Evening star., 1934-01-05
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

II President Roosevelt's "brutally
frank" $4,000 100000 public debt and
SO 1000 000.00 deficit budget staggers
and startleS the country to the degree
that 1t daZeS Congress, the Nation will
reel for a day or two. No such dizzy
figures. even at Wartime peak, ever had
| to be digested by House and Senate or
the people at large Hardly anybody
| in Washington as yet has had time to
grasp their tremendous significance
Generally, congressional opinion is di-
vided on party lines. Democrats are
confident that despite the budgets
fabulous proportions, Congress and the
country will finally approve it because
! OF faith in Mr.. Roosevelt. Republicans
even some of those disposed to go along
with the recovery program in spirit
'of patriotism. hint darkly that the new
deals financial operations sooner or
! later may give the G. o. P. the oppor-
I tunity it Graves for base of attack on
the administration Everything depends
on popular reaction. Any. indication of
/ a taxpayers revolt is likely to spur the
| opposition to take up the challenge. 1t
will watch carefully to see whether the
country swallows meekly the strong
medicine DR.. Roosevelt prescribes or
rebels over the size Of the dose.
"Permanence" of the new deal is
the keynote of the Presidents message
on the state of the Union. He struck
| it several times while addressing Con-
| gress, and his voice. consciously or
otherwise, was emphatic on each oc-
casion. Another passage that did not
escape notice was the linking OF the
! judiciary with the executive and legis-
lative branches as factors in CON
| solidating" the new economic and social
| structure-a possible hint OF F., D. r. S
| hope that the Federal courts will up
| hold the constitutionality of all the
recovery laws. Mr.. Roosevelt had a
significant reason for delivering his
message in person. No policy is nearer
| to his heart at the moment than the
working out of a liaison between the
/ White House and Capitol Hill. Hence,
his peroration: The letter of the Con-
stitution wisely declared a separation
between the legislative and executive
branches. but the impulse OF common
purpose declares a union" The Presi-
dent intends to permit maximum OF
| legislative proposals to originate in
| committees of Congress rather than
with the administration, although few
projects of Importance will be ncu-
bated either in House or Senate that
do not command his approval.
| Die-hard prohibitionists at observa-
ton posts while President Roosevelt
was addressing the joint session say
the high spot was the failure OF the
Congress to applaud his reference to
repeal They also noticed that while
formal communications from State
! Governors were read to the House, pre-
ceding delivery of the Presidents mes
| sage, Utahs notification clinching re-
| peal evoked only a faint handicap.
| The drys claim they already discern a
wave of congressional reaction against
repeal.
Until arrival of the President and
the Senate Surcharged the atmosphere
with calm and dignity, the House pre-
| roaring Homecoming and jolly family
reunion. Back-slapping, elbow-greas-
ing and bantering greetings were the
rule on all Sides and bedlam reigned
for more than an hour. Foreign dip
lomats looked down on the typical
American scene bit dumfounded. In
accordance with tradition, many chill
dren scampered around the floor, chap
eroned either by fathers or grandfatherS
among the House membership. "Sistie''
and "Buzzie'' Dali, in the presidential
box. Joined gleefully in every round OF
applause for their distinguished grand
daddy When Vice President and for
mer Speaker Garner marched in at the
head of the Senate procession he had
a vociferous welcome from his old bud
dies of the lower branch and smiled and
waved happily to both sides of the aisle.
| X
Lively speculation ranges around the
announcement that the President is
sending to Congress report" on the
debts owed this country by foreign gov
ernments and peoples. That Congress
u II dcbt-collecting mood was evinceo