Evening star., 1935-05-03

Some observers find 1t paradoxical
that the Chamber Of Commerce Of the
United States in convention assembled
at Washington this week should have
lambasted the New Deal and all its
works at moment when many busi-
ness leaders freely acknowledge definite
signs of recovery. as reflected by accept
ed indices and advancing prices in the
security market. Be this as it may.
little doubt remains that big business,
in SO far as it is represented by the
national chamber. lacks confidence in
the situation and is incorrigibly hostile
to the New Deal program and its ef-
feet on trade, industry and finance.
Animosity was not lessened by the
revelation that President Roosevelt
would not dignity the chambers an
nual meeting this year with tradi-
tional message Of greeting, either in
person or by letter. The session has
broken up, leaving unmistakably bitter
traces of miStrust and resentment on
such key issues as N. r. A., T. v. A.,
banking, utilities, currency and Fed
eral expenditure. The broadside de-
livered by Southern delegate epito-
mized the atmosphere of the meeting.
Assailing N. r. A., he said: THE
people have tired of the bungling ef-
fort of Washington bureaucracy to
regiment American business. The ef-
fort to impair the rights of the States.
to concentrate power at the National
Capital and to enlarge the authority
of the President has challenged the
foundation of our constitutional sys-
tenn"
Flouting of President Roosevelt on
N. r. A. extension by the Senate
Finance Committee is fresh proof of
the administrations shrunken infiu-
ence at the Capitol and Of growing
inclination on the part of the Demo-
cratic Senate in particular to defy
White House authority. These events
are widely interpreted as the latest
congressional reflection of slumping
New Deal fortunes In the country at
large, q situation which Rooseveltians
contend is only normal and natural
development al this stage of an ad-
ministration which has basked in so
unprecedented popularity. Democratic
leaders are confident that when the
time comes, a couple of months hence,
to strike a balance sheet for the ses-
sion, it will be revealed that Mr..
Roosevelt emerged on the whole with
flying colors and with the overwhelm-
ing bulk of his legislative desires
realized. As a seasoned politician, the
President is pictured by his support
ers as a strategist who knows when
1t Is wise to compromise on minor
occasions in order to attain major
objectives.
While Senator Pat Harrison was
recently in the midst of the Senate
Finance Committees N. r. A. inquisi-
ton he was drafted on short notice to
speak in New York at the dinner of
the American Chemical Society. The
Mississippian began as follows:
For the life of me, I can't imagine
how you folks came to invite me to
address a learned organization like
this, because don't even know the
difference between H-2-O ana N. II. A. v
That brought down the house. and
thenceforward Pat was at liberty to
talk about anything he pleased,
chemical or otherwise, no matter how
limited his knowledge of the subject.
y II
Not long ago counsel for one of the
administrative bureaus of the Govern
ment was presenting an argument be-
fore the Supreme Court which in
volved a couple Of regulations that
were obviously and unquestionably
in diametrical conflict. In response to
persistent prodding by the bench to
explain how it came that contradictory
provisions had been permitted to exist
side by side, the Government lawyer
was reduced to confessing that 1t was
frankly quite beyond him to clear up
the complication. Thsreupon Chiet