Evening star., 1936-06-21
Period of Reflection.

The second session of the Seventy
fourth Congress, dull in comparison with
the glamorous chapters written in leg
islative history during the first two years
of the Roosevelt administration, has
been notable in its demonstration Of
how in truth, the best laid plans O. mice
and men gang aft agley.
Three days after the President, ap-
pearing in person before Congress and
battery of microphones at night
session, read his message and compli-
mented the Nation on the apparent fact
that no new tax legislation was neces-
sary an event took place which did much
to change the complexion of the session
then beginning. The United States Su-
preme Court, by a six-to-three decision,
knocked out the A A. A. and shortly
thereafter lost to the Government the
collection of processing taxes that had
been impounded pending the decision.
That changed things materially. In
his message to Congress the President
had implied more or less of breathing
spell for the legislators. He had asked
for no new legislation. He wanted no
new taxes. Prospects were for quick
transaction of routine business, stiffen-
ing of the Nations stand on neutrality,
something done for relief and quick
and clean getaway for the conventions
and the voters.
The Supreme Courts decision in the
A. A. A. case necessitated a substitute
for the invalidated law. Funds were re-
quired to replace the processing taxes,
slready obligated but uncollected. And
the subsequent passage of the soldiers
bonus, over the Presidents veto, de-
manded more new revenue. Congress
had to become wrecking crew, rushed
to the scene to repair the havoc of things
gone wrong. Much of its time was spent
With the soil conservation BILL the po-
iitically dangerous business of fussine
around unexplored corners to make a
show of raising taxes that would not
pinch the majority of voters, and, in
the concluding hours, in trying to put
together what was left Of the Guffey
coal act.
There were important legislative acts
In addition, such as the rural electriflca-
ton act, commodity exchange act, a
possibly strengthened neutrality resolu-
ton, the ship subsidy bill, record appro-
priations Gin peacetime) for the Army
and Navy, and the omnibus flood con-
srol bill. But the business of putting
things together again and rejecting on
things already done-rather than new
ventures in new directions-marked the
closing session.
This Congress has had occasion for
such reflection. The two sessions OF the
Seventy fourth have witnessed the New
Deal defeated in eight major cases, up
held in only two. 1t has witnessed
growing doubt as to the handling Of
relief, both in the Ickes method OF
"priming the pump" and in the Hopkins
method of boondoggling. 1t has wit
messed a growing skepticism OF such
brain trusters as Dr. Tugwell, who seems
to remain the dean of them all. In
doubt, its feathers somewhat rufaed by
Executive power, it has cut short Execu-
tive experiments in tree-belt planting,
-harnessing and canal building,
leaving them all, so to speak, hanging in
midair. 1t came near revolt, at one time,
over the Hopkins relief theories, finally
;zF Sy,t tI,oh hay 1dc
of the President. 1t grew restless and
disturbed over the growing criticism Of
the spoils system, making few last
minute gestures in the direction of the
merit syssam. 1t started out with roar
to outlay lobbying and wound up with
weak ns and sputter. If it was i'm
pressed by the tall talk concerning doing
something about the Supreme Court, it
decided that discretion was the better
part of valor and did nothing. The
House joyfully set out in pursuit of DR.,
Townsend, caught him and found itself
holding, not Dr. Townsend, but bear
by the tail.
The House did good job in defeating
the Frazier -Lemke farm mortgage bill.
But the last session of the Seventy
fourth Congress, like its predecessor
has continued to build up for the Re-
publicans One of their most effective
issues-the vast expenditures Of money,
the commitments to future vast expendi-
lures and political cowardice in voting
the taxes that must eventually pay the
hin.