The Washington times., 1934-12-03

RUBBER ST AMP
AWAITS ONLY
FRESH INK
Members of House and Senate
Now Arriving for Session;
Signs of Revolt Nearly Nil
By FRANKLIN G. SARTWELL

by FKANhLAN u. SAHIWELL
Representatives and Senators
returning to Washington in ad'
vance Of the convening of Con-
gress next month, with few no.
table exceptions, are ready to
adopt a role of complete sub
servience to the Administration.
This thought. cleaned by local
observers of the Congressional
scene from interviews with the re-
turning members, may be altered
by later arrivals. but right now
there is every indication that the
title of rubber stamp" applied to
the last Congress will be even
more applicable to the body which
will meet January 3.
Apparently there will be no IN,
itiative at all in the rank ana
file of members of either house
when the new Congress meets.
They are coming here without
legislative baggage and many OF
them are even without mental
grip-sacks.
Ideas Lacking
Democratic members. with the
exception of the few leaders who
have conferred with President
Roosevelt since the election. are
devoid of ideas and make no
secret of the fact.
Republican members are floun'
dering around with a total alb
Sence of either constructive or de-
structive ideas. Most OF them are
ready to take it as it comes"
No one seems to be ready to
issue any kind of challenge to the
Administration experiments and
ideas except few OF the "lnde-
pendent Republicans"
Some members of this latter
group have returned to the city
with brief cases bulging with pro-
posals for which they intend to
fight to the last ounce Of their
energy in the new session. A few
of them, led by Senator Borah,
of Idaho, already are opening the
battle, even in advance Of the
meeting of Congress.
Fear to Cross President
Most of the Democrats who
are in town, or who have been
here on flying visits since the
election, when asked for their
personal legislative programs for
the coming session, reply in sub
stance:
"Well, 1 haven't anything pre-
pared right now. I'm waiting
to see what the President wants
before l commit myself to any.
thing. OF course. 1 may not
accept everything he wants, but
I am not making an advance
declaration in favor of any,
thing that he may not want"
The minority members seem to
be suffering from an even greater
dearth of initiative. AS far as is
known, none of them has yet
brought to washington even a
single piece of legislation, much
less a complete program.
Their attitude is that they can
not hope to accomplish much
against the steam-roller majority
of the Democrats, and therefore
it would be futile for them to try.
G. o. P. FARLEY SOUGHT
In general, the Republicans are
hopeful that later this month, or
early next month, the leaders Of
their party will be able to get to-
gether and decide on what the
party attitude is to be in view Of
the last election.
Personally, none of the Repubii-
can regulars seem to be ready to
ego to the bat" with the Admin
istration on anything it may pro-
lnse.
1-.Ase attitudes may, of course,
change when the gavels bang
January 3, and even before that
there may arise here and there a
Democrat or a Republican with
an idea for writing bill on Capt.
tai Hill instead of waiting for
messengers to bring them the
measures prepared at the White
House and the executive depart
ments.