Evening star., 1933-12-31
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

The coming of Congress for its first
regular session under the regime OF
President Roosevelt is creating as
great stir as in the past. A searcher
for signs of the dictatorship that many
were predicting a few short months
ago could find only disappointment
today.
After 10 months of the new deal,
it obviously is as true as ever that the
power of the President still flows from
the votes back home, reflected through
the Senators and Representatives.
Equally obvious is the fact that no one
appreciates this more than Franklin
D. Roosevelt and those who are carry
ing out the emergency powers that
Congress delegated.
Gen. Hugh Johnson. administrator
of the N R. A. frequently pictured as
the dictator over business and industry,
today is busy trying to get some crltl-
cal Senators to look into the working
of his machine. He thinks it time that
the operation of codes Of fair competi-
ton be studied by representative OF
the people.
Henry Wallace, Secretary of Agricul-
ture. who might be dictator over 6,00O,-
600 farmers if he used all the power
Congress has given him, urges these
farmers to keep an eye on how the
agricultural adjustment act works out,
and then decide whether they want TO
try to adjust their plant to the Amerl-
can market or whether they want to try
to rebuild foreign markets by tarln
cutting He thinks that Congress
should do some intensive and lnteli-
gent thinking and talking on the same
subject SO that the country can decide
ur10 oh
no sign of dictatorship in his attitude.
Harold Ickes, Secretary of the In
terror. administrator of public works
and of the oil code. went far out OF his
way to learn what objections Senator
Borah had to his actions. or possible
actions Everywhere IN the Govern
ment high officials display concern over
the wishes Of Congressman and OF the
people they represent.
Mr.. Roosevelt, just like the Presidents
of the past, is preparing to go to Con-
gress for authority to do the Things
he thinks should be done. II ne mas
been given unusual powers, or II ne Is
to get even broader powers from the
new Congress. the chances are that
the Senators and the Representatives
will be rejecting what they think the
voters want The power to take away
those powers will remain In the Ma
tional Legislature.
To show that Congress can be as in
dependent as in the past, the House
Ways and Means Committee ALREADY
has jolted a few administration plans
presidential committee that single
tax be placed on whiskieS, with part
of the revenue to be distributed PACK
to the States. 1t also turned down
some recommendation on income tax
made by Henry Morgenthau, jr., Secre-
tary of the Treasury,
X X X
In addition there are in prospect
few congressional committees to start
an investigation of some phases OF the
new deal.
But in the broader issues of policy,
the prospect right now Is that MI
Roosevelt will be able to obtain pretty
much what he wants from Congress.
The story brought to Washington by
most returning Congressman Is that
the Presidents popularity never was
greater.
Money is starting to flow in large
volume in many sections, because OF the
public works program. the farm bounty
program and the civil works program.
A feeling is abroad that recovery Is
under way. That strengthens the de-
sire of the voters to give free hand
to the man who is having to run the
snow
The leaders in Congress agree that
monetary legislation will dominate the
session that opens wednesday. They
also seem agreed that the PreSloentS
wishes on this subject probably Will
govern any action taken, although
there will be heavy pressure from the
various groups seeking mnatlon In
diversity of ways.
How Mr.. Roosevelt now views the
dollar and its future thus assumes the
greatest significance. That view at
the same time, is becoming more clear
as a result of remarks dropped ana
speeches made.
The President has referred to a do.-
lar of constant purchasing power,
which the country now knows as
commodity dollar" Within the past
few days he has discussed silver as
part of the national currency, without
any voice quavers. Bi-metalism, IN the
view expressed to visitors, has really
existed in this country almost from
the first coinage. Silver collars and
silver certificates long have been ac-
cepted on a par with gOld-backed cur
rency.
X X X
A White House press conference q
few days ago brought reference to
two great bases Of currency. When
asked what the bases were, the PreSt
dent remarked that in the South Seas
shells with holes in them served as
currency, but that gold and silver flled
the same purpose in other countries.
These and other observations reveal
that Mr.. Roosevelt looks at money not
as something to hoard because it is a
precious metal, but as medium Of
exchange that will permit trade to be
carried on so that workers can be en-
ployed and debts can be paid.