Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-07-25
CONGRESSMAN TIRED
PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
UP TO PRooREssivEs
LEGAL ENTANGlEMENTS
LIBERTY LEAGUE ACTIVE
FoRsEE NEW COLLAPSE
PRESIDENTS POPULARITY
FOOLISH PROPHECY
BATTLE LINES FORMING
THE FIGHT IN 1886
CONDITIONS MAY CHANGE

Fi0Ht IN iSS0
CONDITIONS MAY CHANGE
Undoubtedly many Congressmel
are anxious to get away from Wash
ingtOn. where the heat b0thers them
and are willing, II necessary. to hav'
a special session OF Congress In tn,
fall to take care of the tax program
The House showed strong sentimen
to this end last week, even II tn,
vote was overwhelming against ad
journment- The matter rests will
the Progressives In the Senate, whit
have an agreement with Senator
Harrison providing for an oppOrtu
nifty to vote on the new tax levies be
fore the session ends.
1t is said that the President is not
against the plan, even II the tax pro
gram Is put Of until next January but
he wants a definite understanding
to this effect. In fact, reports are
clear that the Chief Executive Is q
hit anxious to get rid OF the idea
that he is a task-master holding
Congress on the job. He also dis
likes very much the must list ap-
pellation that is currently used in
the press. Some say he Is ready to
accept whatever the two houses do
on the holding company bill, the
Social Security proposals, the iva
and AAA amendments.
go
In the Senate, however. one finds
a group OF ~Progressives, led by Sen
ator Norris and LaFollette, who in
sist upon action on the tax bill.
When this group served notice some
weeks ago that they would tie-in
the new tax levies with the bill az
tending the nuisance" taxes, which
had to be passed Immediately to
avoid a lapse, the Democratic leaders
promised that a vote would be allow
ed on the new taxes before adjourn
ment II the nuisance bill was not
disturbed. Senator Harrison, who
made the agreement, has the repu-
tation of keeping his word and is,
for this very reason, n OF the best
uOIS6 tldOcIS III Tie Studlt
Legal entanglements are encount-
cred by the administration In many
areas since the Courts have shown
an increasing tendency to strictly
construe the powers OF the Federal
government. Federal Housing pro
jects have been tied up In some
areas, the processing taxes are stead
lily being enjoined and competent
opinion holds that the AAA and IVA
amendment areNnconstitutionaL. The
president, in asking the House to
pass the Guffy coal bill. regardless
OF doubts as to its constitutionality,
charted the course OF the admins
tration. 1t will pass laws and let the
courts throw them out II 1t is
necessary.
Much criticism has been directed
toward this attitude, some going so
far as to say that it Is a violation OF
the oath of office, involving the
pledge to uphold the constitution.
The argument is that Congressman
should vote against any measure
that is doubtful and that the Presi-
dent should veto it, rather than put
the Court in the position of thwart-
ing the popular will. This was the
position taken by President Taft. in
1913, In vetOing the Webb-Kenyon
act. However, 1t illustrates the dan
ger OF trying to assume the Courts
junction. When Mr.. Taft vetoed
the measure In vigorous language
Congress passed 1t over his veto,
and the Supreme Court sustained 1t.
1t Is becoming more and more evi,
dent that the American Liberty Lea
que. ostensSbly organized as a non
partisan affair, is leading the attack
on the present administration, and
taking the place of a well-rOunded
opposition, which Is almost absent
from the political arena. The lea
que has an abundance OF money, be-
Ing backed by many wealthy spon-
sors, keeps a smart research bureau,
sends out speakers and demands ra-
do time for the exposition OF its
views. In short, the league will
soon be generally recognized as one
OF the Presidents most dangerous
antagonists.
Adversaries of the President In
sist that failure will result from his
EFFORTS and that when the collapse
comes the condition OF the nation
will be worse than ever. They de-
clare that his relief expenditures and
farm policy are but sops to the
mass, which must be halted II the
nation Is not to become bankrupt.
Moreover. they insist that many
people are convinced, more than ev-
er, that 1t will be necessary to go
back to the old methods to secure
normal business conditions. They
point to Democrats who are dis
pleased with the New Deal and cite
them as evidence that the party will
be badly split In the election next