The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-05-12
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National Topics Interpreted - fT7T1STYf@
by William Bruckart AIaxIrnT
by William Bruckart


Reversal of to me that one OF
p. the greatest trans
formations Of all
time has taken place. / refer to the
reversal of powers that are exercised
by congress and the Chief Executive.
Actually, in the period of little over
two months, or since Franklin ID.
Roosevelt became President, congress
has abdicated much power in favor OF
the President and the President, In
turn, has given to congress a veto
power which it never has had before.
1t will be recalled that the Consti-
tuition prescribes the limits of author
ity of the legislative, executive and
judicial branches of our government.
Congress was supposed to be the check
on the executive powers just as the
President, through the exercise OF a
veto on legislation, was to be the
check on acts of the national legisla-
ture. The courts, or the Supreme
court of the United States, were given
a whip hand over both.
The circumstances of it all are so i'm
portant and the procedure so unique
that a review of the period probably
is necessary to set out the picture.
Further, there is no doubt in the
minds of many authorities and many
students of government that the things
which have happened are going to af-
feet the future of this nation vitality
and in ways of which we do not
dream. From the perspective of the
present, it is made to appear that
they could not have happened except
for the crisis through which the ma
ton, and the world, has passed. Yet it
remains as fact that congress has
turned over to President Roosevelt
authority which it may recall to itself
only with the greatest difficulty.
Chronologically, events have trans
pired something in this order:
The President took office as the
banking structure of the nation was
crumbling. He act
Epochol ed without delay,
r. and then asked con-
gress to support his
hand with the legislation that was nee
essary. Congress had no choice. 1t
voted the emergency banking bill
through in record time. That legisla-
ton would have taken years otherwise
to have been enacted. But congress
was scared!
Next came the authority for reor-
ganization of the government. 1t was
put through quickly because every
body in congress wanted to save
money and balance the budget. Also,
most members Of congress saw nice
sideroad which they could travel and
avoid meeting face to face with the
question of reducing the payment to
veterans. They did not fancy cutting
government salaries, either. So they
thought it was fine to 'let Franklin do
it." He acted promptly and with neat
ness, saving probably more than four
hundred millions year in what he
to veterans and one-fourth as much
more in other ways.
1t was In this legislation as well as
in the banking act that congress be-
gan to give away its control. The
statement can fairly be made that the
bulk of house and senate members had
no comprehension of what was done
by the banking act, but the same cam
not be said of the reorganization act.
That was simple legislation. 1t said
in plain language that the President
could make about any changes in the
structure of the government which he
deemed advisable He was to do it by
executive order and If congress had
time, the executive order stood as law.
To those unacQuainted with the pro-
cedure, the reversal of practice may
not be so apparent. But after con-
gress had delegated that authority to
the President, it can stop his action
only by a two-thirds vote. That is
difficult to obtain except in an emer-
gency.
Assume, for an illustration, that
congress is dissatisfied with some
move made by the
Veto PoUer President in connec-
rr~... ton with reorgani-
cation and it passes
hof
ticular executive order. Mere passage
of the resolution does not make it the
law of the land, for there is yet the
signature of the President to be OBJ
tanned. If the President chose to veto
the resolution, the congress then to
make its will effective must repass
that resolution by a majority of two
thirds. 1t thus exercises veto power,
something hitherto unknown.
Now, as to the banking act : the Pres
ident was given broad discretionary
power to reconstruct the banking sys-
tenn True, it was an emergency, a
crisis. But that legislation went so
far as to permit the Chief Executive
to take over and operate the federal
reserve banks. By that means, it is
not beyond stretch of Imagination
that he actually can control the COM
mercial banks of the country. The tie.
up between the federal reserve banks
and the privately owned commercial
banks is so close that control of the
enc opens hundreds of avenues by
which the other may be reached.
Congress can withdraw that power
by repeating the legislation. 1t is
supreme in that field. Yet, in order
to repeal the law, the repeater must
be signed by the President.
Along came the farm bill to which
was added the imitation amendment
presented by Senator Thomas of Ok
lahoma. No more dictatorial power