Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-18
GUFFEY BILL DRIVE.
HELD VOTE TRADE
Roosevelt Criticized for
"Snubbing" Advice OF
Roper Council.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

pigeon holing penetrating ANALYSIS
which demonstrated that the Guf1ey
coal control bill is not only uncon-
stitutional, but that it would increase
the price of coal to the coal consumers
of America.
The Roper Council has been repeat
edly ignored by the President and this
has led to several designations, but at
a recent meeting the remaining mem
bers decided that there was more ad-
vantage in retaining membership on
the council than dissolving it. They
reasoned that sooner or later the
President might take their advice.
But it is apparent that Mr. Roose-
welt does not want any constructive
criticism or any advice than runs
counter to his preconceived notions or
his policies.
In fact, all opinions. in order to get
any real attention, whether they are
legal or economic, now must conform
TO what it is known the President
wants. Running all through the Gov
eminent departments at present is
sentiment which is often expressed
this way, Yes, that's the sound thing
to do or that's the legal thing to do
but it's not what the President wants. "
Report Not Yet Public.
The report on the Guffey coal bill
has not been made public, but 1t is
understood that. if the Senate should
ask for it, the document will be trans
mitted. The rumor is that the docu-
ment was formally adopted by the
Roper Councils Executive Committee
and transmitted to Secretary Roper
of the Commerce Department, who
presented it at cabinet meeting few
days ago.
This information did not emanate
from the Department of Commerce,
but from some of the Roper Council
members who had hand in prepar-
ing the report and who were visibly
disappointed when they were advised
that. no matter what the report said,
the President had in mind capitulat-
ing to the United Mine Workers
Union and that he believed this was
the only way to avert strike.
The Roper Council report gives a
summary Of just how the Guffey bill
would increase prices to the consumer
and it is a safe bet that if the users
of coal in the United States ever
realized that they are to be the
victims of a political combination
whereby the miners union is to get
the Guffey bill passed with Mr..
Roosevelt's influence, in return, pre-
sumably, for their support of the
Roosevelt reelection campaign-they
would be very much aroused.
Charge Cannot Be Proved.
Deals of this kind cannot, of course,
be proved because they are of a
very intangible nature. but they are
part and parcel of the New Deal
which has its eyes on political
strength for 1886. The answer tc
such criticism usually made is that
all administrations in the past have
looked to political support in one
bloc or another. But, unfortunately
the defenders of such doctrine fail to
realize that the New Deal was sup
posed to be guided by higher stand
ard Of ethics than its predecessors
and that, as the guardian of the
public interest, it was not supposed
TO be interested in such crude proc
esses as party politics so otter reveal
under both Republican and Demo-
cratic management
The threatened Goa. strike is some
what similar 10 the railroad strike
which was threatened in 1915. At
that time President Wilson was COM
pletely taken off his feet by the pos
sibility of a Nationwide tie-up of
transportation and he rushed through
Congress a bill permitting only eight
hours of work a day. The Supreme
Court upheld the law, though previous
decisions had cast doubt on the Fed
eral Governments right to employ
the Interstate Commerce power to
regulate wages or lolrs of labor on
. common carrier.
z The decision has since been re-
ferred to as case IN the twilight
zone" and it Is apparent that the
recent railroad pension law decision
Of the Supreme Court is step away
from such Federal regulation.
Violations Held fragrant.
; But if the coal unions think that
the presence Ut a threat to strike
will influence the court in this case
and make it appear that the emer-
eency justified the Federal Govern
ment in assuming Control of the coal
industry, they are in for a big sur
prise. The reason is that the uncon-
stitutionality If the Guffey bill rests
On several grounds, each of which is
50 fragrant that to accept them under
duresS would be actually to change
americas form OF government. The
issue is too broad To be confined to
tne coal industry without overlap
ping every other business or industry
= But the strategy of the coal unions
Is to force high wage scales and to
commit the operator companies to an
acceptance Of a wage from which they
are not expected to recede even if the
Guffy bill is held unconstitutional a
year or so hence. A palmer case of q
political deal or a misuse of govern.
mental power for the benefit of q
Special group has hardly ever beer
revealed In the history of the United
States. Small wonder that the So
called Business Advisory Council OF
the Department of Commerce, other
wise known as the Roper Council. i.
being deserted by business men who
see the futility and emptiness of try.
ing to cooperate" with or furnish
constructive suggestions to the Roose.
pelt administration.
Z tCopyrisht 1880