Evening star., 1936-05-29
VANDENBERG ISSUE.
IN QUODDY FIGHT
Roosevelt Plan May Go
Through to Save Face
30
of President.
BIZ CARLISLE BARGERoN.

= The votes for continuance OF the
Passamaquoddy project and the Florida
ship canal apparently have been lined
up in the Senate on the argument that
1t would not do politically for Senator
vandenberg to win out over President
Roosevelt
% Political capital, in this event, would
be made that the Michigan Senator,
prominently mentioned for the Re-
publican presidential nomination, is
stronger with the Senate than the
President, 1t is claimed.
The Senator defeated the two prof.
ects when they we're up before and also
has to his credit the checking of ad-
rninistration forces on three other items
since he took up his aggressive opposi-
ton. But this is the first time he
comes directly in conflict with the
President.
: New Deal Senators frankly consider
that it was bad strategy that the stu
alton should have been permitted to
develop into this position and Passa-
naquoddy is something particularly
which they do not wish to carry
through the campaign, but the issue
has been joined and the only way out
as they see it, is to go ahead and vote
for the proposal sought by the Presi-
dent.
One Vote Decided.
Z AS matter of fact, Senator Van.
denberg won by only one vote before
AT that time, it was not known what
sMr. Roosevelt's attitude was He hac
1pitched the two controversial project!
unto the lap of Congress by recon-
amending them in the budget. Tht
House, at the instance of its Appropri.
aations Committee, refused to accep
them. Congress had not authorized
them, it was contended They hac
been launched by the President from
his relief funds.
The fact that he had now, afte
spending $5,000,000 on Passamaouodd,
and a considerable amount on th
Florida ship canal. submitted them t,
Congress was interpreted in some quar-
tiers, at least, as his desire to get ri,
of them.
Pot Set Boiling Again.
An after both the House and Senat,
had refused to approve them. h
seemed to be satisfied. Democrati
Gov Brann of Maine, however. 20
busy. He came to see Mr.. Roosevelt
along with others. The come abou
OF things put him in serious politica
flx. it was argued. OF course, Senator
Fletcher was dong everything he coulc
in the meantime to save the F1orids
ship canal.
OF the two, the canal is looked upor
'ss having more justification although
q it is difficult to arouse enthusiasm
outside of those directly interested
even for it.
Finally, Mr. Roosevelt directed Ma.
Jority Leader Robinson to offer a reso.
luton authorizing him to name two
boards. No one questions that this il
but a face-saving device, and that a.
Senator Vandenberg charges, it will
bind Congress to carry out the projects
The White House has made it an issue
however. Robinson even went so ia,
as to sit in on the committee consid
Grafton of it with the deliberate pur
pose OF keeping tab on the New Dea
members Of the committee.
Jockeying Continues.
There is a question, though, as Il
whether Vaodenberg won't increase ir
stature if he loses his fight. When he
won before he relied mostly on his am.
munition against the ship canal. He
has hardly drawn on the stuff he has
against Passamaquoddy. Some New
Dealers who do not want Quoddy tc
be hurled around in the campaign
get some comfort out of the belief
that the House will not accept the
resolution.
In this case, as they see it, Vanden-
berg will not get the credit for defeat
ing the President and at the same
time there would be no Quoddy in the
campaign.