The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-04-11
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National Topics Interpreted "a fTM7115E
by William Bruckart NEH

,dars. This is factor meaning de-
lay for administration bills.
1t is TO be remembered, as has
been reported in these columns,
that Mr.. Roosevelt is unable to
ward off criticism of some of his
proposals. Indeed, there have been
Democratic criticisms and Demo
cratic opposition to a greater or
lesser degree to all of the legisla-
tion me has proposed since con-
gress convened last January. AL
of which is by way of saying that
congress faces weeks of commit
tee work and floor debate despite
the fact that the house Democratic
leaders still retain rather solid con-
troll of a sufficient majority in the
lower house of congress to drive
Through any pet measures for the
administration. In the senate the
situation is decidedly different.
Included in the legislation being
fostered by individual members is
the bill that would permit cabinet
officers to appear on the floors of
congress for questioning and ex-
PLANTATION, such as occurs under the
British and French parliamentary
systems. The administration does
not want this bill. It will have to
exert some pressure to avoid pass
age. The reason is that the Roose-
welt administration is no longer
one in which the cabinet is domin-
ant. Cabinet officers are only part
of the scheme, and if congress
wanted to inquire about the hand
ling of relief money, it must talk
with Mr.. Hopkins. The same is
true of MIRA and to some extent to
the AAA, although Secretary Wal
lace of the Department of Agricul-
ture theoretically is superior Of
ficer to Administrator Davis. The
administration is definitely opposed
to the passage of bonus Legislation
for the former soldiers, sailors and
marines and it looks like Presi-
Dental veto will be necessary there.
The same is true of inflationary
proposals of which there are many.
The situation is one, therefore, in
which Mr.. Roosevelt must be con-
stantly on his guard to prevent
action which He does not want as
well as being fortified at all times
with pressure to put through the
Legislation he has described as
necessary. Thus it is seen he is
confronted with many complica-
tions which did not disturb him in
the first two sessions Of New Deal
congresses and these complications
mean a longer life for the current
session.
Some Must" Legislation
Let US examine the status of the
Legislation which the President said
must be passed. The outlook is
something like this:
The extension of the National
Recovery administration is still
far OFF. Senate hearings are just
ended and the house is still fur
Their behind. No action can be ex-
pected in either body for several
weeks. The present law expires
June 16.
Recently Mr.. Roosevelt sent to
congress very bitter message de-
nouncing public utility holding
companies and demanding legisla-
ton eliminating them from our
economic structure. The house
committee considering this legisla-
ton is just winding up its hearings
and the senate committee which
will have jurisdiction has taken
no action at all. It must be said
that a hard fight is in prospect if
and when this legislation reaches
the stage of debate because invest
ors in these companies are not go