The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-02-21

LpUfeInfs0N from all OF tne COM
ments have been
able to pick up, 1t appears that the
general situation has been clarified
thereby. Two of the major New Deal
items-the MIRA and the AAA-have
been tossed overheard by the Supreme
court of the United States and con-
congress, at the request of the Presi-
dent now has thrown three others into
the limbo of unnecessary things by re-
pealing the legislation for control of
cotton, tobacco and potatoes. These
three with their parent, the Agricul-
tural Adjustment act, represented all
that was basic in the New Deal farm
program.
The Importance of the Presidents
act in requesting repeal of the three
compulsory crop-control laws cannot
be minimized. Mr.. Roosevelt recog-
nized, when the AAA was invalidated,
that the other three crop-contrOl laws
would be of no further use because
they were predicated upon the nation
al law. He recognized further that to
remain adamant would be only to per-
NIT delay in invalidation of those
three laws because they were all head
ed for an adverse decision by the Su-
preme court anyway. In seeking their
repeal, therefore, Mr.. Roosevelt sim
ply took time by the fOrelock and grid
ed his armor for fresh start on farm
relief legislation.
Where or in what form the new farm
legislation will finally emerge, none
can foretell. The house and senate
will pass some kind of legislation to
supplant the laws invalidated by the
court or repealed by congress. Neces-
sarily, this new farm legislation will
be of a stop-gap character and l don'tbe-
lieve that any of its ardent supporters
can tell you exactly what the result
will be in so far as it's effect upon agri-
culture is concerned.
AS far as the compromises have been
worked out, it appears that some of
the leaders are willing again to enact
legislation directed at crop-control in
a semi-compulsOry manner. If that is
Forthcoming, the new law actually will
be nothing more than a thinly dis
guised attempt to circumvent the pro-
hibitions laid down in the Supreme
court opinion holding the AAA uncon-
stitutiOnal. In any event, the tragedy
in the situation appears to me to be
the absence of clear thinking, or else
the circumstances we see represent po-
litical cowardice of the worst type
It is to be remembered that in this
session of congress more than any 9TH
er since President Roosevelt took Of
fee, there exist greater number of
blocs; cross currents of opinion; par
tisan jealousy. A great deal of it is
in opposition to brain trust policies
sponsored by the New Deal but for
political reasons the individuals who
oppose these things dare not openly
show their disapproval of Presidential
policies as such. Thus, a consensus
has arisen among Washington observ-
ers that representatives and senators
concerned with directing enactment of
new farm legislation are likely to mess
up the situation rather than come forth
with a definite and workable PROPOSE
ton.
The situation at the White House
and in congress in connection with
agricultural policies
Partisan probably is the best
Politics Rule Illustration in a def
mite, tangible form,
of how many important federal policies
are being dealt with in a partisan po-
litical way rather than, as they should
be- in a scientific manner with partisan
politics in the background. need not
recall how many pieces of legislation
have been put through congress bear
ing a New Deal tag of must" Of
course, Mr. Roosevelt cannot be blamed
entirely for issuing orders when con-
gress is willing to obey. 1t is fact,
nevertheless, that time after time and
with reference to the major New Deal
experiments, the legislation has been
drafted by men serving under Pres
idential appointment in executive de-
partments, the copies forwarded to
given representatives or senators and
instructions passed along that the adj
ministration will take no substitute.
1t wants the specific measure and in
that form.
The result OF all of this has been
that In numerous cases legislation was
passed without more than a few men,
bers of the house and senate having
even read the bills before they were
asked to cast favorable vote on their
passage.
Now, representatives and senators
are seeking to dodge the responsibility
for their acts. This was shown def
nitely in the celebrity with which con-
gress acted on the Presidential request
for repeal of the three crop-cOntrol acts
named heretofore. l know personally
of considerable number of represents
atives and senators who were delight
ed at the opportunity to vote repeal
of those laws. They never did like
them-after they found out what they
had passed. But politician Is the
last person In the world to admit his