Evening star., 1934-06-10
Legislative Record Shows President
Still Has Complete Control of Congress

the Federal Government Both OF
these things we're asked for by the
President.
Hardly question was raised over
the proposal to spend $525, 900, 900 for
drought relief. with the Federal Gov
eminent unhesitatingly assuming this
burden. Neither was much question
raised over the bill to appropriate
$3.50, ,0000 900 for a cattle purchasing
program under the A. A. A.
The President just as easily had his
way on most appropriations, although
there had been talk few months ago
that Congress would 60 on wild
spending spree. Until the drought
came along, appropriations for relief,
for public works, for agriculture, for
all the Government activities were
held within the framework of the
two-year budget plan announced by
Mr. Roosevelt early in the session. He
stopped C. w. A. spending when many
people said it couldn't be done. Now,
though. he is prepared to unbalance
his budget plans to meet the drought
emergency. Squelched was the pro-
posal of Senator La Toilette for
$40, 900 100000 public works fund. On
Government finances, the President
consistently was the winner in Con-
gress.
Besides these major pieces of legisla-
ton that adjust and tighten up the
machinery of the new deal, the Presi-
dent had other important victories.
He got the type of legislation he
wanted on direct loans to industry.
on a statement of naval policy. on
liquor taxes. on reform of the income
tax laws, on bankruptcy reform to
cover both corporations and munich
palities, and on Federal supervision
over communications through a new
commission.
But with all of these evidences of
presidential mastery of Congress, there
was a sprinkling of evidence of revolt.
Congress Overwhelmingly cast its vote
over a veto for a return Of pension
benefits to World War and Spanish
War veterans. 1t rejected the treaty
with Canada for construction of
waterway from the Atlantic to the
Great Lakes by way of the st. Law
renee River. 1t voted tax on cocoa
nut oil from the Philippines in the
face of presidential opposition and
over what the President described as
moral barrier to the action.
Senators prevented the confirmation
of willard L. Thorp as head of the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, on the ground that he was
Republican, and they held up con-
firmation of the appointment of DR..
Rexford Guy Tugwen as Undersecre-
tary of Agriculture, at an increase
in salary. They also baked at
amendments to the agricultural ad-
justment act These amendments
were offered in a mysterious manner,
under a hush-hush policy of the A.
A. A. officials that quickly raised
suspicious and gave rise to reaction
against that organization. The Pres
ident found it wise to let lapse June
16 the power of N. r. A. to put busi-
ness under a Federal license. That
power never was used, but did provide
a weapon.
To counter these setbacks, the Pres
ident had number of negative VIC
tories. That means he was able to
prevent enactment of legislation which
he considered nl-advised. Among the
measures that fell by the wayside
were the bill to pay depositors in
closed Federal Reserve Banks with
nice new paper money. bill to issue
more new paper money to refinance
farm mortgages, and bill to force
the 30-hour week on industry.
What the present session OF Con-
gress has done Is to consolidate and
strengthen the new deal. However, 1t
did not accept the suggestion of Pres
ident Roosevelt, made in his message
on opening day. to make the N. r. A.
and the A. A. A. permanent adjuncts
to the Government. In fact, as the
Congress prepared to leave, there were
many signs that Gen. johnson and
his Blue Eagle were on shaky ground
and might have dif11culty with the
next Congress.
(Convrirht 1Q24N