Evening star., 1934-03-15
THE Political Mill.
BY C.. Could Lincoln.


Lawrence waterway treaty with Can
ada. While this treaty was negoti-
ated during the Hoover administra-
ton, President Roosevelt had made
the issue his own, writing to the Sen
ate urging ratification of the treaty.
And while the Senate was taking ac-
ton against this project, which the
President was supporting, the House
rose up and defeated by a large vote
the special rule-"gag" rule So
called-sending the independent Of
fees bill to conference with the Sen
ate. This special rule was urged by
the administration leaders in the
House and was intended to make it
possible for the Democrats to avoid
direct votes in the House on the con-
, troversial veterans compensation and
pay cut issues. But the House seems
to have determined that the gag"
rule shall rest for a while, at least
One hundred and thirty-one Demo-
Gratis in the House joined with Ill
Republicans and five Farmer-Labor
members in voting down the gag rule,
while only 1863 Democrats stood fast
for the rule.
These defeats for the administra-
t1on were not unexpected. 1t has
long been known that there was great
opposition on the part Of many of the
Senators hailing from States which
believe they will be adversely affected
by the building Of the St. Lawrence
waterway. So far as the question OF
veterans compensation is concerned,
with an election in the offing, there
seemed not the slightest doubt that
the House would agree to the Senate
amendments for more liberal treat
ment OF the ex-service men. These
were tough nuts for the administra-
ton to crack. And what made the
case OF the administration particular
~ dlfncult in connection with the
veterans compensation and the re-
storation Of the pay Of the Federal
workers was the knowledge that the
Government has been spending and Is
continuing to spend billions of dollars
for all kinds of projects Economy.
therefore, imposed upon the Govern
ment workers and the veterans has
lost. in large measure, its appeal.
II
These defeats for the President in
Congress will be hailed in some quar-
tiers as the beginning OF a continued
revolt against the Roosevelt leader
ship. But this is by no means GER
tain. And, furthermore, a neglect of
the Roosevelt leadership bv Congress
at this time might not only be dan
gerous for the country, but might be
extremely unpopular with the people.
1t may be recalled that President
/ Coondge vetoed the soldiers bonus bill
early In 1924 and that Congress passed
the measure over his veto This did
not speH defeat for Mr.. Coolidge in
other matters, however, and he was
elected President in November of that
year.
The administration leaders. It Is
now declared, intend to force another
! controversial issue on the House next
week; the Presidents proposal that
ne be given authority to make recip-
rocal trade agreements with other ma
tons and. where necessary. to reduce
by 5O per cent tariff duties on i'm
ports INTO this country. There is very
strong opposition 10 this plan on the
part OF a considerable number of
democrats as we'll as Republicans.
The matter of the tariff naturally will
come before the House before it
reaches the Senate, for the House is
given by the Constitution the right
10 initiate all legislation relating to
the revenue and taxation and tariffs
According to present information, no
effort will be made TO adopt gag"
rule on this bill, however, but mem
bers will be permitted to offer amend
ments and to discuss them on the
floor. If the tariff measure is put
| through the House and the leaders
fully expect that it will, then 1t will
go to the Senate, where the matter
VIII be discussed at length and many
| amendments will be pressed. The
tariff is such a local issue" that it
is difficult always to gage the strength
OF any tariff measure, particularly
when it comes to reducing the duties
So many industries are affected
thereby.
+ \
The olive branch held out bv
the Roosevelt administration to Col
Charles A. Lindbergh has been re-
Jected by Col. Lindbergh. He has re-
fused to become a member of the
special committee appointed by the
Secretary of War to look into Army
aviation, and particularly into the
flying OF the mails by the Army Air
Corps. Col. Lindberg, when he sent
a telegram to the President several
weeks ago protesting against the can
collation. OF all the airmail contracts
was sharply reprimanded from the
White House for giving to the public
his telegram before it had been read
by the President. 1t was in effect
charged that Col. Lindberg was no
more than publicity hound" by
some of the friends of the admins
tration. This did not sit well with
either Col Lindbergh or with his ad-
mirerS.
Col. Lindbergh's telegram to Secre-
tary Dern of the War Department was
given to the press last night, after it
had been sent to Mr.. Dern. In the
telegram, Col. Lindbergh asserted that
the cancellation of the airmai con-
tracts and the flying of the mails by
the Army had been a great blow to
the aviation industry in this country.
and he sharply criticized the admin
istration for its course. Undoubtedly
there will be those who will regret
that Col. Lindbergh's services are
denied the Government. However.
COL Lindbergh is consistent in his op-
position to the course adopted by the
administration when it Cancelled. or
annulled, all the airmail contracts.
The manner in which the airmail
has been dealt with has stirred I'D
hornets nest. 1t has brought the first
really serious criticism of the admin
istration, and just where the reper-
customs will end is not now clear.
Ohio Is looming as one Of the politi-
cal backgrounds this year. Senator
Simeon D. Fess, veteran Republican
leader, is up for reelection. The
Democrats are intent unon sanding