The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-27
TUESDAY. AUG. q. 1898.
AS CONGRESS ENDS
q soRIPPs-HowARD NEWSPAPER

u which his heart craves-publicity. Packed
galleries bright lights, front pages.
What matters 1t to him that most Of the
major reform legislation Of whole session Of
Congress was made impotent. for lack Of Up
preparation with which to function?
Huey Long is happy.
Unless some trick way IS found to get money
otherwise the net result Of the flibuster will
be to delay for four months the operation Of:
OId-age pensions.
Unemployment insurance.
Aid for dependent blind.
Aid for crippled children.
Aid for needy mothers.
Pensions for retired railway workers
The Wagner labor board.
The Guffey coal law.
Investigation Of food distribution costs.
Soil conservation.
Motor bus and truck regulation.
And numerous other laws.
RUT though the money for the immediate
- operation is lacking. the legislation is on
the books and enforcement is but a matter of
time. So appraisal of the session is in
order.
When the fog is cleared away one fact will
stand out 1t is that President Roosevelt had
his way
This was the New Deals first reform ses-
sion. as distinguished from the emergency
seventy-thirds two sessions. AS such it drew
bitter fire from the political and economic in
terests affected. This opposition was not only
vocal to a pitch of shrillness. it was actual and
powerful. Seldom has Capitol Hill seen such
rage as some of the Administrators reforms
brought forth. 1t is significant that the smiling
man in the White House won the essentials
Of practically all Of his so-called must"
measures.
In winning his program he has made
enemies who will be potent in the campaign
of 1886. His popularity is not what it was when
the session started, but he couldn't have that
cake and eat it too. The fight is on him now.
not merely on the Brain Trust with the Presi-
dent excluded from direct attack as he was last
January. The smartest thing for him to do
now politically is to go before the country and
take the ofense in defense of the program he
put through And that seems to be his plan.
THE Congress Just adjourned passed many
major reform measures. Besides those
mentioned were: The holding company BILL
omnibus banking bill. railroad reorganization,
AAA amendments IVA amendments. Federal
alcohol control bill, and the tax bill
Some of these were modified by compro-
mise. About the wisdom of some we are in
doubt About the unwisdom of the tax bill,
We are not in doubt We believe the neutrality
taken as a whole. they write a great social
modernization program and one that in its
broad outline is the Presidents own.
In only few cases did he fail with Con-
gress. notably in laws on World Court rati-
fication, ship subsidy and the food and drug
bill and in his attempt to stop neutrality dec
laration on which he later compromised.
In blocking such unwise proposals as the
Patman bonus printing press imitation Town
send plan and Frazier-Lemke farm debt liqui-
dation with greenbacks. the Roosevelt Admin
istration was equally effective.
The Senate ratified all major appointments
The Administrations most discouraging set
back came not from Congress. as had been pre-
dicted. but from several adverse court de-
cisions. chiefly the Schechter case against NFA.
Herein the President was helpless and from
those court decisions arise presidential cam
paign issue involving the Constitution and the
problem OF adjusting the dynamic force Of So
cial change to the static force of tradition.
Few sessions Of Congress have been made
arduouS. None has involved more complexities
ANY one of many proposals considered would
have been sufficient to dominate whole ses-
sion in normal times. At the end many of the
lawmakers were in that condition which prize
fighters describe as being punch drunk. But
the record of the Congress as a whole is, We
believe one of real and lasting accomplish
ment.