The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-06-20
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National Topics Interpreted "a fTY7T5FEI
by William Bruckart AEnSaf

be one vast empire With StaLe lines
virtually obliterated. Likewise, de-
termination of the question refer
red to will bring an answer TO
further question, namely, whether
the American people desire that
their government shall control In
dividual businesses or whether those
businesses and the practices OF the
citizenry shall be permitted 70 con-
tinue as was the desire OF the col
onists when they fought OFF the
armies of King George.
Problems to Solve
But there will be some sixteen
months of time that must elapse pc
fore the American people can ex-
press their opinion and their wishes
at the polls. In that interim, press
ing problems resulting from the New
Deal program must be solved.
AT the moment, what to do with
MIRA as well as how to do 1t stands
foremost. Behind 1t lies trouble
some questions centering in the
farm policies of the Agricultural
Adjustment administration. Perme-
ating the very structure of the New
Deal is the broader question OF
whether it is desirable to continue
so many of the alphabetical agen-
cies as permanent units of the gov
eminent since each of them was
created by desires for economic re-
covery. MIRA will be continued in
skeleton form. Its powers and It's
functions will be very limited. Some
yitriolic opponents of MIRA are de-
claring that its skeleton organiza-
ton is being maintained solely as q
face-saving proposition. They argue
that Mr.. Roosevelt could not admit
complete defeat of this outstanding
plank in his recovery platform.
The truth seems to be that Mr..
Roosevelt, while unwilling to admit
defeat in this direction, is waiting
until he can determine what the
wishes of the country are and how
far the majority of the population
will go with him in rebuilding the
structure on lines within the linz
itations prescribed b the Supreme
court. Thus far, certainly he has
had considerable evidence of bene-
fits accruing from the MIRA expert
ment. No other view can be taken
of announcements by many indus
trial leaders to the effect that they
intend to continue hours of labor
and wage levels to which they had
subscribed under the codes Of fair
practice.
To the extent that important In
dustrial lines are continuing to OBJ
serve the code conditions on q vol
untary basis it is believed Mr..
Roosevelt can take credit for hav-
ing moved general business to q
plane against which even the social
theorists can offer little complaint.
The President has termed those
who have been guilty Of unfair and
unjust treatment of labor and the
consuming public "chiselers." There
is chiselling going on now. Prob
ably, there will be more OF 1t. IF
it becomes too widespread, it seems
reasonably certain that there will
be strong reaction among think
ing people. This reaction will
strengthen whatever moves the
President makes to revise the con-
stitutional limitations about which
he has complained.
Historic Incident
There was an incident of historic
Importance in the Capitol building
the other day. The Supreme court
of the United States met as usual in
its chambers under the dome of the
Capitol on June 3. AS far as out
ward appearances go it was simply
another session In which the nine
dignified and learned Justices met
to publicly render the conclusions
Oh law they had reached. But is was
more than that. It was the last
time the court was to convene in
that chamber, and today it is dim
in the Sallow light of shaded win
dows for the first time since 1860.
When the court convenes next
October after its usual summer re-
cess, the justices will climb marble
steps into gigantic new ten-mil-
Hon-dollar structure the perman-
ent home of the court for the fu-
ture. It is building ornate In its
simplicity. The court chambers and
the private offices of the Justices
represent architectural masterpieces
equipment Of the most modern
type has been installed.