Western news and the Libby times., 1933-05-11
(l(oy|'ji'il{|'9ffS5q Big I,
National Topics Interpreted II fIETTIYTN
by William Bruckart <knSu}T1T

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
Iahoma. No more dictntortai power
ever was accorded the head OF any
government, except the absolute mon
archy. than is given TO the President
of our country. In the farm bill IL
self there is power to control crop
production. power to restrict acre
age, II the Chief Executive wants to
go that far.
In the Thomas imitation amendment,
the authority is given the Chief Execu-
tive to change the value Of your money
and mine, at whatever time he sees
fit. He can make the gold dollar
worth half what 1t was heretofore;
he can use silver to an extent he
deems necessary, and he appears to
have been given power to arrange
treaties ON monetary standards with
out even consulting again with the
congress. 1t had always been sup
posed that the Constitution required
the advice and consent Of the senate
on treaties, but the authority now ap-
parently rests In the hands OF the
Chief Executive alone.
Between the banking legislation and
the farm bill, with its Imitation sec
ton, congress voted the President the
right to organize q new "army' OF up
wards OF 250,000 men. The reforesta-
tlon bill that became law called for
the mobilization pof citizens con-
servation corps" legitimate peace
time organization for the purpose OF
establishing a source OF timber sup
DIV. Mr.. Roosevelt was given wide
discretion as to how that corps would
be recruited, trained and used. It Is
a matter clear out of the hands OF
congress.
Others are yet to come. Among
them is the railroad legislation that Is
now shaping up. The President can
become monarch OF the rail systems
through the federal co-ordinator for
which the legislation provides.
One hears n good deal OF discus
sion In Washington respecting the
powers which the
PotCers In President has been
Retter Hands given. Generally
= = speaking. the con-
elusion Is that they are In better
hands than II they remained with
congress under the present clrcum-
stance. The President has demon
strated that he knows what he wants,
and most members of congress are
afraid to deny requests which he
makes.
Take the imitation amendment for
example. Mr.. Roosevelt undoubtedly
saw a tidal wave OF Imitation senti-
ment In congress- 1t was there. So
In order to maintain control, he placed
himself at the head Of the imitation
parade. 1t Is unthinkable that he will
ever use all Of the various powers
given him In the Imitation amendment,
for he knows that the remedy would
be worse than the disease they seek
to cure In most instances. But by the
simple expedient of inviting the inna-
tionlsts to dump all Of their remedies
into one basket and to give him dis
cretionary power to use them as he
desires, he continued to command the
forces. / have heard 1t suggested fire.
ouently that many OF the infationlsts
do not realize yet how they let the
thing get away from them.
And 1t did get away. Having made
the means available once, there are
not so many senators and representa-
tives who will vote to make 1t manda-
tory--now. II they did, the President
could veto the bills and there seems
little chance of enough votes ito pass
that sort of thing over the veto of the
Chief Executive
Observers here used to. think that
| Calvin Coolidge kept the politicians In
congress 'up In the
Keeps Them air. BY the manner
Guessing In which he out
guessed them. The
| judgment now Is that Roosevelt has
| improved on the Coolidge plan to the
point where his plans take on ele-
ments of mystery. The action In the
case OF the imitation ghost Is typical.
1t was wholly unexpected. He keeps
| things to himself until his mind Is
made up. Then, without further ado
brief message goes to congress and
| the thing Is done. The method has
| proved immensely practical as well as
a A.