time to write
VII De year from now
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