Evening star., 1935-02-24
Facing Threat
to Congress
Control.
PENSION BILL
is BOOMERANG
Democrats Join
Republicans in
Opposition.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Administration leaders stood face to
face last night with the realization
that for the first time since President
Roosevelt took office their control of
Congress is seriously threatened.
Jolted by the sudden Senate revolt
on the work-relief bill, the Democratic
chieftains stopped to survey the situa-
ton. They found Congress nearing
the end Of the second month of the
session with hardly q SINCE piece OF
major legislation out OF the way and
not much on the way.
This situation was nothing less than
startling by comparison with the first
session under President Roosevelt,
Pennsylvania avenue was crowded
then with messengers bearing grants
of power to the White House
An explanation of the change was
quickly advanced by the Chamber of
Commerce Of the United States, which
in its fortnightly review. said one of
the chief causes was growing resist
ance to the sweeping character of pro-
poSals advanced by the administration
as we'll as to the determination of an
important bloc to follow a more de-
liberate and independent course"
Conclusions Are Varied.
On Capitol Hill the conclusions va
ried. Democrats said there was little
significance; that Congress got started
late due to the lame duck amend
ment. and that the first issues pre-
Sented were more than normally con-
troversial Republicans agreed in part
with the Chamber Of Commerce. but
contended also 1t was a sign of groW-
ing opposition to the administration.
The latter view was advanced by
some Republicans who have supported
President Roosevelt They said their
mail indicated sentiment was turning
against the Chief Executive, and that
Senators were no longer compelled to
follow the administration because
of an overwhelming pro- Roosevelt"
feeling.
OAIC RCpuUIlCdi- NllO ulu IlOt WISH
to be quoted, said the change in his
correspondence had been one of the
strangest political phenomena he had
ever witnessed. He said the admins
tration's social security program had
proved boomerang, because the great
masses Of the poor had expected q
more liberal plan.
Another Republican. who has been
friendly to the administration. said
year ago 80 per cent of his mail
boosted President Roosevelt to the
skies and told him to back the Chief
Executive on everything. but today
much of it is critical and 100 per
cent Endorsements of the President
are few and far between.
Democrats Optimistic.
Democrats denied there had been
any change in the character of their
mail. They said the administrations
defeats on the World Court and relief
issues were due to campaign pledges
and strong convictions on these
particular questions and that the
situation would soon be smooth again
Even the Democrats could not deny,
however, that the surface record in
the Senate so far is bad. The ad-
ministration had lost both of the two
major tests this session. In each case
20 or more Democrats were found op-
posing the President.
In the House the record was little
better because of the machinelike
disposition of the relief bill, but other
major legislation was still begged
down in committees. And there we're
growing indications even at that end
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