Evening star., 1935-04-22

Bouquets are coming the way of
Speaker Joe Byrns for prompt pas
sage Of the Roosevelt social security
bill in the House by the overwhelm-
ingly decisive vote Of 372 to 80. 1t
is by far the most impressive New
Deal legislative victory in the case
of q controverted measure. With
II Republicans voting for the bill
and only Is against it, the G. o. P.
opposition registered new low, which
gives the Democratic leadership addi-
tional cause for Joy. The House was
spurred by President Roosevelt's de-
mand for swift action. Whether ad-
ministration driving power will prove
as effective when the bill reaches
the Senate is horse Of another color.
Sterner opposition is In sight there
than was encountered in the House.
Another deadlock reminiscent of the
struggle over work relief is q distinct
possibility. Before the Senate moves
into snarl on the subject 1t prob
ably will dispose Of those other bones
of contention, the bonus and N. r. A.
renewal.
Gen. Hugh johnson, although ap-
parently tired and overworked, made
q deep impression upon the Senate
Finance Committee In his recent plea
for continuation of N. r. A. He was
at the top Of his form as q master
Of vocabulary and colorful phrase
ology, although he relied for the most
part on brass tacks to support his
contention that the recovery act
should not be junked. Several Sen
ate Finance Committeeman had their
first close-range contact with john
son and confessed lively admiration
for his forceful personality and
sledge- hammer style. He undoubt-
edly made friends and votes for
N. r. A. They will be needed.
N. r. A. supporters do not conceal
their fear that the Brookings Insti-
tuition report, charging that the Blue
Eagle has substantially" retarded
recovery, comes along at time
when it may seriously jeopardize the
chances of the acts renewal. It
was on Brookings premises that the
code system was hatched in 1888, Is
the result Of informal conferences Of
public officials and economists, among
whom Senator Wagner, Democrat, of
New York was . leading spirit. The
institution is regarded as highly au-
thoritative In the field Of economic
research. Its judicial findings with
respect to the good and bad points
of N. r. A. command correspondingly
wide respect.
Former Gov. Ely of Massachusetts,
who, though an ardent Democrat, has
not always seen eye to eye with the
New Deal, will be one Of the speakers
at the dinner Of the American Law
Institute in Washington on May IL.
Others on the program are Assistant
Secretary Of Commerce Dickinson
and Chief Justice Riley Of the Su-
preme Court of Oklahoma. Former
Attorney General Wickersham, presi-
dent Of the institute, will preside at
the dinner, which will bring to . close
. three-day session dealing with the
organizations general purpose Of
clarifying and simplifying the law
and its better adaptation to social
needs.
y
Washington's first 'Town Hall" has
Just come to . close after q season
that proved successful far beyond the
fondest expectations of its sponsors.
From beginning to end the Sunday
night addresses by distinguished
American and foreign authorities in
the fields Of economics, politics and
international relations attracted ca
pacity audiences. Some Of the pro-
moters feared that between wash.
ington's fondness for society" and
the speechmaking with which the
Capital y surfeitsd thsrs would be